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diff --git a/36391-h/36391-h.htm b/36391-h/36391-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..398ce6c --- /dev/null +++ b/36391-h/36391-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,11504 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" > +<head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> + <meta content="The Meadow-Brook Girls Across Country" name="DC.Title"/> + <meta content="Janet Aldridge" name="DC.Creator"/> + <meta content="en" name="DC.Language"/> + <meta content="1913" name="DC.Created"/> + <meta name="generator" content="ppgen (1.12) generated Jun 11, 2011 08:27 PM" /> + <title>The Meadow-Brook Girls Across Country</title> + <style type="text/css"> + body {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%;} + p {margin-top:1ex; margin-bottom:0; text-align:justify;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size:x-small; text-align:right; text-indent:0; + position:absolute; right:2%; padding:1px 3px; font-style:normal; + font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration:none; + background-color:inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + .pncolor {color:silver;} + h1 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal;} + h2 {text-align:left; font-weight:normal;} + h1 {font-size:1.4em; margin-top:4em; margin-bottom:2em;} + h2 {font-size:1.2em; margin-top:4em; margin-bottom:2em;} + hr.pb {margin:30px 0; width:100%; border:none; border-top:thin dashed silver; clear:both;} + .sc {font-variant: small-caps;} + .center {margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; text-align:center;} + .larger {font-size:larger;} + .smaller {font-size:smaller;} + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + table.c {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + .caption {font-size: 80%;} + .sc {font-variant:small-caps} + div.center>:first-child {margin: .5em auto 0 auto;text-align:center;} + div.center p {margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;} + </style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Meadow-Brook Girls Across Country, by Janet Aldridge + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Meadow-Brook Girls Across Country + The Young Pathfinders on a Summer Hike + +Author: Janet Aldridge + +Release Date: June 12, 2011 [EBook #36391] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS ACROSS COUNTRY *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div class='figcenter' style='padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='i001' id='i001'></a> +<img src='images/illus-cvr.jpg' alt='' title=''/><br /> +</div> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='figcenter' style='padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='i002' id='i002'></a> +<img src="images/illus-fpc.jpg" alt="The Girls Made Camp and Ate Supper." title=""/><br /> +<span class='caption'>The Girls Made Camp and Ate Supper.</span> +</div> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:1.4em;'>The Meadow-Brook Girls Across Country</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>OR</p> +<p> </p> +<p>The Young Pathfinders on a Summer Hike</p> +<p> </p> +<p>By</p> +<p> </p> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;'>JANET ALDRIDGE</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p><span style='font-size:smaller;'>Author of The Meadow-Brook Girls Under Canvas,</span></p> +<p><span style='font-size:smaller;'>The Meadow-Brook Girls Afloat, etc.</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>Illustrated</p> +<p> </p> +<p><span style='font-size:smaller;'>PHILADELPHIA</span></p> +<p>HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span class='sc'>Copyright, 1913, by</span></p> +<p><span class='sc'>Howard E. Altemus</span></p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;'>CONTENTS</span></p> +</div> +<table class='c' summary=''> +<tr><td style='font-size:smaller'>CHAPTER</td><td></td><td style='font-size:smaller'>PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>I.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Night of Excitement</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chI'>7</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>II.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Red Eye in the Dark</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chII'>30</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>III.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Blessing and a Threat</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chIII'>39</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>IV.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Coming of Crazy Jane</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chIV'>50</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>V.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Catching the Speckled Beauties</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chV'>62</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>VI.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Call of the Dancing Bear</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chVI'>69</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>VII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Discovering Midnight Prowlers</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chVII'>79</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>VIII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Caught in a Morass</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chVIII'>90</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>IX.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Tramp Club to the Rescue</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chIX'>102</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>X.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>In the Hands of the Rescuers</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chX'>112</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XI.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Contest of Endurance</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXI'>124</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Meadow-Brook Girls up a Tree</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXII'>134</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XIII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Serious Predicament</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXIII'>146</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XIV.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Harriet Is Resourceful</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXIV'>152</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XV.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Race for Life</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXV'>163</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XVI.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Treat That Was Not a Treat</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXVI'>173</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XVII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Trying out the Gipsy Trail</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXVII'>186</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XVIII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Queen Takes a Hand</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXVIII'>196</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XIX.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Delving Into the Mysteries</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXIX'>206</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XX.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Getting Even With George</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXX'>217</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XXI.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Harriet Plans to Outwit the Tramp Club</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXXI'>225</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XXII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Combietta Concert</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXXII'>230</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XXIII.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Harmonica Serenade</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXXIII'>236</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XXIV.</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Conclusion</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXXIV'>244</a></td></tr> +</table> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<h1><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_7'></a>7</span>The Meadow-Brook Girls Across Country</h1> +<h2><a name='chI' id='chI'></a>CHAPTER I—A NIGHT OF EXCITEMENT</h2> +<p> +“Oh, where can Crazy Jane be!” wailed +Margery Brown. +</p> +<p> +“It isn’t so much a question of +where Jane may be as where we ourselves are, +Buster,” answered Harriet Burrell, laughingly. +“However, if she doesn’t come, why, we +will make the best of it. This will not be the +first time we have spent the night out of doors.” +</p> +<p> +“Are we lost?” gasped Hazel Holland. +</p> +<p> +“It looks very much as though we had gone +astray,” replied Miss Elting, who was acting as +guardian and chaperon to the Meadow-Brook +Girls. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, thave me!” wailed Grace Thompson, +her impish little face appearing to grow several +degrees smaller. +</p> +<p> +“Girls! Please do not become excited,” +urged the guardian. “There is no cause for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_8'></a>8</span> +alarm. Even if we have lost our way we shall +find it again on the morrow. Harriet, you have +the map. Suppose we examine it again and see +if we can find out where we are. We surely +must be near human habitation, and the country +is so open that really getting lost is quite +impossible.” +</p> +<p> +Harriet Burrell unslung the pack that she +carried over her shoulder, then felt about in it +until she found that for which she was looking. +She spread the map out on the ground at +one side of the road, her companions gathering +about and gazing down over her shoulder. +Miss Elting sat down beside the map. +</p> +<p> +“Here! Trace our day’s route with the pencil,” +she said. “This should be Harmon’s Valley. +That being the case, the village of Harmon +should be not more than a mile farther on.” +</p> +<p> +“There is no village anywhere near us, according +to the route we have traveled since this +morning,” answered Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, that can’t be possible,” exclaimed Miss +Elting. +</p> +<p> +“Please look for yourself, Miss Elting,” Harriet +replied earnestly. “After leaving Granite +Mountain we swung to the left as you will see +by the line I have marked.” +</p> +<p> +“Hm-m-m,” murmured the guardian as she +scanned the map. