CONFRONTED with the problem of how to drive a car without an ignition key, Mrs. Williams was deeply concerned.

“I don’t know how to get into the house without breaking a window,” she said anxiously. “I dislike to do that, for it would mean leaving the home unprotected while we’re at Shady Hollow.”

“Perhaps one of the windows was left unlocked,” Rosemary said hopefully. Getting out of the sedan, she wandered around the house testing the ones she could reach. All were securely fastened.

“I’m certain I locked all the windows,” Mrs. Williams sighed. “Unless—”

“Unless what, Mother?” Connie demanded.

“I may have overlooked that tiny one in the washroom. But it’s too far overhead to reach.”

“Lift me up and I think I can,” Connie urged her mother. Mrs. Williams raised her daughter high on her shoulders. Connie wobbled and weaved but finally held her balance.

Then she tried the window. But though she tugged and shoved and pushed it would not budge an inch.

“It’s no use,” said Mrs. Williams, lowering Connie to the ground. “The window is locked.”

“What can we do?” Rosemary asked in deep despair. “Won’t we get to go to camp with the other Brownies?”

“We’ll get there somehow,” declared Mrs. Williams. “If only I could think—”

“I see a window that is open!” Veve suddenly broke in.

“Where?” demanded Connie and Rosemary, taking new hope.

Veve pointed to a small attic window which during the summer months always was left open for ventilation purposes.

“I’m afraid it’s a little out of reach,” smiled Mrs. Williams.

“Couldn’t we get up there if we had a high ladder?” Veve insisted.

“It would take a very tall one indeed,” said Mrs. Williams. “I know how Mrs. Bevens once got into her house when she had locked everything up,” Connie announced suddenly. “She called the fire department!”

“Now that is an idea, Connie. But dear me, how mortified I’d be to have a fire company car pull up here.”

“Let’s be mortified,” urged Veve. “It’s terribly important that we get to the Brownie camp.”

“Yes, it is,” agreed Mrs. Williams reluctantly. “Very well, I’ll call the fire station and see if they can help us.”

Going to the home of a neighbor, she immediately telephoned the nearest station, explaining the situation. Greatly to her relief, the Chief assured her that he would send a ladder crew immediately.

Rosemary, Veve, and Connie scarcely could contain their excitement when the big red truck drove up to the front door.

“I wish they’d blow the fire siren,” Veve said, skipping down the walk to meet the firemen.

Even a glimpse of the equipment had brought many spectators. Neighbors and children began to gather, thinking that the Williams home might be on fire.

The firemen talked to Connie’s mother and then they ran a ladder up to the second-story windows. However, all of them had been locked.

“We’ll have to break a window,” one of the firemen said at last. “That is, unless we can get in through the attic.”

The window was much too small for a fireman to crawl through. But as he spoke, the ladder man gazed speculatively at Veve.

“How would you like to be a fireman?” he asked.

“I’d like it!” Veve declared promptly.

“Then do exactly as I say,” instructed the fireman. “Climb up the ladder just ahead of me. I’ll keep close beside you, so you can’t fall.”

While Mrs. Williams and the other children watched from below, Veve began the exciting climb. She was not in the least afraid, for the fireman kept a firm hold on her arm.

When Veve had reached the attic level, she gazed down. The lawn and the watching people looked very far away. She waved to Connie, and then she felt a trifle dizzy.

“None of that,” the fireman scolded her. “Just keep your eyes on the window. I’ll boost you in.”

With the fireman helping, it was easy for Veve to wriggle through. Once she thought she would stick fast, but her dress merely had caught. The fireman loosened it for her, and she squeezed on into the attic.

“Now scoot downstairs and open one of the doors or lower floor windows,” the fireman instructed.

Veve groped her way past the dusty boxes and barrels in the attic. A door blocked the entranceway to the second floor. For a second she was afraid it might be locked.

However, it opened readily to her touch, and she ran on downstairs. With scarcely any trouble, Veve unlocked the front door. Everyone drew a sigh of relief as she stepped out into the yard.

“Oh, thank you, Veve!” declared Mrs. Williams gratefully. “You’ve saved the day!”

Entering the house, she found the car keys on the kitchen table where she carelessly had dropped them.

