Peanut ran on ahead before they got to the camp site, and slipping as quietly as he could through the trees and bushes, came suddenly out into the open space where the fire was. The girls were all sitting in the shade, except Alice. She was wading barefoot in the brook, while her stockings and shoes hung by the fire.
Peanut stood there grinning a second before anybody saw him, and then Alice spied him and squealed.
"Oh, you little beast!" she said, jumping out of the water, and grabbing up a tin folding cup, which her father had evidently carried in his pocket. She filled this with water, and ran at Peanut, barefoot, appearing not to mind the rough ground at all. Peanut was so loaded down with his blanket and pack and two lunch baskets that he was in no condition to escape. He tried to run, but his blanket roll caught in a bush, and before he could yank it free he felt the whole cupful of water hit his face, and go running down his neck.
"Alice!" called Mrs. Green. "Alice! Come right back here! Aren't you ashamed!"
"Not a bit," said Alice. "He's perfectly horrid, coming sneaking up that way on purpose!"
"Go put on your shoes and stockings and then apologize!" said her mother, sternly.
"Ho, that's all right," said Peanut. "I was aw-