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_9'></a>9</span> +</p> +<p> +“It looks to me very much as though we had +taken the wrong valley,” said Harriet, as she +paused in her scrutiny of the map to glance up +at the hills that shut in the valley where they +now were. “See! There isn’t a town marked +on this map anywhere in this valley.” +</p> +<p> +“I believe you are right. In order to get to +our stopping place for the night we shall have +to cross those hills to the right. How far is it +across?” +</p> +<p> +“Five miles,” answered Harriet, after making +some brief measurements. +</p> +<p> +“Five mileth?” wailed Grace. “Oh, thave +me!” +</p> +<p> +“Tommy, will you be quiet?” begged Margery. +“You make me nervous. Miss Elting, +you aren’t going on, to-night, are you? I simply +can’t walk another mile. My feet are so +numb that I can’t feel them.” +</p> +<p> +“I can feel mine. They are ath big ath +elephantth,” declared Tommy. +</p> +<p> +“What do you say, girls? Shall we go on +or make camp for the night?” questioned the +guardian. “Remember, Jane McCarthy is no +doubt waiting with her car for us over in the +other valley. She will not know where to go if +we do not get in touch with her to-night.” +</p> +<p> +Grace, Hazel and Margery begged Miss Elting +to go no farther. They already had made +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_10'></a>10</span> +ten miles that day, which they declared was +quite enough. +</p> +<p> +“What do you say, Harriet?” asked Miss +Elting. +</p> +<p> +“Of course I am a little footsore, but I could +walk another ten miles if necessary. However, +the other girls do not wish to go farther, so I +vote with them to remain here for the night. +But won’t Jane be puzzled where to go in the +morning!” +</p> +<p> +“She will find us, my dear,” smiled the +guardian. +</p> +<p> +“If you think best I will cross the ridge, after +supper, and see if I can find her,” suggested +Harriet Burrell. +</p> +<p> +“No. I could not think of permitting you +to do that, Harriet. Jane will be sure to wait +at the meeting place we agreed upon until noon +to-morrow before starting on to the next stopping +place.” +</p> +<p> +“But we haven’t any plathe to thleep,” protested +the lisping Tommy. “I can’t thleep on +the ground, can I?” +</p> +<p> +“No. You are going to sleep standing up +like a horse,” answered Margery petulantly. +</p> +<p> +“No, I’m not. I’m going to lie down jutht +like I alwayth do,” lisped the little girl. +</p> +<p> +“Girls, stop your disputing. We have other +things to think of,” rebuked Harriet. “Let’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11'></a>11</span> +try to make the best of our unpleasant situation.” +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting, shading her eyes with her hand, +gazed inquiringly at the surrounding country. +It was barren of buildings except for a large +barn and a number of stacks and sheds, some +distance away in a field to the west. Still beyond +this was a clump of trees and bushes. +There was nothing else—no house, no human +beings other than themselves in sight. +</p> +<p> +“Girls, let’s investigate that miniature forest +over yonder,” called the guardian. “It +looks as though it might be an excellent place in +which to cook supper, provided we are able to +find water.” +</p> +<p> +“Supper!” cried the girls in chorus. They +realized all at once that they were hungry. +With one accord they snatched up their packs, +heavy as they were, slung them over their +shoulders and laboriously climbed the roadside +fence. Tommy caught her foot on the top rail +in attempting to jump to the ground on the other +side. +</p> +<p> +“Look out!” warned Miss Elting sharply. +</p> +<p> +“Thave me!” wailed the lisping Tommy and +sprawled on all fours on the other side of the +fence, kicking frantically as she fell. +</p> +<p> +“Are you hurt, dear?” cried Harriet, springing +over to her companion. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12'></a>12</span> +</p> +<p> +“Hurt? I gueth I am. Don’t you thee, I’ve +thkinned my nothe. Oh, I withh I were home!” +</p> +<p> +“No, you don’t. Think what a lot of fun you +are having,” comforted Harriet. “There! +You are all right now.” +</p> +<p> +“Am I all right?” +</p> +<p> +“Of course you are.” +</p> +<p> +“All right, if you thay tho,” nodded Tommy, +gathering up her pack and moving away with +Harriet Burrell’s arm about her. Miss Elting +and the other girls had started for the clump +of trees. Arriving, they quickly flung down +their packs. The guardian began hunting for +water. She found a stream of cold water just +inside the clump of trees beyond the field, as she +had anticipated. The greenness of the foliage +about the spot had told her that water was near. +In other parts of the valley the leaves were +turning. There was a strong suggestion of Autumn +in the air, which at night was crisp and +bracing, though the days thus far on their long +tramp, had been unusually warm for so late in +the Fall. +</p> +<p> +It was Harriet’s duty to build the fire. She +went about this task at once. There was some +difficulty in finding wood that would burn. +After searching she found some pieces of old +fence rails. These were of pine, and as they +were too long for a fire over which to cook food, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13'></a>13</span> +Harriet got out her hatchet and began to chop +them into smaller pieces. It was a hard task to +chop through a rail, sharp though the hatchet +was. However, within fifteen minutes, the girl +had accomplished the task and the fire was +burning. +</p> +<p> +“I am afraid I can’t promise a great variety +or quantity of edibles for supper,” announced +Miss Elting, “though what there is to eat will +be appetizing.” +</p> +<p> +“If there is enough, it will answer,” Margery +declared. +</p> +<p> +“Enough?” repeated Tommy wisely. “Buthter, +you thurely ought to diet—a girl ath thtout +ath you are.” +</p> +<p> +“I think I’ve heard you remark something +of the sort before,” sighed Margery wearily. +“I wish you would forget that I weigh—well, +never mind how much! The subject is a distressing +one. I’m almost too hungry to-night +to think of anything except eating.” +</p> +<p> +Tommy’s mischievous glance roved about, +resting first on Harriet, who with flushed face +was bending over the fire, then on Miss Elting, +who was slicing bacon. In addition to the +bacon there was to be coffee, supplemented by +a few biscuits. There was nothing very hearty +about that repast for healthy girls who had +tramped for hours under a warm September +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14'></a>14</span> +sun. Still, there were no complaints, save as +Tommy and Margery had voiced their disgust +with their present life. +</p> +<p> +Though none of these young women could +guess it, they were destined, before morning, +to encounter enough excitement to make them +all wish they had never started on this long +walk from Camp Wau-Wau, where they had +spent the summer, to their homes in Meadow-Brook. +</p> +<p> +Surely the Meadow-Brook Girls need no introduction +to the readers of this series who +will recall how, under the chaperonage of Miss +Elting, the four girls had gone to the summer +camp in the Pocono Woods, where, somehow, +each day of their life had grown increasingly +exciting. All of the things that happened to +Harriet and her friends at that time are set +forth in the first volume of this series, under +the title of “<span class='sc'>The Meadow-Brook Girls Under +Canvas</span>.” While in the summer camp the +Meadow-Brook Girls had passed through many +varied and exciting experiences. The mischievous +initiation of Harriet Burrell and Grace +Thompson by the older girls, the arrival in the +camp of Jane McCarthy, known to her friends +as “Crazy Jane” and the series of lively happenings +that followed her coming; the nocturnal +visit of a bear, and Harriet’s spirited chase of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15'></a>15</span> +the animal were incidents that contributed to +the interest of the narrative. +</p> +<p> +Harriet’s brave rescue of her companions +during a severe storm and her subsequent generous +treatment of the two Camp Girls, Patricia +Scott and Cora Kidder, who had plotted against +her, won for her the warm admiration of her associates +at Camp Wau-Wau. +</p> +<p> +When it had come time to leave the camp in +the great forest it had been agreed by the +Meadow-Brook Girls and their guardian that, +instead of returning by train they would walk +all the way home, disdaining any “lifts” or +other helps that prevented them from making +their way strictly on foot. +</p> +<p> +So endeared had “Crazy Jane” McCarthy +become to them all during her stay in camp +that she had been voted as one of their number. +Crazy Jane, however, would hear of but +little walking. She sent for her automobile, a +present from her father, and insisted on using +this in “scouting” and in carrying the tent and +provisions for the Pathfinders, as the Meadow-Brook +Girls now elected to call themselves. +</p> +<p> +Each night Jane would meet the girls at a +place agreed upon in advance. Then the tent +would be pitched at some distance from the +highway, and there the girls would spend the +night. But now, on the third day, the Meadow-Brook +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16'></a>16</span> +Girls had failed to meet their supply car. +What they were to do for the night, Miss Elting +did not know. Her first move was to see to the +preparation of the little food that they had with +them. +</p> +<p> +Jane McCarthy, with a full purse and a +wealthy, indulgent father, had claimed the right +of being purveyor of food on that long journey. +The speed at which that young woman traveled +permitted of her foraging far and wide. Whereever +she went she was likely to be remembered, +for it was her reckless driving that had given +her the name of “Crazy Jane.” Yet this light-hearted, +impulsive girl had wonderful control +of her machine. With all her reckless driving +she had never yet injured any one, though her +friends often remonstrated with her for her haphazard +style of running her car. +</p> +<p> +Supper finished, Margery and Hazel were +left to attend to the dishes, and to put them +in the packs, which were ordinary hunters’ bags, +made to strap over the shoulders. +</p> +<p> +“After you have finished the work, girls,” +directed Miss Elting, “be sure to extinguish the +last spark of the fire. Harriet, will you come +with me?” +</p> +<p> +“Thay, where are you going?” cried Grace. +“Pleathe don’t go away and leave uth here +alone. It ith going to be dark, pretty thoon.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17'></a>17</span> +</p> +<p> +“Don’t you want a place to sleep?” smiled +the guardian. +</p> +<p> +“Yeth, but it’th getting dark,” Tommy insisted. +</p> +<p> +“All the more reason for finding sleeping +quarters,” smiled Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +“Are you thinking of trying the barns?” +asked Harriet, as she and the guardian stepped +away. +</p> +<p> +“Yes. I don’t see anything else to do.” +</p> +<p> +“We’re going to have a storm,” Harriet +went on thoughtfully, “so of course we shall do +well to secure more shelter than we could get +by making a brush lean-to.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t believe we are in the least danger +of being disturbed in the barn,” the guardian +continued. “I don’t imagine there are any +other human beings within several miles of this +place. This is certainly a very lonesome bit of +country. It is the first day since we have been +out that we haven’t met some one. That may +be because we have kept away from the roads +to-day. We haven’t been on a highway more +than an hour all day long.” +</p> +<p> +“This is what I like,” answered Harriet. “I +just love to strike out across country and blaze +new trails. It’s ever so much more interesting. +But, Miss Elting, are you certain there is no +one about?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18'></a>18</span> +</p> +<p> +The guardian halted sharply and faced her +companion. She knew Harriet Burrell too well +not to understand that the girl’s question was +significant. +</p> +<p> +“What is it?” she asked. +</p> +<p> +“I saw some one not far from camp when +we were eating our supper,” was Harriet’s +quiet announcement. +</p> +<p> +“You are sure of that?