received any encouragement. Guns were cleaned and polished, and rods and tackle brought out from the place where they had been stored the autumn before. Then a list of the articles required for the trip was made. It included blankets, corned beef, potted tongue, bacon, sardines, tea, coffee, flour, sugar, salt, pepper, canned goods and a varied assortment of tin plates, together with kitchen utensils, court plaster and a few simple remedies which Mr. Somers thought it might be well to take.

The Ramblers were eager to start, and they agreed that on the following Tuesday the sail of the "Lively," as Dave had humorously christened his boat, should be hauled aloft, and their journey to the wilderness begun.

But Mr. Somers, at this time, requested a delay. "You have all summer before you," he said, smilingly; "and there is a little matter which I think should be arranged before Bob leaves."

The gentleman vouchsafed no information, and the boys were obliged to submit with the best grace possible. But they chafed under the restraint.

"Such magnificent weather, too," grumbled Dave. "Just think of the woods, and the birds flitting from branch to branch, while we are still cooped up in town."

The speaker, accompanied by Sam Randall, was on his way to the post-office to get the morning mail.

"There's Bob Somers now," exclaimed the latter; "perhaps by this time he knows when we can start."

But Bob could give his fellow member no information, Mr. Somers having scarcely referred to the matter since.

At this, the two boys looked very disconsolate indeed.

"Well, I suppose it can't be helped," sighed Sam, as he led the way into the post-office, a frame building situated at the junction of two roads.

As was usually the case at mail time, the three boys found the small interior crowded, and it was some time before they were able to reach the delivery window.

Several letters were handed to Bob Somers. He was about to mechanically put them in his pocket when the inscription on one attracted his attention. "Hello, what's this?" he said, aloud.

"Love letter?" inquired Dave, pleasantly.

"Not yet," smiled Bob. Then he added, with some animation: "Look at that!"

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