A picnic is pretty much the same the world over, even if it is gotten up by a college crowd, and the one on Crest Island was no exception. There was the usual screaming of the girls when the boats tipped, and the usual strolling in shady nooks by youths and maidens, there was fun galore and happiness on all sides, for the day was perfect.
Madge Tyler, Ruth Clinton and Mabel Harrison were walking along with Phil and Tom, having just come in from a ride around the lake in a motor launch.
“What shall we do now?” asked Ruth.
“We’ll soon have the pleasure of seeing some ants do a waltz or a two-step in the butter,” announced Tom. “I see the waiters getting the tables ready,” for a caterer had been hired by the students to provide luncheon.
“How interesting,” remarked Madge. “Suppose we go over there in the shade——” She paused suddenly, and with a little gesture to Ruth went on hurriedly: “Oh, no, let’s go this way.”
“That’s too sunny,” objected Mabel. “I’d rather go over in the shade, and——”
She, too, stopped, and then she saw what had made her chum hesitate. Sid Henderson was approaching them on a path which had no turn in it, as they had passed the only one just as Madge tried to branch off. There was no help for it. Sid was creeping up with his camera, intent on getting a picture of a large butterfly that had alighted on a flower, and, as yet, he had not seen the little party.
Miss Harrison was at once aware that her two girl chums had endeavored to save her the embarrassment of meeting Sid, but it was too late to turn back gracefully now, and with an admirable assumption of calmness the girl said:
“Oh, isn’t it interesting! I hope Mr. Henderson gets his picture. I did not know he was a naturalist.”