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes; it was just beyond the woods there. +At first I thought it a fence post; then all at +once the post moved. I saw it was a person.” +</p> +<p> +“What was the person doing, Harriet?” +</p> +<p> +“The person appeared to be watching us. I +also discovered something else. The person +was a <em>woman</em>.” +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting threw back her head and laughed +merrily. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t think we need to be very much +alarmed at that. So long as it wasn’t a tramp +you saw, we won’t disturb ourselves.” +</p> +<p> +“She was a strange looking creature,” continued +Harriet. “I couldn’t make her out very +well. All at once she disappeared in the most +mysterious fashion. You said something. I +glanced up, then back to the place where the +woman had been standing and she had gone. +It happened in less than half a dozen seconds. +She would have to be a pretty lively person to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19'></a>19</span> +get out of sight in that time, wouldn’t she, Miss +Elting?” +</p> +<p> +The guardian nodded. They had now reached +the big barn. Like its surroundings, it was deserted +so far as they were able to observe. +Miss Elting wished to examine the place while +there was still light, so they hurried in, the +doors being wide open. The scent of hay was +strong on the air as they entered. There were +little heaps of hay on the barn floor, and on +either side in the mows the hay was piled up +high. Ladders led up to the top of the mows +from the barn floor. +</p> +<p> +“This looks nice and comfy, doesn’t it?” +smiled the guardian. +</p> +<p> +“The best sort of bedroom,” agreed Harriet. +“I hope there are no mice here?” +</p> +<p> +“Mice? Gracious! I hope not, too. I think +we can do no better than to climb the ladder +to the top of one of the mows, roll up in our +blankets and go to sleep. Which bedroom will +you take, the north or the south?” +</p> +<p> +“I think I should prefer the room on the +south side. One is more likely to get the morning +sun there,” answered Harriet gravely. +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting laughed. +</p> +<p> +“Thank you. I hadn’t thought of it in that +light. The south side bedroom will be best for +the Meadow-Brook Girls. I know Jane McCarthy would +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20'></a>20</span> +enjoy this sort of camping out. +As it is, she will have to sleep at a farm house +to-night. She will never be able to find us here. +Suppose you climb the ladder and see how the +land lies.” +</p> +<p> +“You mean the hay,” chuckled Harriet, running +up the ladder with agility. “Oh, it is fine +up here, and just as warm as can be. Won’t +it be splendid to sleep on the hay?” she called +down, peering over the edge of the mow. +</p> +<p> +After gazing over the mows for some moments +Harriet finally descended to the floor. +Next she and Miss Elting made a survey of the +yard back of the barn. The yard was surrounded +by empty sheds and great stacks of hay +and straw. It was evident that the owners intended +to winter considerable stock in this remote +place. +</p> +<p> +“Well, what do you think of it, Harriet?” +inquired Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +“Glorious! It is as clean and sweet here as +in our own bedrooms at home. I’ll tell you +what I will do. I’ll run back and get the girls,” +said Harriet. +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting nodded acquiescence and Harriet +hurried across the field, the teacher remaining +at the barn to investigate the place further +while Harriet went for her companions. This +she did, and decided that they were most fortunate +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21'></a>21</span> +in finding so comfortable a place in +which to spend the night. +</p> +<p> +Half an hour later she heard them coming. +Tommy’s chatter sounded louder than the conversation +of all the rest of the party. Twilight +had settled over the interior of the barn by the +time the girls came trooping in. +</p> +<p> +“Br-r-r-r! This place looks spooky,” cried +Margery. “We aren’t going to stay in here all +night, are we, Miss Elting?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, Margery. You are not afraid of the +dark, are you?” +</p> +<p> +“No-o-o. But——” +</p> +<p> +“There is nothing to alarm you. As we are +all rather tired, I propose that we go upstairs +and get to bed at once. I am sorry we shall +not be able to get our baths this evening. This +hotel isn’t provided with bath tubs. By the +way. There are matches in our packs, so we +will leave them below. One of the first things +a Camp Girl learns, you know, is to be careful +of fire both indoors and out. Strap your +blanket rolls over your shoulders. You know +it is quite a climb to your bedrooms.” +</p> +<p> +“Up there is where we sleep,” Harriet informed +them. The top of the mow was not discernible +from the barn floor now. +</p> +<p> +“What! Away up there?” demanded Margery. +“How do we get up?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22'></a>22</span> +</p> +<p> +“We shall have to climb the ladder,” answered +Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +Margery groaned. +</p> +<p> +“I’m glad it’s dark. If it were daylight I +know I should fall,” declared Hazel. “Let me +go first. I don’t want to stand here and think +about what is before me. If I stop to think I’ll +never have the courage to climb.” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t look down,” cautioned the guardian. +“There. That’s fine.” +</p> +<p> +Hazel was going up rapidly. Margery, with +many a groan, next essayed the climb. Harriet +was directly behind her. Margery had not gone +far before the wisdom of Harriet’s action became +apparent. A wail from Margery brought +a chorus of “ohs!” from her companions. +</p> +<p> +“I can’t go another step,” gasped Margery. +“I’m going to fall. Catch me somebody.” +</p> +<p> +“Margery, keep on climbing. I’m right below +you here. Go on,” urged Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I—I can’t. I’m dizzy.” +</p> +<p> +“Buthter ith theathick,” observed Tommy +from the barn floor. Harriet began lightly, +tapping Buster with a switch that she had +brought with her. +</p> +<p> +“Oh! Ouch! Stop it! I tell you stop it!” +howled Margery. +</p> +<p> +“Climb!” +</p> +<p> +Margery <em>did</em> climb. She went up the ladder +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23'></a>23</span> +faster than she ever had climbed before, wailing +and threatening every foot of the way. +Tommy was delightedly dancing about on the +barn floor during all this time, uttering a perfect +volley of unintelligible lisps and jeering +cries. Margery reached the top of the ladder +and flung herself panting on the hay. +</p> +<p> +“Be careful not to come too near the edge,” +warned Harriet, hurriedly clambering down. +Buster made no reply. She was too much out +of breath to say a word. “Now, let’s see what +<em>you</em> can do, Tommy. See if you can do any +better,” chuckled Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“You jutht thee me climb. I’ll thhow you. +I gueth I know how to climb. Buthter ith too +fat to climb a ladder. Don’t you hit me. I’ll +kick you if you do,” was her parting admonition +as she began running up the ladder. Rather +to the amazement of her companions, Grace +made the climb to the haymow without the least +difficulty. Only once did her foot slip from a +rung of the ladder. Grace recovered it with no +more than a smothered little exclamation. +</p> +<p> +“You next, Miss Elting,” nodded Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“I will wait until you get up. I wish to look +after the packs first. What would we do were +we to lose them? We shouldn’t have a thing to +eat for breakfast, and goodness knows when +we will reach a store to purchase food.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24'></a>24</span> +</p> +<p> +It was not long afterwards that the party of +young women were fussing about in the hay, +making their beds for the night. This consisted +in leveling off the hay and spreading +their blankets. Some little time was occupied +in working out the uneven spots, but after a +time they lay down with piled-up hay for pillows, +and rolled themselves in their blankets. +</p> +<p> +The girls went to sleep almost at once. Miss +Elting, however, remained awake until her +charges had finally settled down, as she supposed, +for the night. She was just about to +doze off when she was awakened by a scream +and a commotion at one end of the mow. The +guardian sprang up in alarm. +</p> +<p> +“For mercy’s sake! What is it?” she cried. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, thave me!” wailed Tommy. +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting and Harriet groped their way to +Grace. +</p> +<p> +“I got a bug in my ear. Yeth I did. It bit +me. I won’t thtay here another minute. +I’ll——” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll go out doors and sleep,” declared Margery +in disgust. “The idea of being kept +awake all night by that crazy girl.” +</p> +<p> +“Margery!” rebuked the guardian. “Now, +Tommy, you must lie down and go to sleep. +This will not do at all.” +</p> +<p> +“I will drag my blanket over and keep her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25'></a>25</span> +company, Miss Elting,” offered Harriet. “Perhaps +she did get bitten. I felt some sort of insect +crawling over my face a moment ago. +There now, Tommy, you just snuggle down and +forget all about it.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t like bugth,” complained Tommy, +somewhat mollified. A few moments later she +was sound asleep. Harriet, after making sure +that Grace was slumbering, once more permitted +herself to doze off. She had been asleep +but a few moments when a wild scream of terror +awakened them all. Harriet felt the blanket +jerked violently from her and heard a floundering +and threshing on all sides that filled her +with alarm. Stretching out her hand she found +that Tommy was no longer beside her. Tommy’s +voice rose in a loud wail of terror. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, Tommy!” cried Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“Girls, girls! What <em>is</em> the matter?” exclaimed +Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +“A mouthe, a mouthe!” shrieked Tommy. +</p> +<p> +“This isn’t a hay barn, it’s a lunatic asylum,” +scoffed Margery. “Oh, mercy! Help, +help!” she shrieked. The mouse had found +Margery too. In the darkness of the haymow +the Meadow-Brook Girls were now floundering +about in great alarm. Out of the disorder Miss +Elting quickly brought order. She spoke +sharply to Tommy, insisted that Margery +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26'></a>26</span> +should return to her blanket and commanded the +girls to make no further disturbance. +</p> +<p> +“The idea that Meadow-Brook Girls should +be so timid,” she rebuked. “Harriet, I am +glad to know that you are not.” +</p> +<p> +“I—I think I should have screamed too if a +mouse had—how do you know it was a mouse, +Tommy?” +</p> +<p> +“It ran right over my fathe. I gueth I know +what it wath. I gueth I will thleep thanding up. +May I, Miss Elting?” +</p> +<p> +“If you prefer to do so. I am going back to +bed. I must insist on the others doing the same, +or at least keeping quiet. We shall be in no +shape to go on with our journey in the morning +at this rate.” +</p> +<p> +Tommy decided that she, too, would lie down +and soon their regular breathing told the guardian +that most, if not all, of the Meadow-Brook +Girls were sound asleep. Harriet, however, +now that she had been awakened, found it difficult +to go to sleep again. She lay staring up +into the darkness for some time. +</p> +<p> +A sound down on the barn floor put her instantly +on the alert. At first she thought some +farm animal had wandered into the barn; then +the distinct sound of human footsteps, reached +her ears. +</p> +<p> +Harriet Burrell listened intently, as yet unafraid. