CHAPTER XIII.

LIBERTY CAMP.

FOR two or three days it was too damp to go to the camp, but after a spell of sunshine everything was all dry again, and one pleasant morning the boys decided to go. They paddled up the stream in the Minnehaha, and landed in their old place. As they walked along in the woods, they saw smoke curling up a short distance ahead.

"I wonder what makes that smoke?” cried Brandt.

"I hope Liberty Camp isn't on fire," said Jim; "that would be terrible."

The boys hurried along, and suddenly could hear voices as they went.

"Some one is in our camp," said Jim, excitedly, and stopped to listen.

"Let's see who it is," whispered Brandt; "we'll creep along easy behind the bushes and catch them."

Cautiously, their hearts beating faster with every step, the boys stepped behind. trees and bushes. When they came in sight of the camp, a strange picture presented itself.

There was a family of gypsies taking their ease as comfortable as possible. An old wagon with three handsome black horses tied to the back of it stood on the right of their camp, while on the left was a large tent. Some old quilts were scattered on the ground, and a few pieces of colored clothes hung from the bushes. The smoke came from a fire partly out, and near it, stretched at full length, was a dark-skinned man with an old felt hat pulled over his eyes. Two plump gypsy women, one of them nursing a baby, were sitting on the ground chatting together.

As the boys watched from behind the bushes, a lad about their own age came out of Liberty Camp, followed by a young girl, with a bright kerchief on her neck.

"He's taken down our flag," whispered Brandt, in a very indignant voice. “I wonder where it is."

Jim was too intently watching the picture to answer.

"Let's go and ask them for it," said Jim, after a pause.

"Do you think they'd touch us?" asked Brandt.

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Oh, no," was the answer; "I've seen gypsies around here before."

"I never saw them," returned Brandt, who was a little timid, as he watched the novel sight. "We'll go back and tell Pete," he whispered; and the boys stole softly away until they reached the canoe, when they hurriedly paddled for home.

They were very much excited, and when they landed, ran all the way to the barn to tell Pete, and then found Mrs. Cole to inform her of the invasion of Liberty Camp by the gypsies.

"I know they'll take our cups and things," Brandt cried, "and won't it be terrible if anything happens to the flag!"

He felt so badly he was almost ready to cry with disappointment. The idea of gypsies taking possession of their beautiful camp!

Mrs. Cole talked with Brandt, and said she thought everything would be all right. Then she sent him for Jim. When Jim appeared she gave him a large basket, and told him to ask his father to fill it with corn. Jim helped his father gather the ripe ears, and soon returned with his basket filled.

Mrs. Cole put a nice little pat of fresh butter into the basket, saying, "Now, boys, I want you to take this basket to the gypsies, and don't forget, Brandt, what I told you."

Pete accompanied the boys into the woods, but did not approach the camp with them; instead, he waited near a path.

When Brandt and Jim came in sight of the gypsy camp, one of the women spied them.

She came forward to meet them, saying, "Good mornin', leetle boys.'

The boys took off their hats and greeted the woman like the little gentlemen they were, and in another minute the whole gypsy family surrounded them. "If you please, ma'am, said Brandt, "here is a

present of some corn and some fresh butter from the farm, and you can send over every evening for milk, to the brown cottage.'

There was a perfect babble of voices when Brandt had stated his errand, and all he could see around him was black eyes and rows of white teeth.

"Thankee, thankee," said the woman, over and over again, taking the basket from Brandt, who cast furtive glances around, especially at Liberty Camp.

"And if you please, ma'am," said Brandt, when she returned the empty basket, "would you be careful of Liberty Camp, and give me my flag?"

The girl with the bright kerchief, who had been listening attentively, darted into the tent and returned with the flag.

"Thank you," said Brandt, turning to go, while the whole gypsy family nodded and smiled their gratitude to the boys.

Jim carried the basket and Brandt waved the precious flag over his shoulder. In a few minutes they were joined by Pete, and the trio started home.