"Don't you want to be introduced to our bucket-brigade washroom?"

asked Louise. "Come along; the line forms on this side," and she dragged Peg out under the runt oak, where a guest basin, turned upside down, made a safe pedestal for a twittering robin. He hopped off politely as the girls tip-toed up.

"That's our Bobbie Robin," said Louise. "We have him almost trained to eat from a little table Julia erected for him. We place his breakfast there, and what bird wouldn't eat a fresh cereal even from a tiny table?"

"Here comes our officer!" exclaimed Peg, as a cracking of leaves gave warning of approaching footsteps.

"Good morning!" called out the man in blue. "All safe and sound down here?"

"Perfectly," replied Peg. "Anything new on the hill?"

"Not just this morning, but we had some trouble last night," said the officer. "You were right about the prowlers. We found a couple of railroaders hiding behind your barn."

"Are the horses safe?" This query showed Peg's new alarm.

"We made sure of that. I put Tim Morgan right in the cosy little room there, and Tim was grateful for the bunk. Also, no one could come near those horses with him on the scene."

"I must hurry back," said Peg to Louise. Others of the girls were now moving about.

"No need for worry," a.s.sured the officer. "These railroad men are the sort that walk the tracks, you know. They must have been hired to look over your place, but they're busy looking out of a very small window about now," and he waved his stick in the direction of Longleigh, where the little country lock-up was situated.

Aunt Carrie was now out of the tent and ready to go back to the log cabin. She exchanged questions with the night watchman, and presently she was saying her thanks and her good-byes, also promising to return for a real camp meal just as soon as she and Peg could safely leave the cabin.

"If my uncle comes I shall be as free as your Bobbie Robin," said Peg.

"I intend to turn everything over to him; and what a joy that will be!"

"Then you could come down here and help us wind up camp?" asked Cleo eagerly.

"I suppose I could if----"

"You must, my dear," insisted Miss Ramsdell. "You really must take a holiday."

"But I am somewhat disappointed," said Peg, she was looking over the mist-veiled hills. "I hoped to have been able to follow out dear dad's advice----" She stopped suddenly, then shook herself free from the detaining arms, and promised again to come back to campfire that very night.

"And tell us all about your blockade?" said Helen.

"You mean stockade, Nellie," said Cleo. "But it is all the same in the glow of the campfire where all good stories get their magic touch."

"Good-bye!"

"Good-bye!"

And then the guests from the hilltop left.

For a few minutes the Bobbies stood, a little disappointed, but still expectant.

"I should be afraid to go back to that place," remarked Isabel.

"The officer is going to unlock and search first," said Cleo. "I wouldn't mind going along to see the fun."

"Just imagine those two people standing ready with guns!" exclaimed Julia.

"I wouldn't care to trust myself with a tempting little gun,"

confessed Louise. "I have always thought what a temptation it must be to pull a trigger."

"Like our Fourth of July pistols; so have I," admitted Isabel.

"Girls, do you realize it is almost time for colors?" asked Miss Mackin. "Suppose we sing a cheery 'Good Morning' to get our brains cleared up from all the excitement?"

Then the birds in tree and bush flew off, jealous of their woodland rights, for the Bobbies really could sing, at least sweetly.

The colors were flying and a scent of coffee floated generously about, when two men on horseback came galloping along and drew rein at the foot of Comalong hill.

"Hey, there, sissy!" called one, rudely. "Do you know where Peg is?

The girl from the log cabin?"

"Don't answer," warned Miss Mackin quickly. "If they want information, that is not the way to seek it," and she turned the girls back to the breakfast table where the "K. P.'s" were already busy serving.

The next moment the riders galloped off, and the Scouts suspected correctly that one of the men was Francis Fairbanks.

CHAPTER XX

THE ROOM OF MYSTERY

How things had changed! The new day stood out independent of its past and future. Peg had actually spent the night in the Bobbies' camp, and her treasure was now hidden in their packing-case safe.

Also, dear Camp Comalong was fading away, or was it looming up large as a proposed Samaritan camp?

Breakfast was not finished when Benny came pumping along on his wheel.

"Folks got word about your aunt, Julia," he began after a very informal greeting, "and I came over to tell you your mother wants you to come home sure, day after to-morrow."

"I'm going to, Ben," replied Julia. "My Aunt Marie is bringing me something from Paris. I'll be on hand to welcome her, never fear,"

said the blonde girl archly.

"We are going to give up camp, Ben," announced his own sister, Grace.

"Won't you have a bun, or something else to eat?" she invited the boy, who stood with hands in pockets, plainly admiring the camp life freedom before him.

"Going to give up?" he almost shouted. "Then can we fellows have it?"

"Oh, Ben, perhaps you boys could have it after the next two weeks, but for that time we are going to sacrifice it for some very needy city children, who only get a breath of real air when they come up on an excursion," explained Grace.

"Oh, a fresh air camp!" Benny's voice fell in disappointment.

"Not just that kind," continued the sister, "but we saw some poor, little pale faces the other day, and we just couldn't stand their longing for a few days in the real country. So we are all going back to our cottages, and going to give up the Comalong for two weeks before school opens."