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27'></a>27</span> +She crawled cautiously to the edge of +the mow and peered over. A human form was +faintly outlined down there. The figure was +groping along the edge of the mow and muttering. +The listener was unable to make out +the words. At last the intruder uttered a sharp +little exclamation of satisfaction, then began to +climb the ladder on the opposite side of the +barn floor. +</p> +<p> +“It’s a woman!” gasped Harriet. “Who can +it be, and what does she want here?” With +straining ears and closed eyes the Meadow-Brook +girl listened. She heard the woman +reach the top of the ladder and step off into +the hay. A few moments later Harriet heard +her mumbling at the far side of the mow, over +near the opposite end of the hay barn. “How +strange!” muttered the girl. +</p> +<p> +A low, distant rumble of thunder attracted +her attention in another direction. A moment +later a faint flash of lightning dispelled the +gloom a little. +</p> +<p> +“The storm is coming. I hope the girls +won’t wake up.” The darkness now seemed to +be more intense than before. Harriet was unable +to distinguish one object from another. +She crawled back toward her bed and was about +to wrap herself in her blanket again when a +second time she heard footsteps on the barn +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28'></a>28</span> +floor. This time she scrambled back to the edge +more hastily than before. At first she thought +the woman had climbed down and was going +away from the mow. The girl leaned far over. +She could see no one this time, but she plainly +heard some one climbing up the opposite ladder +again. Harriet wondered if it were tramps; +then she recalled that the first visitor, being a +woman, would be unlikely to be a tramp. +</p> +<p> +“It must be some one seeking shelter from +the coming storm,” Harriet finally decided, +now wondering if it would not be advisable to +wake up Miss Elting. Upon second thought the +girl decided not to do so. Instead, she leaned +farther out over the edge of the mow and peered +down anxiously. +</p> +<p> +A flash of lightning, more brilliant than the +first, lighted up the barn from end to end. By +the light of the flash Harriet Burrell saw that +which set her nerves to tingling and caused her +to utter a suppressed gasp. +</p> +<p> +Below her on the barn floor stood a man. He +was swarthy; his coal black hair hung down +in long, glistening locks. His eyes, large and +very black were gazing right up into the girl’s +face. She shrank back trembling. +</p> +<p> +“Oh!” gasped the Meadow-Brook girl. “Oh! +He saw me. Oh, what shall I do!” +</p> +<p> +The man began climbing the ladder on her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29'></a>29</span> +side of the barn. Harriet could hear him +plainly. She began crawling back into the mow +on her hands and knees. Her first inclination, +on reaching her blanket, was to burrow under +the hay so as to be out of sight. But it occurred +to her that her companions would still +be in plain sight were another flash of lightning +to illumine the mow. Harriet promptly decided +to lie still and await developments. She knew +that Miss Elting carried a revolver, and that +the guardian was proficient in its use. This +thought gave Harriet comfort. Besides, what +was there to fear? +</p> +<p> +To add to the excitement a second man entered +the barn at this juncture. But instead of +climbing up after the other man he took the opposite +ladder up which the woman had gone a +few moments before. The man on the girls’ +side was rapidly nearing the top. Harriet lay +trembling, hoping there would be no more lightning. +Suddenly a brilliant flash lighted up the +barn from end to end. It revealed the man +clinging to the ladder, his head on a level with +the top of the mow, glancing over it keenly, +searchingly. Harriet’s left hand stole toward +Miss Elting who lay within easy reach. It was +Harriet’s intention to awaken her as quietly as +possible as soon as the light died away. But +ere her hand descended on Miss Elting’s arm, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30'></a>30</span> +something occurred that made this move on Harriet +Burrell’s part, unnecessary. +</p> +<h2><a name='chII' id='chII'></a>CHAPTER II—THE RED EYE IN THE DARK</h2> +<p> +There was an ominous snapping sound; +then the rung of the ladder gave way +and the man fell backward to the floor. +</p> +<p> +“Oh! He has fallen!” gasped Harriet, in +dismay, as she scrambled hastily toward the +edge of the mow. “He must be seriously injured.” +</p> +<p> +“What ith that noithe?” demanded Grace. +</p> +<p> +“Sh-h-h!” warned Harriet softly. +</p> +<p> +Nothing more was heard from Grace for the +time being. She had dropped to sleep again. +Fortunately none of the others had been awakened +by the racket, but Harriet’s heart was +beating rapidly. She leaned over the edge of +the mow. What the next flash of lightning revealed +relieved her anxiety somewhat. She saw +the man get up and rub his back. She saw, too, +that he had fallen on a heap of hay, the latter +undoubtedly having saved him from severe injury. +A moment later he limped across the +floor and began climbing up the ladder on the +other side of the barn. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31'></a>31</span> +</p> +<p> +“Thank goodness!” muttered Harriet. “I +hope no more of them come in here to-night. I +shall scream if they do. I know I shall.” +</p> +<p> +The man threw himself, grumbling, on the +hay; silence once more settled over the barn +so far as the occupants were concerned. The +thunder was now growing louder, the lightning +flashes became more frequent. Harriet, however, +felt no particular alarm. She was unafraid +of thunder storms, and gave no thought +to the fact that barns are more frequently struck +by lightning than are dwelling houses. +</p> +<p> +By this time her companions had begun to +stir restlessly. Miss Elting sat up. +</p> +<p> +“Harriet, is that you?” she asked in a low +tone. +</p> +<p> +“Yes.” +</p> +<p> +“What are you doing?” +</p> +<p> +“Just looking about a little,” replied Harriet +in a whisper, not deeming it advisable to alarm +the guardian by telling her what she had just +discovered. +</p> +<p> +“How long has it been storming?” asked the +guardian. +</p> +<p> +“Only a little while. I do not believe it is +going to amount to anything. I hope this old +barn doesn’t leak.” +</p> +<p> +“No, I do not believe it will. There is too +much valuable hay here. The owner undoubtedly has seen +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32'></a>32</span> +to it that the roof is sound. Are +you going to try to sleep?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes.” +</p> +<p> +Harriet lay down, but she did not sleep. The +memory of the old woman and the two men +over in the other mow, banished all thought of +sleep from her mind. She did not know whether +the woman knew the men were there or not. +Perhaps they might belong to the same party. +However, there had been no conversation between +them and while the two men were near +the outer edge of the mow, the woman was at +the far end of the barn as nearly as Harriet +was able to determine. +</p> +<p> +Soon after that, rain drops began to patter on +the barn roof. Then it began to rain heavily. +Harriet nestled deeper into the blanket and lay +listening. There was no sound from their +neighbors on the other side. +</p> +<p> +At last the listening girl closed her eyes. No +sooner had she done so than she opened them +again. A flash of lightning, more brilliant than +any she had yet seen, was playing along the +rafters of the barn. The thunder followed the +flash just as Harriet threw an arm over her +eyes to shut out the light. It was not a particularly +heavy clap of thunder, just a quick, +sharp report. Above the report a shrill scream +of terror rang out. Then all was silent. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33'></a>33</span> +</p> +<p> +Instantly every one of the Meadow-Brook +Girls sat up wide awake. +</p> +<p> +“What—what is it?” cried Margery. +</p> +<p> +“Girls! Girls! are you all right?” called +the guardian. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, what ith it? Did the barn fall down?” +wailed Tommy in great alarm. +</p> +<p> +“What has happened?” questioned Hazel +Holland excitedly. +</p> +<p> +Harriet did not speak. She was listening to +what the others of her party had not noticed, +a sudden sound of voices in the other mow, and +the hasty clambering down the ladder of the +two men she had seen go to the opposite mow. +At least she believed it to be the two men. Evidently +they had become alarmed, either by the +lightning, the scream of the woman, or by the +cries of the Meadow-Brook Girls. They ran out +of the barn, making no attempt to go quietly. +Once on the outside she heard one of them +shout. +</p> +<p> +“I heard thome one!” exclaimed Tommy. +</p> +<p> +“So did I,” agreed Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“I thought I, too, heard some one cry out,” +said Miss Elting. “Perhaps it was a night bird +fleeing from the storm.” +</p> +<p> +“It was no night bird, Miss Elting,” said +Harriet in a low tone. “Did you hear that +scream? Some one is in trouble. There is a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34'></a>34</span> +woman on the other side of the mow. What +shall we do?” +</p> +<p> +“A woman?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, yes. She climbed up to the mow a long +time ago. Oh, look, look!” +</p> +<p> +A tiny red eye had suddenly appeared at the +far end of the hay barn. It appeared to have +risen out of the hay at the extreme end of the +opposite mow. The girls gazed at it in silence. +They did not understand the meaning of the +strange dull red spot. Even Harriet was for +the moment, puzzled. Then all at once she understood. +</p> +<p> +“Quick! Get down to the floor! Don’t +waste a minute! Miss Elting please look after +the girls. There’s a rung on the ladder broken. +Watch that no one falls. I’m going.” +</p> +<p> +“Harriet! Harriet! What do you mean?” +</p> +<p> +“The woman! I must get her. I may want +you to help me. If I call you, come at once. Oh, +I must hurry, Miss Elting.” +</p> +<p> +“Thee! That red eye ith getting bigger,” +cried Tommy. +</p> +<p> +“It is fire, Miss Elting,” whispered Harriet. +“The barn is on fire. The last bolt of lightning +must have set fire to the hay. Don’t tell +the girls now, but get them down to the barn +floor as quickly as possible. There is going to +be an awful fire.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35'></a>35</span> +</p> +<p> +Harriet bounded toward the ladder. +</p> +<p> +“Harriet! Don’t go. I will go,” shouted the +guardian. +</p> +<p> +“I know where she is,” cried Harriet, swinging +herself to the ladder using care not to lose +her footing on the broken rung. +</p> +<p> +“The broken rung is the fifth one down,” she +called. Grasping the sides of the ladder she +permitted herself to slide all the way to the bottom, +wholly unconscious of the fact that the +skin was being scraped from the palms of her +hands. +</p> +<p> +Reaching the barn floor the girl dashed across +it to the opposite side. A few precious seconds +were lost in groping for the ladder there. She +found it, ran up with the speed of a squirrel, +then went stumbling and falling across the mow +toward the red eye that was now growing into a +great red glare. +</p> +<p> +“Where are you?” she cried, raising her +voice to a high pitch. +</p> +<p> +There was no response from her side. From +the other mow came the answer from Margery, +who did not understand: “We’re here.” +</p> +<p> +The red eye was now lighting up the far end +of the mow so that Harriet was able to see +much more clearly. Little piles of hay formed +deceiving shadows. She ran first to one, then +to another, in this way losing precious seconds. