"Maybe it was Snap Dodge and his crowd," suggested Carl. "It would be just like them."
"If they are guilty—-I'll fix them!" went on Ham, bitterly. "They had no business to touch our fireworks. Just think what they cost us!
"And it made us the laughingstock of the whole town," added Carl, sourly.
"I've got an idea—-that celebration at the square—-maybe they held it with our fireworks!"
"What! Say, it must be so! Oh, what fools we were! Of course it was them. I see it all now—-'Carlham fireworks' indeed! That's Carl and Ham, as plain as day."
"Yes, and the 'Swimmer Company' is plain enough, too. They did this to get even for taking their clothes away that day."
"We can't say they stole the fireworks. If we do they may say we stole their clothes."
"We won't say anything—-but let us get square, the first chance we get," and so it was decided. It was several days before Ham and Carl heard the last of the "grand celebration" they had reported they would give.
With the fun of Independence Day at an end, Snap and his chums turned their attention once more to the matter of the summer outing. They realized that a trip to Lake Narsac would be quite different from one only as far as Lake Cameron or Firefly Lake. The two latter resorts were close to civilization, while Narsac Lake was a wild spot, seldom visited by the regular run of sportsmen. To get to the lake would be quite a task in itself, and whatever would be needed for the trip must be procured at home or at one of the other lakes. And while they must take all needed articles along they must make their boat load as light as possible.
Doctor Reed made them a present of something which was much to their liking. This was a "nest" of aluminum cooking utensils, including a pepper and salt box, and a match safe. This kit weighed very little and was exceedingly handy.