Part 16 (1/2)

”Oh, Mrs Basswood, don't you think this would be a lovely place to have lunch?” cried Laura

At the ht out their watches simultaneously

”Seventeen minutes of twelve,” announced the shi+powner's son

”I've got quarter of,” cried Luke

”You must both be off,” put in Shadow ”I'ravely ”Have we got to wait till twelve o'clock?” he continued, anxiously

”I guess it'll be twelve o'clock before we get anything to eat,”

answered Mrs Basswood, with a smile ”I think this would be just an ideal spot to rest”

”Oh, we've just got to stay here for a while, whether we eat or not!”

cried Belle ”I'et out and run up on to the rocks over there,” and suiting the action to the words, she leaped out of the automobile and started to make her way to the spot she had indicated

”Look out that you don't fall over into the hollow,” cautioned Dave, as he assisted Jessie and his sister to alight

To one side of the roadas so of a cleared space, and into this the two autos, and took them over to the spot which Belle's quick eyes had picked out Here there was a patch of green grass shaded by several large trees, and in front of it a flat rock, beyond which was spread out a vast panora for many et a photograph of it”

”Yes And we raph of the crowd at lunch,” returned Dave

”Let's eat before we start to take any photographs,” put in Luke, who seery ”I never did look well in a picture taken before eating,” and at this there was a general laugh

While the boys brought the various things froirls and Mrs Basswood spread a lunch-cloth partly on the grass and partly on the flat rock, and on this placed the various good things which had been brought along

”First call for lunch!” sang out Dave, loudly, when all was in readiness

”I guess your first call will be the last, too, Dave!” exclaimed Jessie

”Here! ill you have--a ham sandwich or one with chicken?”

”I think I'll try the chicken,” he answered

”Oh, don't be backward about co forward, Dave!” cried Luke ”Why don't you try theh”

”We all will,” declared Roger ”There is nothing theone an appetite,” he added ”I believe after we have been up at Bear Ca like wolves”

”Why not like bears, if we are going to Bear Caested Phil

”Say, I can't bear a joke like that!” broke in Roger

”It was a little barefaced; wasn't it?” cory,” pleaded Luke And then all the young folks fell to eating with great gusto, and it must be admitted that the older heads followed suit