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36'></a>36</span> +</p> +<p> +All at once the girl caught sight of a dark +object lying on the hay. She ran toward it. It +was the huddled form of an old woman, her eyes +wide and staring. Harriet feared she was +dead. The fire had already crept perilously +near to the woman. The flames at one point +had communicated with the roof and were eating +their way through it. The girls on the other +mow now realized that the barn was on fire. A +chorus of wails reached Harriet. But she knew +her companions were in good hands, that Miss +Elting would get them out safely. +</p> +<p> +Harriet grasped the old woman under the +arms and began dragging her toward the edge +of the mow. +</p> +<p> +“I’ve got her!” she screamed. “Come and +help me as soon as you can, Miss Elting. Get +the girls down and make them go outside. You +will have to hurry. The roof may fall in. Make +a rope of the blankets. We shall have to lower +her to the ground. She is helpless.” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll be with you in a moment,” called the +calm, confident voice of the guardian. Miss +Elting was always to be depended upon in an +emergency. She had gotten the other girls +safely down before Harriet had called out to +her, thinking that Harriet might need her undivided +assistance in rescuing the woman from +her perilous position. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37'></a>37</span> +</p> +<p> +“Outdoors, girls, every one of you,” she commanded. +“Don’t you dare come near the barn! +Harriet is rescuing some one from the other +mow. I am going to help her. Leave the +blankets, but take the packs with you.” She +gave the protesting Tommy a push toward the +door. Hazel grasped Grace by the arm and +hurried her out of the barn. Margery needed +no assistance. She was in as great a hurry to +leave the barn as Miss Elting was to have her +do so. +</p> +<p> +The guardian climbed the ladder as rapidly +as possible, after having knotted the five +blankets into a kind of rope. She tested each +knot with her full strength; then being satisfied +that the rope would stand a heavy strain, +she began climbing the ladder holding one end +of the blanket rope. At the top of the ladder +the heat was suffocating, the smoke blinding. +Harriet was coughing and choking. She was +on the verge of collapse, having inhaled a great +deal of smoke. +</p> +<p> +“Will—will it reach?” Miss Elting gasped. +</p> +<p> +“I think so.” +</p> +<p> +“Ti—ie it under her arms. Go below to +catch her if she falls. I’ll let her down,” promised +Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“Get down yourself as fast as you can,” commanded +the guardian. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38'></a>38</span> +</p> +<p> +Harriet did not move. She buried her head +in her skirt and crouched down close to the edge +of the mow in an effort to get some fresh air, +but without very great success. +</p> +<p> +“Now go, please,” urged Harriet. “You are +strong enough to catch her if the rope breaks. +I’m not. I know how to handle it at this end. +Hurry, Miss Elting. We haven’t a second to +lose.” +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting hesitated, glanced quickly at her +companion, then started down the ladder. Harriet +took a quick turn of the rope about a beam. +Without the least hesitation, she slid the unconscious +woman over the edge of the mow feet +first. The girl prayed fervently that the rope +might hold. It did. Little by little, though as +rapidly as she dared, the girl lowered her burden. +Sparks were flying all about her. She +stood enveloped in a cloud of smoke, but not +for an instant did the girl give thought to her +own perilous position. +</p> +<p> +“I’ve got her,” screamed Miss Elting. +“Come down. Be quick, oh do be quick.” +</p> +<p> +Harriet’s fingers released the rope. She +staggered toward the ladder groping blindly +for it. Reaching it she sank down choking. +</p> +<p> +“Can you make it?” called the guardian. +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” was the faint reply. “Get—get her +out.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39'></a>39</span> +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting seeing that Harriet was coming +down the ladder, hastily dragged the unconscious +woman out into the open air. The way +seemed endless to the descending girl. About +half way down her fingers relaxed. Harriet +fell, landing heavily in a heap on the barn floor. +She lay where she had fallen, with the flames +crackling overhead as they leaped across the +intervening space and began devouring the mow +on the opposite side. +</p> +<h2><a name='chIII' id='chIII'></a>CHAPTER III—A BLESSING AND A THREAT</h2> +<p> +From end to end of the great hay barn +the roof was now wrapped in flames. +Now the stacks at the rear began blazing. +The entire building was doomed to destruction. +In the meantime, Miss Elting, having +dragged the woman to a point of safety, +was working to revive her. So engrossed was +she that, for the moment, all thought of Harriet +Burrell escaped her until she was reminded +of Harriet by Tommy. +</p> +<p> +“Where ith Harriet?” piped Tommy. +</p> +<p> +“Harriet? Oh!” gasped the guardian. +</p> +<p> +Tommy understood without further explanation +and darted toward the barn, with Miss +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40'></a>40</span> +Elting running after her to bring her back. But +there was no stopping Tommy when once she +had started to carry out a resolve. She ran to +the barn on winged feet and plunged into the +dense cloud of smoke that issued from the burning barn. +The little girl had no idea what she +would do when she got there, and perhaps she +might have been injured before Miss Elting +reached her, had Tommy not fallen accidently +over Harriet. The latter was unconscious from +the smoke she had inhaled. Tommy grabbed +her by the arms and began dragging her out. +The little girl had gotten to the door with her +burden as Miss Elting reached the scene. +</p> +<p> +“Brave Tommy!” cried the guardian. “You +shall have a whole string of Camp Girls’ beads +for this. Let Harriet lie where she is for the +present. Place her on her back so the rain may +beat in her face. She will be all right in a few +moments.” +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting did not know that Harriet had +fallen, and that it was not only the smoke but +the shock of the fall as well that had overcome +her. +</p> +<p> +“But, thuppothe the barn fallth down!” exclaimed +Tommy. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, you are right. We must get her +farther away.” Together they carried Harriet +out to the place where the old woman lay. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41'></a>41</span> +When they reached there the old woman was +sitting up looking about her in a dazed manner. +Shouts and cries off toward the highway told +the little company that men were hastening to +the scene of the fire. +</p> +<p> +Harriet became conscious in a short time, but +she had frequent coughing spells for some minutes. +</p> +<p> +“That ith right. Cough up all the thmoke,” +suggested Tommy wisely. “You’ll feel better +after you get the thmoke out of your thythtem. +I know, for I thwallowed a lot of thmoke once.” +</p> +<p> +The men ran past the party of women, shouting +and gesticulating. There were a dozen of +them. Others could be heard approaching the +scene of the fire. Harriet, as soon as she was +able to talk, and the coughing spells became less +frequent, went over to the woman she had +rescued. The swarthy complexion, straight +black hair, and piercing black eyes of the woman +were the same characteristics that Harriet had +observed in the man who had fallen from the +ladder. +</p> +<p> +“Do you feel better?” questioned Harriet, +smiling a little. +</p> +<p> +The old woman nodded, her eyes never leaving +the face of her questioner for an instant. +</p> +<p> +“You have this young woman to thank for +being alive,” Miss Elting informed the old +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42'></a>42</span> +woman, stepping up to her and nodding toward +Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“You saved me, eh?” questioned the +stranger, looking searchingly at the girl. +</p> +<p> +Harriet did not reply, but Miss Elting answered +for her. +</p> +<p> +“You saved Sybarina from fire from the +skies?” insisted the woman. +</p> +<p> +“She means the lightning,” suggested Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, she did,” repeated Miss Elting. “She +climbed the ladder to the hay loft and let you +down with blankets tied together. Our blankets +are there yet.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I forgot them,” cried Harriet. “How +thoughtless of me! Now we shall have nothing +to sleep in.” +</p> +<p> +“Never mind the blankets. We have others +in the car.” +</p> +<p> +“You saved Sybarina?” repeated the old +woman, staggering to her feet. She had been +temporarily paralyzed from the electric bolt, +and was as yet barely able to stand on her feet. +</p> +<p> +“Please don’t mention it,” urged Harriet, +flushing. +</p> +<p> +The old woman seized Harriet’s hand and +gazed deeply into it by the light of the burning +barn. As she gazed she swayed her body from +side to side with quick, nervous movements. +</p> +<p> +“Ah! Sybarina sees that which pleases her,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43'></a>43</span> +crooned the old woman. “She sees a noble +girl whom the fires from the skies cannot +frighten. And she sees more. She sees wealth +and happiness and a great future for her who +fears not the fire from above. Sybarina gives +you her blessing.” +</p> +<p> +A heavy hand was laid on the old woman’s +shoulder. +</p> +<p> +“Here, you Gipsy woman. Were you sleeping +in that barn?” demanded a gruff voice. +</p> +<p> +“I met two Gipsy men running across the +fields to the west as I came down,” answered +another male voice. “The Gipsies are camped +about a mile and a half from here. I think we +ought to arrest the old woman, don’t you, +Squire?” +</p> +<p> +“Sybarina was asleep in the barn,” admitted +the Gipsy woman. +</p> +<p> +“And you set the barn on fire, too,” declared +the squire. “I’ll have to arrest you.” +</p> +<p> +“She didn’t set the barn on fire, sir,” defended +Harriet Burrell. +</p> +<p> +“The fires from the skies made the barn +burn,” announced the Gipsy woman. +</p> +<p> +“Who are you?” demanded the man, turning +sharply to Harriet. “I suppose you will +tell me <em>you</em> weren’t sleeping in my barn?” +</p> +<p> +“On the contrary, we were,” interjected Miss +Elting. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44'></a>44</span> +</p> +<p> +“Then I arrest the whole parcel of you.” +</p> +<p> +“Thave me!” wailed Tommy Thompson. +“We didn’t thet your old barn on fire. We +were jutht thleeping there, that wath all.” +</p> +<p> +“You will all stay here till I get through +with this fire; then I’ll hold court on you and +if you don’t answer to suit me I’ll have you all +over to the county seat to-morrow.” +</p> +<p> +“No one set your barn on fire, sir,” declared +Harriet, with emphasis. “The barn was struck +by lightning.” +</p> +<p> +“Did you see it?” +</p> +<p> +“I can’t say that I saw the lightning strike, +but I saw the flash, then saw the fire start up +directly afterwards. I heard this woman +scream and we hurried to her rescue. She was +unconscious. The bolt had nearly killed her. +That proves that it was lightning, not matches, +that set your barn on fire.” +</p> +<p> +“What were you doing in my barn?” +</p> +<p> +“Thleeping with the mithe and the bugth,” +volunteered Tommy. +</p> +<p> +“Who be you? You ain’t Gipsies?” +</p> +<p> +“No. We are from Meadow-Brook, and we +are walking home from the Pocono Woods, +where we have been spending the summer in +camp,” Miss Elting informed the man. +</p> +<p> +“So, that’s it, hey?