(Not a sign of a tail does the Manx Cat wear. Listen! the reason I shall declare.)

'T was long ago, when the world was young, That the Lion, the king of beasts, gave tongue, And the wondrous plan to the beasts unfurled, That they should make a tour of the world. "We'll visit the land where the people sneeze; We'll mount to the top of the Pyrenees; We'll go where the heat of the sun 's immense, And plunge through the forests and thickets

dense.

We'll march in a line, in a grand parade, And I'll be the leader," the Lion said.

And so, when rolled round the appointed day,
With a mighty roar, he led the way.
Behind him, marching along in line,
Came Tiger, and Panther, and Porcupine,
Elephant, Jaguar, and Kangaroo,

A tall Giraffe, and a Puma, too;

An Ibex queer, and a long-haired Goat,

A Yak, and a Fox, and a white-furred Stoat. Every animal, every beast,

And from the largest down to the least,

They leaped and trotted and pranced and hopped,

Behind the Lion, who never stopped.

They traveled onward for miles and miles,
Till at last, when they reached the British Isles,
The procession had grown till it fairly wound
The circumference of the world around.
For so many had joined the marching ranks,
That the last, a Cat of the kind called Manx,
Found herself padding on cushioned toes,
Right under the Lion's lordly nose!
And that haughty leader, imagine that!
Was following after the humble Cat!
He!-the leader!-the Lion King!
To follow after that puny thing?

A roar, a snarl, and a vicious snap,
And between the two showed a dreadful gap!
A gap where the tail of the Cat had been.
And my tale must end where it did begin.

Not a sign of a tail does the Manx Cat wear,
And this is the reason I do declare.
Perhaps you don't think my story true;
If the Lion swallowed the tail, can't you?

CHAPTER XVII

"BY THE LIGHT OF THE SILVERY MOON" THE week following the trip was spent quietly at Beaver Camp. Lefty remarked that the only active thing was the practice of economy. This was in evidence every day, to the end that camp finances might be placed once more in a condition of strength that should rival the rock of Gibraltar. The campers did not grumble, however, but, on the contrary, made merry over privations, and began a keen rivalry to determine who could suggest the most thrifty idea or the plan that should save the largest amount.

Of course the time was not spent in idleness. Every day found the boys on the lake or in itgenerally both. The enthusiastic anglers fished to their hearts' content. Those who favored

tramping explored fields and roads within a radius. of ten miles. Cousin Willie took some pictures and spoiled many films in eager efforts to do his own developing and printing, under the friendly guidance of his "partner"-Lefty.

They used a developing tank, which was fortunate, since the bungalow failed to number a dark room among its other attractive features, and printed the negatives on post-cards, which the others were eager to purchase. Beaver Camp felt very exclusive (Tad said "dressy") in having "its own souvenir postals."

The intimacy which had commenced between Lefty and Cousin Willie at the beginning of the season had been of inestimable value in developing the latter. Lefty was just the sort of companion for such a boy-strong of body, clean of mind, patient, kind-hearted, and irrepressibly

cheerful. He furnished the kind of ideal which had been forming in more or less hazy fashion within the younger boy's mind.

Tad and Tom were quick to see this change in their cousin, and were beyond measure amazed, for they had long known an entirely different sort of boy. Instead of being jealous of Lefty's influence over Cousin Willie, they rejoiced in his emancipation from babyhood, and did all they could to encourage him.

The other campers, too, seemed to realize that the boy was doing his best to show the proper spirit, and admired him for it. Instead of having in their ranks a babyish, selfish, "spoiled child," to be treated with tolerant patience and a sort of contemptuous kindness (as they had anticipated), they happily found a very different specimen. They accepted Cousin Willie for what he tried to be, and treated him exactly as they treated any other camper, which filled the boy's heart with encouragement and content.

Cousin Willie was supremely happy. He had grown taller and heavier since coming to Beaver Camp. His face was round, rosy, and bronzed by sun and wind. Indeed, his shoulders and arms shared this wholesome color, since the campers wore sleeveless jerseys much of the time. Moreover, he had lost his feeling of restless discontent, as well as his air of bored indifference and his languid manner. The natural boy within him had awakened, and did not seem at all likely to be lulled to slumber again in the near future.

All the campers appeared to be in perfect health. For nearly two months, they had lived a simple, active life out-of-doors, and Nature had richly rewarded them for obeying her laws.