Mrs. Williams thanked the firemen for their trouble and then prepared to lock up the house again, ready for their departure.

“Mother, do you have everything now?” Connie asked, an instant before the front door closed.

“Every single thing,” laughed Mrs. Williams. “At least I think so! But let’s start before anything else goes wrong.” “Yes, let’s!” chorused the Brownies, piling into the car.

With the other two automobiles now far ahead, Mrs. Williams drove rather fast, hoping to make up for lost time. The girls kept watch for the Davidson car. However, it was nowhere to be seen on the winding woodland road.

By three o’clock Mrs. Williams had arrived at the village of Shady Hollow. Stopping at a filling station, she bought cool drinks and inquired the way to the Girl Scout Camp.

“It’s a half mile farther on,” the filling station man said. “Turn left at the next traffic light. You’ll see a sign. You can’t miss it.”

The side road leading to the Girl Scout Camp wound through a dense growth of trees, and along the banks of a wide river. All along the shore, the girls saw attractive bathing areas and summer cottages. The woods gave off a fresh, springlike aroma which made them breathe deeply.

“I believe we’re coming to the camp now,” Mrs. Williams said a moment later as the car rounded another curve. She had caught a fleeting glimpse of a cleared area with a cluster of tents and cabins. A moment later the automobile swept through a gateway which bore a sign: “Shady Hollow Girl Scout Camp,” and pulled up at a little office constructed of logs.

Connie ran inside to ask how to reach the area where the Brownies were to camp.

“Follow the roadway to the left and you can’t miss it,” she was instructed. “Your friends already are here.”

On the car rolled, while the three girls twisted their heads this way and that, trying not to miss a single detail of the camp.

In the central area were several large buildings made of logs. Beyond them were a number of tents.

At the beach on the river, they saw several girls lounging on the sand. Others in Scout uniforms or shorts and blouses were playing tennis or practicing archery.

“Oh, this camp has everything!” Veve declared breathlessly. “But where are the Brownies?”

Just then she glimpsed the tent which the Rosedale Troop had bought at the store. Already it had been set up and staked down. Nearby, crackled a fire over which hung a kettle of steaming food.

“Hi!” shouted Veve, leaping from the car almost before Mrs. Williams brought it to a standstill. “We’re here at last!”

“Whatever kept you girls?” demanded Jane, coming to meet her. “We’ve been here ages and explored half the camp.”

Veve explained about the lost car keys.

“Well, at least you got out of some work by being so late,” Jane laughed. “The tent is up and most of our things unpacked. We have to make our beds next.”

“But we didn’t bring any,” said Veve. “Aren’t we going to sleep rolled up in blankets?”

“Not unless you want to break your back,” Jane rejoined, helping Veve to lift a suitcase from the car. “Miss Gordon will show us all how to make balsam beds.”

“What’s a balsam bed?”

“You’ll find out,” laughed Jane, pointing to a pile of cut boughs which Miss Gordon had brought in from the woodland.

The troop leader instructed the girls on how to insert the butt end of the boughs into the ground at a slant, thus making a slight arch.

“The needles must point downward or they’ll work through the blanket and prick you,” she explained. “If you take care all the branches are at the right angle, and that there are no gaps, your bed should be quite springy and comfortable.”

“All this seems a lot of bother,” grumbled Veve, who was rather tired from the long automobile ride to Shady Hollow. “Wouldn’t it be easier just to sleep on the ground?”

“Easier perhaps, but not very comfortable,” replied Miss Gordon, smiling. “While you’re making up the beds, I’ll attend to supper.”

Selecting the shorter ends of balsam, the girls struggled with their beds. Although it had looked easy when Miss Gordon showed them how, they found it no simple task to place the branches evenly.

“You’re not doing it right,” Jane told Veve severely. “Pine needles are sticking out everywhere like porcupine quills.”

“I don’t care!” Veve retorted, losing patience. “Who wants an old balsam bed anyhow? I’ll sleep on the ground.”

Flinging aside a branch, she sauntered out of the tent. Miss Gordon crouched over the fire, browning steak in a frying pan.

“Why, Veve,” she said in surprise. “How quickly you made your bed.” “I didn’t make it,” Veve replied, avoiding the troop leader’s direct gaze. “I’m not going to have a balsam bed. I’d rather sleep on the ground.”