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, sir. A young woman friend of ours +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45'></a>45</span> +usually meets us at night. She has our equipment +in her automobile, but we took the wrong +trail to-day, and have lost her. She is over in +the other valley waiting for us, I think.” +</p> +<p> +“Is she a crazy woman with light hair that +streams over her shoulders, and does she drive +her car as though she was running a race?” +</p> +<p> +“From your description I think you must +have met Miss McCarthy,” answered the guardian, +smiling a little. “Have you seen her to-day?” +</p> +<p> +“I should say I had. She nigh killed a calf +of mine this afternoon. I’d just like to get my +grip on her once. I’d make her answer to the +law.” +</p> +<p> +“Was your calf in the road, sir?” questioned +Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“Yes. What of it?” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t believe the law would do anything +to Miss McCarthy in that case. Of course I am +sorry for the calf,” said Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, the calf ain’t hurt. Jest lost a little +hair off her tail, shaved off as close as ye could +do it with a razor. But that don’t matter. It’s +the barn and nigh onto a hundred tons of hay +gone up in smoke that bothers me. I wisht I +was sure you was telling the truth. If I +thought you weren’t I’d have you all in the lock-up +afore morning.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46'></a>46</span> +</p> +<p> +“Are—are there any mithe in the lock-up?” +questioned Tommy apprehensively. +</p> +<p> +“Eh? Stacks all gone, too?” This in answer +to a word from a farmer who came from +the rear of the burning barn. “Well, let ’em +go. There’ll be another crop of hay next year. +Mebby the price’ll be better then.” +</p> +<p> +The loss of his barn did not appear to trouble +the “Squire” greatly. All the time he was +talking he was regarding the women out of the +corners of his eyes. He saw that they were +drenched through and through. Tommy and +Margery were shivering. He decided that they +were persons of some consequence, even if they +had been sleeping in his barn. His reflections +were interrupted by Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +“Can you tell me which way the young woman +and the car went?” +</p> +<p> +“Can I? I guess I can. She went east. The +calf could tell ye, too, if she could talk, but she +wouldn’t say it quite so easy like as I’m tellin’ +you now.” +</p> +<p> +“Jane was looking for us,” nodded Miss Elting. +“She must have reasoned that we had +gotten into this valley by mistake.” +</p> +<p> +“Where you going to stay the rest of the +night?” questioned the squire gruffly. +</p> +<p> +“I am afraid we shall have to stay out in the +rain if we don’t succeed in finding another +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47'></a>47</span> +barn,” laughed the guardian. “My girls are +pretty well used to roughing it, though they +never before passed quite such a night as this +has been. Do you know of a farm house nearby +where we may get lodgings? We are perfectly +willing to sleep on the floor in the kitchen, provided +we can have the room to dry out our +clothes, and we shall be glad and willing to pay +for the trouble.” +</p> +<p> +“You may come home with me,” answered +the man, after a brief hesitation. +</p> +<p> +“What is your name, sir?” questioned Miss +Elting. +</p> +<p> +“Squire Olney, Miss. You see I ain’t a +squire by appointment. The neighbors jest call +me that because I settle their difficulties. I’ve +got more land in this township than all the rest +of them put together. That’s why I ain’t takin’ +the burnin’ of the barn to heart so much as you +think I ought to,” he added, with a broad smile. +</p> +<p> +“Have you a family at home?” questioned +Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +“My wife and I are alone. Children all married.” +</p> +<p> +“How far is it from here to your home, sir?” +</p> +<p> +“About a mile right over the hill. What do +you say?” +</p> +<p> +“We will go with you. We thank you for +your kindness. I am very sorry, indeed, that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48'></a>48</span> +you have lost your barn and your hay,” said +the guardian in a sympathetic tone. +</p> +<p> +The squire leaned toward her. +</p> +<p> +“I ain’t lost anything,” he said, with a wink. +“Insured. Insured plumb up to the muzzle, +and then some more. Boys, I’m going home to +show the ladies the way. You can have all the +hay that’s left. I want the ashes for fertilizer. +Ashes is good for the cut worms in the cabbage +patch. Come on, ladies.” +</p> +<p> +Squire Olney nodded to them and started +away. He halted sharply. +</p> +<p> +“Where’s that old Gipsy woman? She ain’t +included in the invitation.” +</p> +<p> +“Why, she has gone,” exclaimed Hazel. “I +didn’t see her go. Did you, Harriet?” +</p> +<p> +Harriet Burrell shook her head. She was +puzzled at the mysterious disappearance of +Sybarina, who had given her rescuer her blessing, +then so strangely slipped away. +</p> +<p> +The walk over the hill did not add to the +comfort of the Meadow-Brook Girls. They +splashed through deep puddles of water in the +little hollows, slipped and stumbled over bare +clay spots, fell over stones and roots until they +were not only soaked to the skin, but badly +bruised as well. Margery wailed and groaned +all the way. Tommy made fun of her until they +came in sight of the lights in the farm house. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49'></a>49</span> +</p> +<p> +“That’s the old shack that has covered us +for nigh onto fifty years,” he said, nodding toward +the light in the window. +</p> +<p> +The light and the comfortable looking old +farm house made the Meadow-Brook Girls almost +forget their sodden condition. Mrs. Olney +was standing on the front porch, gazing down +across the field. She recognized the squire’s +voice, but she was at a loss to understand who +his companions were. +</p> +<p> +“Hello, Martha,” he sang out, as he crossed +the road with his party. +</p> +<p> +“That you, Squire?” +</p> +<p> +“Yep. Me and the girls. Barn all burned +down, but I’ve brought the leavings. Me and +the girls is all right, Martha. But they’re wetter +than Old Sixty. Poke up the kitchen fire +and let them dry their clothing.” +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting stepped forward and shook hands +with Mrs. Olney, briefly explaining how they +came to be there at that time of the night. +</p> +<p> +“Female tramps. Got fired from sleepin’ in +the squire’s hay barn,” chuckled the old man. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Olney led the way into the house, where +she turned and surveyed her callers critically. +</p> +<p> +“Why, you poor things!” she cried, when she +had gotten a good look at the Meadow-Brook +Girls. “And you sleepin’ in the barn. It’s a +shame,” she exclaimed, bustling about. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50'></a>50</span> +“Squire, you tend to that fire yerself. I’ll git +out some dry clothing for these girls. Then I’ll +see about making some coffee and getting them +something to eat. Come into my bedroom, my +dears and change your wet clothes.” +</p> +<p> +“I am afraid that we are putting you to a +great deal of trouble,” demurred Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +“Not a bit of it,” rejoined Mrs. Olney. “Come +right along with me.” +</p> +<p> +Half an hour later, Miss Elting and the +Meadow-Brook Girls clothed in dressing gowns +and wrappers belonging to the hospitable Mrs. +Olney sat in the big farm house kitchen doing +full justice to the luncheon provided by the +farmer’s wife. After their exciting experiences +of the night the girls were tired enough +to gladly welcome the opportunity of sleeping +in a real bed, and in spite of their late repast +the five wayworn travelers slept peacefully, unvisited +by nightmares. +</p> +<h2><a name='chIV' id='chIV'></a>CHAPTER IV—THE COMING OF CRAZY JANE</h2> +<p> +After bidding good-bye to the hospitable +squire and his good wife, next morning, +the girls started over the fields on their +way down the valley on the other side of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51'></a>51</span> +ridge. Before leaving they had pressed their +camp dresses and the girls now looked very +neat in their dark blue uniforms that they had +worn at Camp Wau-Wau. They wore also the +official hat of the Camp Girls, to which organization +they belonged. The hat was of blue cloth +with the letters “C. G.” in white embroidered +on the front. +</p> +<p> +About their necks the girls wore a few +brightly colored beads which to them meant +more than precious stones, for each girl had +won her beads by achievements as a Camp Girl. +They hoped to win more on the long tramp +across country. Harriet and Tommy had won +several beads apiece, already, by their bravery +at the barn fire, though of course the beads had +not been awarded as yet. That would not be +until after Miss Elting had made her report to +the Chief Guardian at the completion of the +trip. +</p> +<p> +The girls were now well on their way hoping +soon to find Jane McCarthy and her car awaiting +them. It was a five mile tramp over rough +and steep hills, through woods and ravines. By +this time however the Meadow-Brook Girls were +becoming accustomed to rough traveling. The +only one who made any really serious complaints +was Margery Brown. She was usually +in distress, but it was observed that the stout +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52'></a>52</span> +girl was beginning to lose considerable flesh. +Her freckles were more pronounced, however, +and her face was redder than it ever had been +before. +</p> +<p> +The party, after a trying hike, reached the +top of the range of hills about eleven o’clock +in the morning. A long, sloping meadow +stretched away from them until it met the highway. +</p> +<p> +“There is the road,” cried Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“But Crazy Jane ith nowhere in thight,” observed +Tommy solemnly. +</p> +<p> +“This is where we should have been last +night,” nodded Miss Elting. “But we should +have missed all of our exciting experiences of +last night had we taken the right trail.” +</p> +<p> +“Missed them!” exclaimed Margery. “I +wish we had. I never shall get over thinking +about that awful fire and that horrid old Gipsy +woman.” +</p> +<p> +Harriet smiled to herself thinking that it was +well that Margery had not seen the dark-faced +men enter the barn that night. +</p> +<p> +“Shall we wait, or go on?” questioned Harriet. +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting decided that they should go on +after reaching the highway. She told the girls +to keep a sharp lookout for “signs.” The sign +of the Meadow-Brook Girls was a triangle. It +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53'></a>53</span> +might be found chalked on a fence or elsewhere +by the roadside. An arrow pointing away from +the triangle indicated the direction in which a +Meadow-Brook girl had traveled. An arrow +pointing straight up indicated, “I will return.” +An arrow pointing toward the ground meant, +“wait here.” A broken arrow, pointing in any +direction indicated, “danger.” +</p> +<p> +Reaching the highway the girls scanned the +fences. Most of these being wire fences there +was no space for any of the signs that they had +agreed upon before starting out on their tramp. +Occasionally they halted to examine a sign +board at the junction of two or more roads, but +nowhere did they find any trace of Jane and +her car. There were not even tire tracks in the +road. The pedestrians had almost made up +their minds that Crazy Jane herself had missed +her way when Harriet suddenly held up her +hand. +</p> +<p> +“I hear the honk of a motor horn,” she said. +</p> +<p> +“And there’s the sign on that hog pen,” +laughed Miss Elting, pointing to a pig sty close +to where they were standing. “That’s just like +Jane. The arrow says we are to wait here.” +</p> +<p> +“A pig pen ith thertainly a nithe plathe to +wait,” observed Tommy sarcastically. +</p> +<p> +“We don’t have to wait in the pen, you +goose,” jeered Margery. