The Vinita Daily Chieftain

A Night's Outing Which Had a Thrilling Termination.

The elder boys—Irvine, Ralph and Percy—had gone camping out. When they drove away with the brand-new tent, the cooking dishes and the box of provisions, the small brothers, Don, Denny and Billy, felt very down hearted indeed.

"Never mind," said mamma, trying to comfort them. "You shall go to the Sunday school picnic next week."

But Don and Denny mournfully shook their heads. What was a Sunday school picnic compared with camping out in the woods? "You can't shoot bears at a Sunday school picnic," replied Don. "Nor sleep outdoors at night, nor cook your dinner over a camp fire," said Denny.

"Now, boys," said papa, "between you and me, I don't believe Irving or Ralph or Percy will really shoot any bears. They just think they will. But I don't see why you can't have a good time camping out, too. You have the old tent up in the attic, and it can be pitched in the orchard. I will set it up and lay a board floor to-morrow. You can have Billy's trundle-bed, and lie crosswise, so that it will be wide enough for three. You may have the old wash-bench for a table, and three camp-chairs. Of course you cannot cook there, but now and then we will have a fire and get a real camp meal, just as the other boys will. How will that do?"

"Splendid!" cried Don and Denny. Billy jumped up and down in delight.

"Let them sleep out there!" exclaimed mamma. "What harm could come to them?" said papa. "Towser will be with them; they will be quite safe."

So the tent was pitched, and the happy little boys began their camp life. The orchard was on a slope of land, facing the southeast. It was only a short distance from the house, but the foliage was so thick that you could not see the house from the orchard.

All day the boys played as usual, but the things they did seemed different from usual. They did not have to keep dressed up, but went barefoot all the time, and wore old clothes and hats; and mamma did not bother when they got soiled and torn. Once when they met her, and a lady caller on the garden walk, she only said: "These boys are not at home now; they are away on a camping trip."

Their meals tasted different from usual, also, although they had the same fare that papa and mamma ate at home. Once, however, papa came out and built a fire in the orchard, and they broiled steak, roasted eggs and toasted crackers. Some way or other their dishes got cleared away and their beds made right along, although they never troubled themselves about it; and at bedtime mamma came in to hear their prayers and tuck them in. Towser slept in the tent door, and every morning he woke them up by lapping their faces.

One night they were suddenly awakened by a thunderclap, which seemed to be right in the tent. They clung to one another, too scared even to cry. The lightning flashed, the thunder pealed, the wind shrieked among the trees, and the rain beat upon their canvas. The tent was trembling. Towser was howling with all his might. And then, all at once, there came a terrific rush of wind and rain, their tent-pole broke, they were torn from bed, the canvas blew away, and away they went whirling down hill.

What happened then the boys were too bewildered to know distinctly; but Don remembered fetching up against a tree, and seeing—by a lightning flash—little Billy washed by, with Towser in pursuit. Then he saw the dancing yellow gleam of a lantern, and heard his father's voice calling: "Boys, where are you?"

Towser caught Billy and dragged him uphill—very frightened, wet and muddy, although not seriously hurt. Then papa carried him to the house, while Don, Denny and Towser struggled on behind. And then there was a lively rubbing with towels, a putting on of dry clothes, and a sipping of hot chocolate as they sat toasting their toes before a bright wood fire.

"Who would have thought of such a thing?" said mamma. "The sky was perfectly clear when I went to bed."

"It is the worst thunderstorm we have had for years," said papa. "I hadn't a doubt that the tent was safe on that southeast slope."

"What did you think was happening to you, Billy?" asked Don.

"I don't know," answered Billy. "Towser pulled me before I had time to catch my think."

"I don't care, I like camping out," said Don.

"So do I," said Billy. But, he added, nestling back against his mother's breast, "I like to be rescued, too."—Elizabeth Hill.