Miss Gordon acted as if she were about to say something, and then changed her mind. She turned another piece of steak before she remarked indifferently:

“Suit yourself, Veve. But I’m afraid by morning you may find the ground rather hard and cold.”

While the other girls were making their balsam beds, Veve wandered down to the beach. She also toured the camp, noticing the lodge where some of the other campers took their meals. Shady Hollow seemed very nice, she thought.

By the time Veve returned to the Brownie tent, Mrs. Davidson and Mrs. Williams had started home. The girls had made their beds and now were washing up for supper.

“Come and get it!” called Miss Gordon.

As the girls filed past, she filled their plates with steak, potatoes and buttered carrots. They also had milk and ice cream bought at the scout dining room.

“Yum! Wonderful food!” declared Veve, presenting her plate for a second helping. “I love camp!” “Who wouldn’t, if you never do any of the work,” said Jane pointedly.

“Speaking of work,” interposed Miss Gordon as she began to clear away the cooking pans. “We all must do our share. Each girl is expected to wash her own utensils and dry them.”

“Will you do all the cooking?” Rosemary inquired, feeling that so far the troop leader had taken the heavy end of the camp work.

“I’ll take the responsibility for lunches and the main meal at night. With the training you girls have had in cooking, I think you’re capable of assuming the planning and preparation of breakfast.”

“When do we start?” Connie asked.

“In the morning. I’ll appoint the committee now. Veve is in charge and must do the planning. Her assistants are Jane and Eileen. Remember girls, breakfast at eight o’clock sharp.”

“But what will we have?” Veve asked in panic.

“That’s entirely up to you,” smiled Miss Gordon. “You’ll find bacon, eggs and oatmeal in the supply box.”

“And what about the fire?” Jane inquired uneasily.

“I’ll start it, and after that you must keep it going. I suggest you gather a good supply of fuel before you go to bed tonight.”

Veve, Jane and Eileen were somewhat troubled by their appointment as cooks. After the dishes had been done, they gathered in a group to plan.

“Let’s have something easy like boiled eggs,” suggested Eileen.

Veve promptly overruled her. “No, we’re going to have a good breakfast, so all the girls will say we’re the best cooks in camp!” she insisted. “We’ll have scrambled eggs, bacon and oatmeal and maybe toast.”

“Isn’t that too much?” protested Jane. “Think of the work.”

“I’m chairman and do all the planning,” Veve reminded her helpers. “Miss Gordon said so. Each one of us will cook one thing. I’ll fry the bacon. Jane can cook the oatmeal while Eileen scrambles the eggs.”

“But I don’t know how to cook oatmeal,” Jane complained. “Let’s settle for packaged breakfast food.”

“No! Oatmeal is easy to cook. I’ve watched Mother lots of times. You just measure some in and add water. That’s all there is to it.” When the girls told Miss Gordon of the menu they had planned, she raised her eyebrows slightly and said: “A little elaborate for a first meal, isn’t it?”

However, the Brownie leader did not suggest any changes. She merely showed the girls where they could find needed supplies.

“Now if you need advice, don’t hesitate to come to me,” she remarked.

“Oh, we’ll get along fine,” said Veve confidently. “Cooking is easy.”

Deep shadows presently crowded in upon the little camp by the willows. Miss Gordon tossed a log on the fire, and the girls gathered about to sing and tell stories. By nine o’clock everyone was sleepy and ready to retire.

One by one the girls tumbled into their balsam bough beds, snuggling down under the blankets. The only space left for Veve was near the door.

Rolling up in her blankets, she pretended to be very comfortable. And at first she did not mind lying on the ground.

But as the night wore on, her back began to hurt. She rolled onto her side. In a moment it felt paralyzed, so she twisted into another position. “Quit squirming,” Jane said in a drowsy voice. “We want to go to sleep.”

Veve lay still as long as she could. The ground had begun to feel cold through her cocoon of blankets. Then something bit her squarely in the back.

Veve jumped and flung an arm out across Jane’s face.

“Say, quiet down or we’ll toss you out of the tent,” Jane said crossly. “We want to go to sleep.”

Except for Jane and Veve, the others already were in dreamland.