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54'></a>54</span> +</p> +<p> +“Tho I thee,” answered Tommy imperturbably. +</p> +<p> +“There she comes!” shouted Hazel. +</p> +<p> +Crazy Jane McCarthy, her blonde hair +streaming over her shoulders, rounded a bend in +the road, the rear wheels of her car skidding +nearly to the ditch on the outside of the curve. +Jane was shouting and waving one hand. She +brought the car up sliding and leaped to the +ground. +</p> +<p> +“You dears! Where have you been?” she +cried, embracing each of the girls in turn, not +forgetting Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +“The question, is where have you been?” +laughed the guardian. +</p> +<p> +“Racing up and down the road looking for +you,” returned Jane. +</p> +<p> +“Where did you sleep?” questioned Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“At a farm house over in the valley,” +chuckled Jane. “Where did you sleep?” +</p> +<p> +“We were in a barn part of the night. Regular +tramps, aren’t we,” answered Harriet, her +eyes sparkling. +</p> +<p> +“Yeth, and—and the barn burned down,” explained +Grace. +</p> +<p> +“What?” +</p> +<p> +“Grace is right,” Miss Elting informed +Jane. “Lightning struck the barn, burning it +to the ground. Harriet saved an old Gipsy +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55'></a>55</span> +woman from being burned to death. She had +been stunned by the bolt of lightning and for +the time being was paralyzed.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, what a shame!” exclaimed Jane. “I +always have to be absent when the fun is going +on. Think of poor me tearing up and down the +road, half crazy because I’d lost you and you +having so much fun all the time,” she complained. +“Who was the woman you saved, +darlin’?” she questioned, turning admiring +eyes on Harriet Burrell. +</p> +<p> +“A Gipsy. She called herself Sybarina,” answered +Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“And did the Gipsy tell your fortune, Harriet?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, she did,” cried Margery. “She said +Harriet was going to be a great lady, rich and +some other things that I didn’t understand. +Then Sybarina gave Harriet her blessing.” +</p> +<p> +“Now, Jane,” said Harriet mischievously. +“Tell us about the way you ran down the farmer’s +calf.” +</p> +<p> +Jane gazed at Harriet frowningly, then burst +into laughter. +</p> +<p> +“What do you know about that? Who has +been telling tales?” +</p> +<p> +“The farmer said you shaved the hair off the +calf’s tail with your car.” +</p> +<p> +“I was sorry for the calf, but you ought to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56'></a>56</span> +have seen the farmer wave his arms and run +after me. He was fairly pulling the hair out of +his head with rage,” chuckled Crazy Jane. +“Well, dears, what have you in mind? Want +to take a nice ride in the car?” +</p> +<p> +Harriet shook her head with emphasis. +</p> +<p> +“When we started on this tramp we agreed +that we wouldn’t ride in your car at all. I, for +one, am going to keep to that agreement.” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t tempt me,” said Hazel, chancing to +catch the merry eye of Jane McCarthy. +</p> +<p> +“We didn’t agree not to eat in the car, did +we?” questioned Tommy. “That latht gully I +fell into gave me an awful appetite.” +</p> +<p> +“Wait! I’ll set the table,” cried Jane, dashing +to the car and unlocking the luggage trunk +at the rear. From under the rear seat she took +a board, which she laid across the rear compartment. +Over this she spread a white cloth +and on it began placing a cold luncheon that +was sufficiently appetizing in looks to excite the +poorest appetite. Tommy eyed it longingly. +</p> +<p> +“Get in, girls,” commanded Jane. They +made a rush for the car. “I have a can of +milk in the locker, if the jolting of this old wagon +hasn’t soured it. You see, I drove rather fast +this morning. I wanted to find you. I didn’t +know what had become of you. Yes; the milk +is all right.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57'></a>57</span> +</p> +<p> +There in Jane’s car by the side of the road +they ate their luncheon, giving no heed to the +curious glances of passers-by. +</p> +<p> +“Did the farmer really tell you about that +calf?” questioned Jane, when the girls had +nearly finished their meal. +</p> +<p> +“Yes. It was in his barn we slept until it +caught fire,” explained the guardian. “He +then took us to his home and he and his wife +were perfectly lovely to us. I wish you had +been with us. He is a quaint character.” +</p> +<p> +“If he is anything like his calf, he must be,” +observed Crazy Jane. “It didn’t know enough +to get out of the road when it saw an automobile +coming at forty-five miles an hour. Where +are you going from here?” +</p> +<p> +“We must consult the map. Are there any +good camping places beyond here, or were you +going so fast you couldn’t see?” +</p> +<p> +“I never drive so fast that I can’t see,” reproved +Jane. “Yes. I know of a place, and +it’s a fine place for a camp too. It’s called the +Willow Ponds. It is just far enough back from +the road, and there isn’t a house in sight.” +</p> +<p> +“How far is it from here?” asked Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“Five miles.” +</p> +<p> +“Five mileth!” repeated Tommy wearily. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, help!” wailed Margery. “My feet +won’t hold out.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58'></a>58</span> +</p> +<p> +“Then ride with me,” suggested Jane. +</p> +<p> +“Thank you,” returned Margery, “but I consider +walking the lesser of the two evils.” +</p> +<p> +“I fear it will make too short a hike for us, +for one day,” reflected Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +“It will make a ten mile hike,” answered Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“Yes. But only five miles of walking on the +main trail. We shall have advanced only five +miles. However, perhaps it will be enough for +one day.” +</p> +<p> +“That latht gully I fell into gave me an awful +appetite,” reiterated Tommy apologetically, +as she helped herself to another slice of cold +roast beef. +</p> +<p> +“Tommy’s appetite doesn’t need that kind of +stimulant,” laughed Hazel. “Nor does mine. +I think I shall have to have another slice of +roast beef.” +</p> +<p> +The luncheon ended, the girls reclined on the +soft cushions of the car for half an hour, after +which Harriet and Jane put away the dishes and +the rest of the food. +</p> +<p> +“Are we ready to hike?” asked Harriet. +</p> +<p> +Margery’s face took on a pained expression. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I suppose so,” she complained. “The +sooner we start the sooner we shall get there. +Then a long night’s rest in our own tent. Oh, +joy, oh, joy!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59'></a>59</span> +</p> +<p> +“It may not be so very joyous, after all,” +retorted Miss Elting. “In this topsy-turvy bit +of country <em>anything</em> may happen, at <em>any</em> moment, +to keep us awake, or even to banish the +wish for sleep.” +</p> +<p> +“What we need,” said Tommy soberly, “ith +a nithe, good-natured dog that will bite folkth.” +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting decided that it was time to start. +So shouldering their packs the girls moved on. +</p> +<p> +“I’ll be driving behind you,” said Crazy Jane. +“I’ll be pace-maker. If you lag I’ll remonstrate +by riding over you! How will you like +that?” +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting and Harriet set a good stride. +The other girls straggled after them, Margery +being last of all. Behind them all Jane drove +the car slowly, the engine making no noise. +</p> +<p> +“We must walk faster, girls!” cried Miss +Elting, looking back. “You, especially, Margery. +Faster!” +</p> +<p> +“I couldn’t move any faster,” protested Margery +wearily “even if I were paid for it.” +</p> +<p> +Honk! Honk! Honk! sounded an automobile +horn behind her. There was a whirr of fast-moving +wheels. +</p> +<p> +HONK! +</p> +<p> +Turning, Margery saw the car bearing down +upon her at full speed. +</p> +<p> +“O-o-o-h!” screamed Margery. Picking up +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60'></a>60</span> +her skirts a trifle she fled down the road, while +Jane stopped the car just behind her. +</p> +<p> +“I’m sorry you can’t move fast!” Jane +called, teasingly. +</p> +<p> +Twice after that Crazy Jane forced Margery +to quicken her lagging steps until at length poor +Margery stepped aside, out of the road. +</p> +<p> +“Not another step for me, Jane McCarthy, +unless you keep ahead of the whole party,” declared +the persecuted Camp Girl. +</p> +<p> +“Get in and ride,” teased Jane. +</p> +<p> +“I—I believe I will,” faltered Margery, who +was limping now. +</p> +<p> +“Margery!” exclaimed Harriet rebukingly, +“if you ride, then you will have to drop out +of the hike, and we’ll send you home.” +</p> +<p> +“I—I think I’ll keep on walking,” Margery +decided meekly. +</p> +<p> +The rest of the journey was accomplished +without further complaints from either Tommy +or Margery. Arriving at a place where they +left the road and set off across a field, Jane +explained that earlier in the day she had asked +the permission of the owner of the field to camp +there. She thought it would make an excellent +camp site, the ponds being screened from the +road by a heavy growth of willows, and there +was plenty of dry wood to be had from the ruins +of an old saw mill that stood near the ponds. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61'></a>61</span> +The willows, also, would serve to hide the camp +from the gaze of curious outsiders, a condition +to be desired by young women tramping through +the country. +</p> +<p> +The car was driven in among the willows, +after which Harriet and Miss Elting began hauling +the sections of their tent from the rear of +the car. They went at the pitching of the tent +like veterans, and placed the sections together, +then raised the canvas, staking it down with the +expertness of circusmen. +</p> +<p> +Harriet left the final staking-down to Tommy +and Margery while she gathered the wood for +the campfire. Jane and Miss Elting, in the +meantime had begun getting out the supplies +for supper. Two folding tables were set up in +the tent, covered by fresh table cloths, on +which were placed the dishes and the silver +knives, forks and spoons that Jane had brought +along. She said silver was none too good for +the Meadow-Brook Girls. The water in the +pond, being from nearby springs, was cool and +refreshing. The girls decided to take a swim +late in the evening after their suppers had been +well digested. +</p> +<p> +It was a merry party of happy, brown-faced +girls that sat down to the evening meal with +the cheerful campfire blazing just outside, and +the cool, fragrant autumn breezes drifting +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62'></a>62</span> +through the tent. Everything was charmingly +peaceful, but the peace of the night was to be +rudely disturbed later in the evening, and the +girls were to have another exciting time of it +ere they finally got to sleep. +</p> +<h2><a name='chV' id='chV'></a>CHAPTER V—CATCHING THE SPECKLED BEAUTIES</h2> +<p> +“Oh, girls, let’s stay here the rest of the +fall. Let’s not walk any more,” +begged Margery. