"I don't know," said Fred. "I never heard of any of them before."

"They probably live in that camp down at the other end of the lake,"

said Grant. "The one we visited the other day, you know."

"And found n.o.body there," added George.

"That's it. They must be the ones."

"I guess they are," agreed John. "How do they know so much about us though? I don't see how they knew there were four of us."

"Probably they've seen us around," suggested Grant. "That part of it is easy enough."

"Well, what do you think of the challenge?" demanded Fred.

"I say we accept it," exclaimed George eagerly.

"Of course we will," said Grant. "I think it will be great sport."

"They may be a good deal older and bigger than we are," suggested Fred.

"If they are we'll sort of be outcla.s.sed."

"I don't believe they are," said Grant. "At any rate I don't think we'll be outcla.s.sed."

"We'll give them a good rub anyway," exclaimed George. "What sort of sailing and swimming and canoe races do you suppose they mean?"

"They had a catboat like the Balsam," said John. "Don't you remember seeing it down by their tent? We'll use the catboats for the sailing race."

"A relay swimming race would be a good stunt," suggested Fred. "In that way we could all be in it."

"When they come over here we can decide all the details," said George.

"When was it that they said they were coming?"

"Monday, I think," said John. "Wasn't it, Grant?"

"Yes. That's day after to-morrow."

"We ought to have some judges," said Fred.

"That's true," agreed Grant. "I don't know where we'll get any though."

"Maybe they'll know somebody," suggested George.

"We'll find out all about it on Monday anyway," said Fred. "Let's have a little food now. I'll faint unless I eat pretty soon."

"Poor little Freddy," laughed George. "You need a nurse."

"Huh," snorted Fred. "Ever since you hooked that trout by the tail you have been too fresh to live. Your turn will come though."

"What do you mean by that?" demanded George.

"Why, that the freshness will be taken out of you one of these days."

"Who'll do it?"

"I don't know, but I have a sure feeling that something will happen to you unless you mend your ways."

"Stop your arguing, you two," exclaimed Grant. "You fight all day long."

"We're not fighting," laughed Fred. "That's just the way we show how fond we are of each other."

"Well, I must say you have a queer way of doing it," said Grant. "I'd hate to see what you'd do if you didn't like each other."

"Such a thing could never happen, could it, Fred?" demanded George.

"No, I guess not. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have some one like you around to make fun of," responded Fred.

"Who caught the big trout?" taunted George.

"Will you keep quiet about that fish?" exclaimed Fred. "All you do is talk about it from morning till night. I never want to hear of it again."

"You will though," grinned George.

"Oh, I know that, but I wish something would happen to keep you quiet."

Such a thing was destined to come about before Fred dreamed it would and it was also something he never would have thought of, possibly.

"I need some wood for this fire," remarked Grant, who was busied with preparations for dinner. The sun was fast sinking in the west and the light was commencing to fade. A lone kingfisher winged his way across the lake returning to his home, a hole dug in some bank overlooking the water. All was quiet and peaceful.

"I need some wood for this fire," Grant repeated, for no one had paid any attention to his former statement of this fact.

"You hear that, Pop?" inquired Fred. "Grant needs some wood."

"Yes, I heard him," replied George. "What's the matter with you; your legs haven't turned to stone, have they? Can't you get it?"

"I can, but I have to wash the dishes to-night. It seems to me that that's just about enough for me to do."

"All right," sighed George, "I'll get it. It strikes me, though, that I do about all the work around here that there is to be done."

"Yes, it's too bad about you," jeered Fred. "Take the ax and get out of here."

"It's pretty dark," said George as ax in hand he started for the clump of trees in the rear of the tent. It was growing dark as George had said and it was becoming more and more difficult to pick out the narrow trail. He had advanced but a short distance when a little animal ran out into the path and trotted along ahead of him.

"Why, look at the cat," exclaimed George half out loud. "I wonder how it got on the island here."

As he spoke the little black and white animal left the path and entered a clump of bushes on one side. George had always been extremely fond of pets of all sort and he followed eagerly.

"Here puss, puss, puss," he called. "Here kitty, kitty, kitty."

There was no response and he called again. He used his most enticing manner and did his best to coax the little animal out again.