“Can I help it if something bit me?” Veve muttered. “I’m cold. I’m going out and sit by the fire.”

Some distance from the tent, the remains of a log still smoldered. Taking her blankets, Veve snuggled down by the glowing coals. At first she was fairly comfortable. But as the log died down, the cold of the night again needled her shaking body.

Finding a pile of wood which had been left for the breakfast fire, Veve kindled the dying flames. Again she was comfortable for an hour or so. After that, the wood was gone and the night went on and on.

Shivering and shaking, Veve wondered if the dawn ever would come. Not a sound could be heard from the tent where the other girls apparently were sleeping snugly.

When the sun finally broke through the willows, Miss Gordon, arising to start the fire, was surprised to discover Veve huddled by the dead ashes.

“Why, Veve, you look half frozen!” she exclaimed. “Didn’t you sleep comfortably last night?”

“Oh, I decided to get up early,” Veve replied quickly. “I’ll start breakfast right away.”

However, she continued to hunch by the dead embers of the fire, waiting until Miss Gordon had started a lively blaze. Gradually, she began to thaw out.

“We seem to be rather short of wood,” the Brownie troop leader remarked. “I’m afraid you’ll have to gather more in order to keep the fire going.”

“I’ll tell Eileen and Jane,” Veve said. “They should be up now to help me.”

Soon all the girls began to arise and dress. The sun climbed higher, drying the tent and warming the air.

“While breakfast is being prepared the rest of us may as well have a dip in the river,” Miss Gordon suggested. “Last one in is a sissy!”

Clad in bathing suits, the Brownies all dashed off to the beach, leaving Eileen, Veve and Jane to struggle with the fire.

“I can’t keep it going without more wood,” Veve complained, “and you two stand here loafing.”

“We do not!” Jane retorted. “There was a good pile of wood there last night. I know because I gathered some the last thing before I went to bed.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter,” said Veve quickly. “Just get some more, while I start the bacon. We have to have breakfast ready by eight o’clock.”

Soon the bacon began to sizzle in the pan. Satisfied that it was frying well, Veve turned to help Eileen break eggs into a dish. They could not decide how many it would take to feed eight hungry persons.

As they debated the matter, Veve suddenly noticed smoke rising from the frying pan.

“The bacon is burning!” she screamed, turning to rescue it.

“It’s burned you mean—to a crisp,” mourned Eileen as she saw the shriveled, blackened strips of meat. “Now what’ll we do?”

“Why bother with bacon?” Veve asked. “With eggs and oatmeal we’ll have enough. Here comes Jane with the wood now.” The girls built up the fire, but for some reason it refused to burn down to coals. Instead, it caused more smoke than flame.

“Oh, bother!” Jane exclaimed impatiently. “Who wants to wait all day? I’m putting the oatmeal on now.”

Following instructions printed on the cereal box, she added water to the oatmeal and placed the pan on the fire. In a short while, the kettle was black from smoke, but the water refused to boil.

“I’m sick and disgusted and mad!” Jane announced furiously. “Who ever thought camping would be fun?”

The girls still were struggling with the fire when the other Brownies raced in from the beach, dripping wet.

“We’ve had a marvelous swim!” Connie shouted. “And we’re starved. Is breakfast ready?”

“No, it isn’t,” announced Veve. “What’s more, I don’t think it ever will be!”

Miss Gordon, without saying anything, rebuilt the fire. Veve, Eileen and Jane expected her to cook the breakfast, but instead she sat down nearby with her back to a tree. “If first you don’t succeed, try, try again,” she remarked. “We’re all pretty hungry, but I guess we can wait a while longer.”

For the three cooks nothing remained but to start in all over again. Veve put on another pan of bacon, and this time watched it closely.

After the bacon was crisp, Eileen cooked the eggs. Miss Gordon told her when to take them off the fire so they would not scorch. As for the oatmeal, it proved so lumpy that no one wanted to try any. In any event, the cooks had forgotten to go to the camp store for milk or cream.

“On the whole, I think our cooks did very well,” Miss Gordon praised the girls. “However, as supplies have been used rather lavishly, we’ll need to go into Shady Hollow for more.”

“Can’t we get what we need at the camp store?” inquired Belinda.

