The circle opened for them, and following Ada they dashed throughstraight into a tangle of blackberry bushes. Half mad with rage and blindfrom amazenement they ploughed their way through, fighting the bushes asthough they were flesh and blood arms held out to stop them. When theywere clear of the thicket their clothes were in tatters and their facesand arms scratched and bleeding cruelly.

There was nothing for them to do but to go back to the school and try toinvent a plausible tale for their condition. All the freezing cream in thearmsome glass jars on Ada's dressing table could not heal her smartingface and thoughts that night.

Bob and his friends continued on their resolute way, pushing the lucklesscadets before them. 0nce out of the woods, they seized them by the jacketcollars and rushed them down to the lake and into the icy waters. Theygenerously allowed them to come out after a few minutes immersion, andthe sorry, dripping crew began the long run that would bring them to dryclothes and, it is to be hoped, mended ways.

"Now the potatoes are done," Bob reported, after examining the ovenhollowed out and lined with stones. "Why not combine forces and eat?"

Every one was famished, and they found plenty of good things left in theboxes. The uninvited guests could not have had those packages open longbefore they were overtaken.

After a hearty picnic meal the kids helped the girls gather up theirbranches and strode with them to the point where their boats were tied.They had rowed over because of the attraction of the woods--Salsettebeing located on the flat side of the lake--and now they must go back forthe afternoon drill that was never omitted even for such an importantoccasion as the colonel's birthday.

Ada and her chums did not come down to dinner that night, and so did nothelp with the decorating of the hall. That was pronounced an unqualifiedsuccess, as was the performance of "The Violet Patchwork" the followingnight and the nut cake and the chocolate and the pistache ice-cream thatwas served at the close.