"We are out camping all by our own selves," announced Bertie proudly. "We are going to fish and hunt, and build a big campfire, and everything."
"Alone?" queried Dale, in amazement.
"Yes, all alone," answered Gertrude. "Nurse wouldn't let us come, but we run away when she wasn't looking. And Bertie's got a real gun and fishing lines, and I brought along some fruit cake and two oranges, and a box of candy, and my Polly doll."
"I wanted to bring Rover, but he barked so I was afraid Jasper would hear him," went on Bertie. "We are going to stay here two whole days. What do you think of that?"
"I think you did very, very wrong to run away from your nurse and your mamma," said Owen soberly. "Your mamma will think you are lost, and she'll look all over for you."
"And you mustn't think of using a gun," put in Dale. "Why, it might kill somebody."
At these words both Bertie and Gertrude grew very sober. All in a minute the outing lost its charm for them.
"I am going home to mamma," announced Gertrude. "She'll cry if she thinks I am lost."
"I didn't catch a fish," came from the boy. "I don't believe there are any here."
"Do you know the way home?" questioned Owen.