The Brownies walked over to the stone fireplace. The wood had burned down to cherry coals which were exactly right to broil steaks.
An iron frying pan stood ready for use, filled with uncooked meat. On the back of the fire a kettle of thick bean soup gently simmered.
“Uhm, uhm,” murmured Rosemary, “does that ever smell delicious?”
“Just the sort of food for a fall day,” added Jane enviously.
Connie had been looking over the rustic table near the fireplace. Buttered buns were in a paper sack, and there was an ample supply of paper plates and plastic tableware.
“Oh, just the sight of this food is driving me wild!” Rosemary moaned. “Let’s get away from here quick!”
“I wonder where the picnickers are who started the fire?” Veve speculated.
“And the mysterious person who shot that arrow!” added Jane indignantly. “We’ve been taken in again.”
“No, we haven’t!” Connie suddenly exclaimed.
Turning toward her, the other girls saw that she had picked up a sheet of paper from the rustic wooden table.