"If they do, they'll soon get over that idea, and find their real fright up in the air," Bert Dodge whispered in response.
"I wonder how much further on their camp is, or whether we're anywhere near it?" Bayliss asked.
"We'll soon know how close we are, for the lake can't be much further on. I just caught sight of the water in the starlight," Bert answered.
How astounded both mischief makers would have been had they known that certain members of Dick & Co. were even now trailing them.
"There's the tent!" whispered Dodge suddenly, checking his Companion, as they came to a spot on the slope where they could see the white of the canvas faintly displayed by the glow from a dying campfire.
"Two of them are about, too!" muttered Bayliss disgustedly.
"Then they're all the more certain to see what they're going to see soon," chuckled his companion. "Only we must work quickly."
Bayliss separated one of the balloons from the string held by Bert. The package was opened and from it Bayliss took and fitted over the balloon enough filmy gauze to cover it to a length of six or seven feet. Tying a longer string to the balloon, Bayliss allowed the white, filmy mass to soar upward. When the balloon had reached a height of twenty feet above the near-by tree tops, Bayliss made it fast to a tree trunk. Then he and Dodge skipped hastily to a point some eighty yards away, where they speedily sent up another. In a very short time all six balloons were flying on the night air, each with its trail of white fleecy stuff hanging therefrom.
"They do look like ghosts flying in the air, don't they?" demanded
Bayliss exultantly.
"Not to me," muttered Bert. "But that's because I know what they're made of."