"We came in this morning to do some trading at the store," answered Mr.

Wadsworth. "We were going back, when it began to storm so hard that we decided to stay here until the rain let up, and until you arrived. It certainly was a hard downpour!"

"We came pretty near having several accidents," answered Ben. And then after the party had alighted, they told of the various happenings on the journey.

"We can remain here all night if you want to," announced the jewelry manufacturer. "But if you would rather go on to the bungalows I think we can make it. There are two old stages here, and the drivers are perfectly willing to make the trip."

"Now we have gotten so far, let us finish the trip," urged Laura. "I think I would rather be at the bungalows than at this hotel," she added, with a look around that hostelry--a place that was not particularly inviting.

"But you'll want supper first; won't you?" questioned Mrs. Wadsworth.

"We had something to eat at Simpson's Corners," answered her daughter.

The stages that Mr. Wadsworth had mentioned were certainly old-fashioned and dilapidated, but each was drawn by a pair of st.u.r.dy horses, and the drivers said that they were perfectly safe and could make the journey to Mirror Lake without trouble. So, having transferred the baggage from the automobiles to these ancient vehicles, and having placed the touring-cars in the garage, with orders to have the damaged car repaired, our friends piled into the turnouts, and then, with various calls to the animals and loud crackings of the whips, the two stages started for Bear Camp.

CHAPTER XIII

AT BEAR CAMP

"Talk about the old-time coaching days!" remarked Dave. "I don't believe they were any worse than this."

"Oh, Dave, you mustn't find fault!" cried Jessie. "We'll soon be there, I hope."

"Providing we don't go down in some hole and break off a wheel," put in Roger. "Say, this road is some rough!"

"I'll have it rolled down for you the next time, Roger!" cried Phil, gaily. "Just imagine yourself in the wild West, in one of the old-time overland coaches, with the Indians in full pursuit. How about that, Belle?"

"It sounds good enough for a dime novel," answered the girl from the West. "Personally I never saw any Indians in pursuit of a stage-coach or anything else. The Indians around Star Ranch were as peaceable as one could wish."

Over the rough and rather narrow trail b.u.mped the two stage-coaches. Our friends frequently found themselves bounced off the seats, and more than once they were in danger of cracking their heads against the roofs of the turnouts. It was growing dark, and the only lights the drivers had were their smoking lanterns. Inside of the stage-coaches the boys had their hand flashlights, which they used occasionally to illuminate the scene.

"Never mind! Don't you care!" cried Phil, and then added: "What's the matter with a song?"

"Let's give them our old Oak Hall song!" exclaimed Dave, and a moment later he started their old favorite, sung to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne."

"Oak Hall we never shall forget, No matter where we roam, It is the very best of schools, To us it's just like home.

Then give three cheers, and let them ring Throughout this world so wide, To let the people know that we Elect to here abide!"

"Oh, how splendid!" was Belle's comment. "Please sing it again," and they did.

Then they followed with a number of familiar songs. The sound was caught up by those in the second coach, and soon they too were singing l.u.s.tily.

"Gosh-all-hemlock!" was the comment of the stage-driver of the forward coach. "That there singin' is better'n a n.i.g.g.e.r minstrels!"

"Better join in," suggested Dave, and then started up with "The Suwanee River," and to the surprise of all the old stage-driver broke in with a heavy ba.s.s voice which really balanced the others quite well.

The storm was a thing of the past, and as night came on the thin crescent of the new moon and numberless stars showed themselves.

"O my, look!"

"Isn't that perfectly grand!"

"I don't wonder they call it Mirror Lake!"

Such were some of the cries from the girls as the first of the stage-coaches rolled out on the edge of the sheet of water by which the bungalows were located. Here, at a certain point, they could gaze down the full length of the lake. In spite of the rain that had fallen the surface of the water seemed unusually smooth, and it glistened in the light of the moon and the stars like silver.

"Oh, it's just too splendid for anything!" exclaimed Jessie, as she clapped her hands in delight. "What a beautiful place to come to!"

"I don't see how it could be any prettier than it is," added Laura.

"Why, it's just like a scene from fairyland!" declared Belle. "Oh, I know I'm going to have just the nicest time ever while I'm here!"

"I see the bungalows!" cried Roger, and he pointed to a number of lights twinkling between the trees.

"I told Mary, the hired girl, to light up so we could see where we were going," said Mrs. Wadsworth.

"This is about as far as we can go with the stages," announced the driver of the first turnout, as he came to a halt. "You'll have to walk the rest of the distance. Bill and me will help you with the traps."

Soon the other stage came up, and all on board alighted. The two stage-drivers took the heaviest of the suitcases, while the boys and Mr.

Porter and Mr. Ba.s.swood carried the others. Mr. and Mrs. Wadsworth led the way along a trail that was still somewhat wet and slippery.

"It's right in the woods, that's sure!" declared Roger.

"What do you think of it?" asked Dave, as they approached the two bungalows, which stood only a short distance apart.

"Oh, I like it very much. I think we ought to have a dandy time here, Dave."

"Just what I was thinking."

Their approach had been noticed by the servant girls, and this couple came out to meet them. Then the two drivers were paid, and they returned to their stages and started back for Carpen Falls.

"I'm glad that journey is ended!" remarked Jessie, as she sank into a rustic rocking-chair. "My! but it was quite an adventure; now wasn't it?"

"It certainly was, Jessie," answered Dave. "I don't suppose you'll want to go back by automobile?"

"Not unless you guarantee the weather, Dave," she answered, with a smile.

The Ba.s.swood family, along with Shadow and Luke, had gone off to the second bungalow, leaving the others at the one over which Mrs. Wadsworth was to preside. The lady of the bungalow showed the girls and the boys the various rooms which they were to occupy. As all of the other baggage had arrived from the railroad station two days before, the tourists lost no time in getting rid of their damp garments and donning others more comfortable. After that all made an inspection of the bungalow, and then trooped over to the other building.

"Say, this suits me down to the ground!" said Luke. "It couldn't be better."

"I noticed a number of canoes and rowboats at the dock," said Shadow.

"We are bound to have some fine times out on that lake."

"And did you notice the bath-houses?" added Ben. "That means good times swimming."