“But indeed it wasn’t his fault that we took the wrong path,” said Natalie.

“No, I guess every one who goes to Bear Pond the first time has the same experience,” added Marie. “I know I heard a number of campers say the same thing. There are too many cow-paths.”

They had nearly finished dinner, some time later, the “clay chicken” being done to a turn, when Natalie remarked:

“I’m going to get some olives. I set out a bottle to put on the table, but I forgot them. Have some, girls?”

“Surely!” exclaimed the others.

Natalie disappeared into the cooking tent where some of the supplies were kept, and came back quickly, exclaiming:

“Who took them?”

“What?” asked Mrs. Bonnell.

“That bottle of olives. I left them, all ready to serve, on the box of canned things that we haven’t opened yet. Now they’re gone.”

“The boys——” began Alice.