"I have an idea," Tom announced one evening at the supper-table.

"Pass it around," his brother advised. "It is n't polite to have something that no one else has."

"Do you mean to say that none of us has any ideas?" inquired the doctor.

"You seem to like the idea after all!" said Tom.

"Sure thing! 'T is well. 'T is swell!" said Tad, and all the others echoed his appreciation. When the Beaver Campers welcomed an idea with unanimous enthusiasm, there was sure to be "something doing," as Lefty would have said. Hence, before another sun had set, plans were fully matured. A hay wagon was engaged, along with a strong team and a careful driver. Invitations were sent to Mrs. Spencer and the girls, and were promptly accepted. Storer and Rutledge agreed to assist Mrs. Spencer as additional chaperons. A town about five miles distant from North Rutland was selected as a destination, because it furnished "opportunities for refreshment," as Tom said with great dignity, and also for "several varieties of harmless amusement," he added. Horns were purchased, and then the time appointed for the start was impatiently awaited.

Promptly at the hour agreed upon, the boys left camp and walked out to the main highway, where the wagon was to call for them. Storer and Rutledge were already there, and they all perched on a fence near by to await the coming of the "chariot."

"It 's going to be a fine night," Storer remarked contentedly. "I'm glad of that! It 's no fun to take a moonlight ride in the rain."

"I see you brought your mandolin, Tad," Rutledge added. "That 's good! We'll have some music as we ride.”

"Tad is so bright that he can play light airs in the dark!" Lefty announced. "Oh, yes! We're the musical crowd, all right! Just look at all the horns!"

"Here comes the coach-and-four!" Tom cried, as the rattle of a springless wagon-frame sounded farther up the road. And so it proved. Soon they were getting settled on the fresh, clean hay. Then they drove up to Mrs. Spencer's cottage,

"How do you know what it is?" Tom demanded. "When I was in North Rutland this afternoon," he went on, "I saw a wagon all fixed up for a hay-ride. It was going toward one of the boarding-houses. Now, why can't we get one up for some evening next week? We shall have a full moon then."

"Hooray!" cried the irrepressible Lefty. "We 'll invite Mrs. Spencer, and the girls, and Cjax-" "And we 'll get some horns and make a racket," Jack added.

"And sing 'Aunt Dinah's Quilting Party,' and all the old songs we know," Bert suggested.

long the fun commenced.

"The children have been very good, Mrs. Spencer," Storer assured the chaperon. "I watched them carefully all the way. Of course, they were noisy, but that 's to be expected of the little dears when they have an outing."

Mrs. Spencer laughed merrily. "I wonder if you will be as jolly when you are really Doctor Storer and have a lot of sick people to think of," she ventured. "If you are, I believe I shall send for you when I feel the need of a cheering-up prescription."

"Thank you, Mrs. Spencer," was the grateful reply. "I have the patronage of one admiring

patient promised already, you see, brethren. How is that for a start?"

"Fine!" Rutledge responded with a laugh. "It may be all right for you, but it's a bit unfortunate for Mrs. Spencer."

said

"Well, you remember what Solomon says-‘A merry heart doeth good like a medicine,' Mrs. Spencer; "and I suppose a physician and his patient both share the benefit."

"That applies to other walks of life, too," Storer declared. "A man can fight through almost anything if only he keeps cheerful. But let's leave all this deep philosophy until later. Who knows a good story?"

Almost every member of the party, it proved, knew at least one, so each could contribute to the general entertainment.

A vigorous tooting of horns saluted the end of the last story, and then some one suggested that a little music would be welcome.

Accordingly, Tad "tuned up" his mandolin, and played some of the familiar pieces that he could render from memory, and the others sang a vigorous and more or less tuneful accompaniment. Thus they made their way onward until the town that was their destination was reached, about nine o'clock.

Before many minutes had passed, the party found an ice-cream parlor, and the proprietor with his assistants spent a busy half-hour. Then the "joy-riders," as they called themselves, separated into several groups, agreeing to reassemble there promptly at ten o'clock.

The minutes passed quickly, and presently the boys and their companions might have been seen returning from several directions, shortly before the hour appointed.

Ten o'clock came-five-ten minutes afterstill the party was not complete. Tad and Cousin Willie were missing.

