"You must excuse our fun; a little joking never hurts any one," chimed in "Hatchet."
"We can stand almost any amount, provided it doesn't knock our boat in three or four pieces," returned Bob, who was far from being satisfied that the Nimrods were acting in good faith.
"The fact is," said Nat, presently, "this seems to be an ideal place for camping out. Why not cast our fortunes together for a week—what do you say?"
There was a strange sort of eagerness in his voice that did not escape Bob's attention.
"We don't intend to stay a week," he said.
"You surely don't mean that you are going to leave to-morrow?" inquired Nat, now all seriousness.
"Oh, no, only—"
"Then we can join the camp, eh—why not? We can have a grand time and forget any little differences. Besides," he added, after a short pause, "the arrangement will only last for a few days."
This started an open discussion, in which all present had more or less to say, but it finally became so evident that the Nimrods were anxious to make amends for the past, that their arguments proved effective. Bob and his companions were, also, quite satisfied that they could take care of themselves should an emergency arise, while they all felt more curiosity in regard to the possible course of the Nimrods than they would have been willing to admit.
The Trailers sat around the fire for about an hour, then, picking up their lanterns and promising to return on the morrow, they bade the Ramblers adieu, and retired in an orderly and quiet fashion.