“Y-yes,” said Betty doubtfully. “I suppose so.”
CHAPTER XXI
LONELINESS
The campers failed to find the tramps. Grace and Roy stumbled across an old hut, where it was evident somebody had been living recently, but the place was empty and gave every appearance of desertion. So, after searching thoroughly through the surrounding woods, the two were forced to return to camp with only this meager find to report.
However, as the rest of the party had found no trace whatever of the tramps, Grace and Roy were consoled and began to think that they had, after all, come away with what small honors there were.
The next day the young people took up the search again and pursued it faithfully, but they met with no greater success than they had the day before.
“I’m beginning to think the tramps must live in a hole in the ground,” said Grace, disconsolately, as they sat about the campfire Sunday evening recounting the day’s experiences.
“If they do, they’ll have to come up for air sometime,” said Betty, adding belligerently: “And when they do, we’ll get ’em!”
“’At a boy,” said Frank, adding, as he lazily poked the fire with a stick: “And now what do you say we change the subject? I’m sick of the very name of tramp.”
It was with decided reluctance that Allen said good-by to Betty the following morning.