"Who knows what has become of Tad and Will?" the doctor asked, a bit anxiously. "They were due here ten minutes ago."

Then, in the distance, Tad was seen hurrying toward them. He was alone, and Cousin Willie was nowhere in sight.

CHAPTER XVIII

VISITORS AT CAMP

TAD and Cousin Willie had not visited either of the two moving-picture shows which were among the attractions of the town. They declared that it would be more fun to watch the people, so they wandered along the main street, looking in store windows, and enjoying the mild bustle of the town which contrasted so strongly with the quiet

of Beaver Camp-quiet when the boys were absent, be it understood.

"Do we need any supplies, Bill?" Tad asked, as they approached a hardware store. "I don't know of anything, Tad.” Cousin Willie was called "Bill" very generally now by all the boys, and proud he was to be hailed by this name which suggested a fellowship with these older boys whom he so ardently admired.

"That auto looks like yours," Tad remarked, as he pointed toward a touring-car that stood before the hardware store.

"That's right, Tad! It certainly does!" "Better claim it, Bill, and ride back to camp in style."

Cousin Willie laughed, and they walked over for a closer view.

"Of course it is n't ours!" he declared; "but it looks exactly like it.”

"Well, that might easily be. A company does n't make just one car of any certain model. Most likely this car is an exact duplicate of yours." Tad walked around to the rear of the car. "What's the number of your license-tag, Bill?" he asked.

"I don't remember the new one. I wrote the old one down in a memorandum book I used to carry, but Papa has another tag now."

Just then a man in a long linen automobile coat came out of the store. Tad saw him as he turned toward the car, and the amazed expression which spread over his countenance caused Cousin Willie to turn quickly.

The man noticed them at the same time, and stopped short in bewildered astonishment, as if he doubted the reality of what he saw.

"Papa!" cried Cousin Willie, springing forward.

"Why, Willie-" gasped the surprised Mr. Ainsworth.

"They call me Bill now," the boy ventured, clinging affectionately to his father, and Mr. Ainsworth smiled contentedly at the amendment.

Tad managed to squeeze in his share of greeting at this point.

"Why, son, how you have grown!" Mr. Ainsworth exclaimed. "And how well you look! I'm certain that you 've never looked better."

"I don't believe I have," the boy agreed. “I feel fine, and you ought to see how my muscles have developed. I can swim and dive, and I can row and paddle for miles without getting tired." Mr. Ainsworth seemed unable to take his eyes off the tanned face of his son.

"I declare, son, I don't believe your mother would have recognized you. Think so, Tad?"

They walked down to the beach and looked out over the lake. Then Cousin Willie invited them to step into one of the camp boats, and he rowed them alongshore as far as Mrs. Spencer's land

rowing a table-cloth from Mrs. Spencer, but Tad declared that half the charm of the meal would be lost if they adopted any of the refining touches of life in the city.

It is doubtful if either Mr. or Mrs. Ainsworth had ever eaten a meal in more primitive style. They sat upon a bench at one end of a table made of boards and packing-boxes. They ate from heavy earthenware plates and enameled ware bowls, and drank from tin cups, but the genuineness of their pleasure was too real to be doubted.

ing and back again, much to their surprise and his own intense satisfaction.

When they returned to Beaver Camp, dinner was ready. The table had been moved out under the trees, and was prettily decorated with wild VOL. XXXIX.-141-142.

The camp cooks had combined their skill to produce a dinner which should be worthy of Beaver Camp. There was vegetable soup, fish taken from the lake, roast beef, and two kinds of vegetables, with ice-cream. and cake for dessert, and coffee as the final course.

They lingered long over the coffee, chatting in friendly fashion of many things, and telling stories of the busy, happy weeks now past.

After a time, they heard the sound of wheels on the camp road, and presently a buggy appeared. This stopped near the bungalow, and a man stepped out. As he came toward them, Tom cried:

"Why, it's Mr. Raymond! the man who owns Beaver Camp."

"So it is!" Tad agreed. "I wonder if he is going to dispossess us."

CHAPTER XIX

THE NEW OWNER OF

BEAVER CAMP

MR. AINSWORTH quietly excused himself, and rose from the table.

"I think Mr. Raymond is looking for me," he said. "We are interested in some property in this section, and had arranged a meeting for this afternoon."

The two men walked back to the buggy, talk