Miss Gordon explained that the camp sold only perishables. Staple foods must be purchased at one of the village stores.

“I’ll go,” offered Veve. “After all, I used up the extra bacon.”

Miss Gordon also named Connie and Rosemary to make the trip, offering to take the three girls in her car some time after lunch. Meanwhile, she told the Brownies they might have a free hour in which to write letters or do whatever they liked.

“I want to make myself a balsam bed,” Veve announced promptly.

“I’ll show you how,” Miss Gordon offered.

The bed did not take long to make. After the balsam boughs had been laid in place, Veve went swimming with Eileen and Jane while the other girls explored the woodland trails.

At noon, the Brownies trooped in, eager for the stew, hot biscuits and canned peaches which Miss Gordon had ready for them.

“Camp is great when someone else does the cooking,” Jane sighed blissfully. “I wish we could stay here forever.”

In the early afternoon the girls played games, loafed on the beach and gathered stones. At three o’clock, Miss Gordon told Connie, Veve and Rosemary it was time to start for Shady Hollow. She had made out a long list of needed supplies.

“We should buy a water bucket also,” she remarked.

At Shady Hollow, the four separated, Miss Gordon and Rosemary going to the grocery store, while Veve and Connie went on to the hardware to purchase the water pail.

Now, directly behind the hardware store ran a railroad siding, but the two girls did not notice this immediately.

Carefully they made their purchase of the bucket, paid for it, and left the store.

Only then did Veve see the railroad tracks. A train with circus cars stood on the siding. The engine did not appear to be hooked on.

“Why, it’s a circus!” she exclaimed. “It looks like our circus!”

Veve meant that it appeared to be the same one the Brownies had witnessed a week earlier at Rosedale.

“It does look like the same one,” Connie admitted in astonishment. “I wonder if it is playing here?”

“Shady Hollow is too small a place. Probably it has pulled up on the siding so another train can go by.”

Thinking that perhaps they might see Eva Leitsall or Jim Carsdale, the girls cut through a vacant lot to the railroad tracks.

The Pullman cars were far up ahead. However, directly in front of them was a gaudily painted box car, the door of which stood slightly ajar.

“Wonder what’s inside!” Veve speculated. “I think I’ll see.”

Upending the newly purchased bucket, she stood on it and peeped into the car.

“Oh, Connie!” she exclaimed breathlessly. “Guess what? The golden coach is in here!”

“The one we saw in the circus?”

“The very same. Oh, it’s beautiful, Connie. Raise me up higher.”

“I can’t,” said Connie. “Pull yourself up on the edge of the car. Then you can see better.”

Veve swung herself to the edge of the circus car. She sat in the open doorway, her feet swinging over the side.

“Now help me up,” Connie commanded. “I want to see too.”

Veve pulled her up and they both sat there gazing at the beautiful golden coach.

“Maybe we shouldn’t sit here,” Connie said uneasily.

Now, neither she nor Veve once thought of being carried away by the circus train. So far as they could tell, the engine was not even hooked on. They knew too, they could jump to the ground any time they liked.

Veve scrambled to her feet the better to gaze at the golden coach.

“Let’s sit in it!” she proposed.

“Oh, no, Veve.”

“Just for a minute,” coaxed Veve. “Then we’ll meet Miss Gordon.” Before Connie could stop her, she ran over to the coach. “Say, it has red plush seats and everything. Do come see!”

Veve climbed into the coach and began to bounce up and down on the soft cushions.

Connie, against her better judgment, decided it would do no harm to sit in the coach for only a minute. She went over and climbed in beside Veve.

“Wouldn’t it be fun to ride in the grand procession?” she asked, her eyes shining.

“You play you’re the Queen,” proposed Veve. “I’ll drive the white horses.” She scrambled up into the high box at the front of the coach.

Taking a long whip from its holder, she pretended to switch the horses.

But Connie felt very uneasy. “Veve, we must meet Miss Gordon,” she reminded her friend.

“Oh, all right,” Veve agreed, replacing the whip. Now the two girls had been so engrossed in inspecting the beautiful coach, that they had failed to hear footsteps outside in the gravel.

Before they could climb out or say a word, the heavy door of the box car was slammed shut.