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, thee the fithh jump!” cried Tommy, +pointing to the pond. +</p> +<p> +“Trout, too. If I only had a rod and line!” +exclaimed Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“You shall have them, darlin’,” answered +Jane. “If you want anything you don’t see, +just ask for it. You’ll find the whole fisherman’s +outfit strapped under the car—under the +left mudguard. What about bait?” +</p> +<p> +“I think the trout will take flies. That is +what they are jumping for,” replied Harriet. +“Where will I find the flies?” +</p> +<p> +“In the box under the rear seat.” +</p> +<p> +“Thay, Harriet!” piped Tommy. +</p> +<p> +“Yes?” +</p> +<p> +“Catch me an oythter for breakfatht.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63'></a>63</span> +</p> +<p> +Harriet paused from jointing Jane’s rod +long enough to join in the merriment at +Tommy’s expense. +</p> +<p> +“Have you a dusty miller, Jane?” she asked, +glancing up with flushed face. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know whether or not he’s dusty, +but there’s an insect in there that they call a +miller. Dad says it’s a killer. I never saw it +show its teeth. It’s my opinion that it would +be a fool fish that would bite a thing like that.” +</p> +<p> +“You wait and see,” chuckled Harriet, fixing +the leader of the fly to the silk line, then +balancing the rod by its butt, swinging the line +this way and that through the air to see how +the reel worked. +</p> +<p> +“It will be too late by the time you get ready +to fish,” reminded Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +“It isn’t sunset yet, Miss Elting. There +should be good fishing for half an hour yet.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, are you going to fish, or are you going +to talk all the time during that half hour?” +demanded Margery. +</p> +<p> +For answer Harriet swung the pole above her +head. With a swish the dusty miller described +a long curve in the air, then dived for the water, +which it took with the faintest possible disturbance. +</p> +<p> +There followed a swish and a splash. The +rod bent until it seemed to the spectators as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64'></a>64</span> +though it would break under the strain. A +flashing, scintillating body jumped through the +air, then plunged down deep into the clear +waters of the pond. +</p> +<p> +“A fithh! A fithh!” screamed Tommy. +“Harriet hath got a fithh. Oh, goodie, goodie, +goodie!” +</p> +<p> +“Pull him in. You’ll lose him!” shouted +Margery. +</p> +<p> +“Now will you look at our Harriet?” cried +Crazy Jane, hugging herself gleefully, swaying +her body from side to side in the ecstasy of her +delight. +</p> +<p> +The trout that Harriet Burrell had hooked +was a lively fish. It was darting and diving +with wonderful strength and quickness. The +line cut the water with a swish, swish, swish +that was plainly heard by all. +</p> +<p> +“Get it, Harriet! Oh, do get it,” begged +Hazel, in an agony of apprehension lest the +trout succeed in freeing itself. +</p> +<p> +“The real fun of catching a fish is ‘playing’ +it, just as Harriet is doing,” answered Miss +Elting. +</p> +<p> +Tommy had run out on one of the beams of +the old mill race, where she was dancing up +and down at the imminent risk of a ducking. +</p> +<p> +“Now, look out, girls,” warned Harriet. +“I’m going to try to land him.” There was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65'></a>65</span> +a lively scurrying on the part of the girls. The +trout came up protesting and fighting every +inch of the way. Then Harriet, having reeled +in the line, pulled the trout in toward the bank. +</p> +<p> +Unfortunately for Harriet, but fortunately +for the fish, Tommy Thompson was in the way. +The trout slapped her squarely in the face ere +Harriet had discovered her companion’s location. +There was a shrill scream from Tommy, +a light splash as the trout dropped into the +pond, then a mighty splash as Tommy, losing +her balance, went sprawling into the cold water. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I have lost my fish!” wailed Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“Catch Tommy!” yelled Margery. +</p> +<p> +Harriet threw down her rod and ran out on +the beam where Tommy had been standing before +the disaster. Tommy was splashing and +coughing, making frantic efforts to reach shore. +Harriet knew the little blonde girl could swim, +else she would have gone in after her. But +Tommy wished to attract all the sympathy and +attention of her companions in her direction, +so she kept up a continuous screaming. Harriet +reached down and gave her a hand. +</p> +<p> +“How’s the water, Tommy?” questioned Harriet, +mischievously. +</p> +<p> +“Co-o-o-old,” chattered Tommy. “I’m +fr-r-r-r-eezing. What did you knock me in +for?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66'></a>66</span> +</p> +<p> +“Why, I didn’t realize that you were standing +there. Why did you make me lose my +fish?” +</p> +<p> +“There, there, girls! Tommy go into the tent +at once and take off your wet clothing. Put +on dry clothes unless you wish to go to bed +now.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t want to go to bed, I want to watch +Harriet catch fithh.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, you’ve scared them all out of the pond,” +complained Margery. +</p> +<p> +“I hope you fall in, too, Buthter,” was +Tommy’s parting salute, as she ran shivering to +the tent. Fifteen minutes later, she emerged +clad in dry clothing and apparently none the +worse for her recent wetting. +</p> +<p> +In the meantime Harriet had returned to her +fishing, laughing softly over her companion’s +mishap and their argument following the +plunge. There were screams of delight when +finally she landed a trout. Nor did she stop +until the sun dipped behind the western hills +and the speckled beauties went down into the +depths of the stream, or skulked under the edge +of its banks for the night. The result of the +fishing was a dozen fine trout, the smallest +weighing only a little under a half pound and +the largest weighing nearly two pounds, according +to the guardian’s estimate. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67'></a>67</span> +</p> +<p> +Harriet insisted on dressing the fish that +night, something she knew better how to do +than did any of her companions. The fish were +then put in a pail, the cover tightly fitted and +the pail hung in the old mill race, where the +cold water would flow over the receptacle all +night long. +</p> +<p> +“There,” exclaimed Harriet after her work +was finished. “We shall have a breakfast fit +for a king. Now I’m going in bathing. I am +so covered with dust and grime that I’m +ashamed of myself. Come, girls, aren’t you +going in with me?” +</p> +<p> +“What! Go into that ice cold water?” demanded +Margery. “No, thank you. I’ll heat +some water and take my bath in the tent.” +</p> +<p> +“I will go in with you, Harriet,” offered +Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“So will I,” added the guardian. “Come, +let’s get ready before the air gets colder. +Tommy already has had her bath.” +</p> +<p> +Had they not been inured to cold water and +exposure, the experiment might have been followed +by severe colds if nothing worse. But +the Meadow-Brook Girls were well seasoned +from living out of doors for the greater part +of the summer and from bathing in the cold +stream at Camp Wau-Wau. The first plunge +into the pond brought gasps and shivers, then +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68'></a>68</span> +they splashed about in the water, swimming +across the pond and back, again and again, +while Margery stood on the bank shivering out +of pure sympathy for them. +</p> +<p> +“That is what I call great,” cried Harriet, +rising dripping to the bank after Miss Elting +had called to the two girls to come out of the +water. “I could almost eat another meal after +that bath.” +</p> +<p> +“Tho could I,” piped Tommy, thrusting her +head out from the tent flap. +</p> +<p> +The two girls and the guardian ran laughing +to the tent, where, greatly refreshed by their +cold plunge, they changed their wet bathing +suits for dry clothing. +</p> +<p> +Now fresh fuel was piled on the camp fire. +The flames blazed high and the smoke curled +skyward in the still, clear evening air. Harriet +and Hazel were capering about the fire, +holding an impromptu war dance. Tommy was +standing near one corner of the tent watching +the performance, when, thinking she had heard +a sound behind her, she turned apprehensively. +</p> +<p> +For one horrified moment Tommy Thompson +gazed, then with a yell of terror sprang for the +tent. +</p> +<p> +“Thave me! Oh, thave me!” she screamed. +</p> +<p> +“What is it?” cried Harriet and Miss Elting, +rushing toward her. Then they, too, halted, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69'></a>69</span> +gazing into the deepening shadows that enveloped +the rear of the tent. Margery had caught +sight of the object that had sent Tommy into +an agony of terror. Margery had thrown herself +headlong into the tent screaming wildly. +Hazel, Miss Elting and Harriet stood their +ground. +</p> +<h2><a name='chVI' id='chVI'></a>CHAPTER VI—THE CALL OF THE DANCING BEAR</h2> +<p> +“A bear! A bear! Thave me!” came +Tommy’s wailing voice from the interior +of the tent. +</p> +<p> +“Be quiet!” commanded Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +“It’s on a chain. There are two men with +it,” said Harriet somewhat unsteadily. +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting stepped forward to obtain a better +view of the two men. She saw the swarthy +faces of two Italians. One was leading the bear +by a chain, the other carried a long pole. The +animal was a huge, ambling, cinnamon bear. +He wore a muzzle, and the sight of this gave +the woman and the two girls a greater sense +of security. +</p> +<p> +“What do you wish here?” demanded the +guardian. +</p> +<p> +“We maka da bear dance,” said the man, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70'></a>70</span> +with the pole, touching his hat politely. “You +giva mea twent-five cent I maka da bear dance.” +</p> +<p> +“We do not wish to see the bear dance. You +will please go away, or I shall call for assistance +to drive you off,” returned Miss Elting +boldly. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, let the bear dance. It would be great +fun,” urged Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“Twent-five cent to maka da bear dance.” +</p> +<p> +At this juncture Margery came timidly out +of the tent. Tommy, white-faced, ready to run +at the slightest sign of alarm, crept out after +her. +</p> +<p> +“Will—will he bite?” stammered Margery. +</p> +<p> +“He will hurt his teeth on the muzzle if he +does,” answered Harriet Burrell laughingly. +</p> +<p> +The leader gave a sharp command. The bear +rose on its hind feet and began pawing the air. +It fixed its beady eyes on the face of Tommy +Thompson. Tommy uttered a little cry and +shrank back. +</p> +<p> +“He lika da littla girl,” grinned the Italian. +</p> +<p> +“Never mind being personal. If you will +keep your distance we will pay you a quarter +to see the bear dance.” Miss Elting drew a +coin from her pocket, and stepping forward, +without the least hesitation, handed it to the +man with the pole. “Keep him over on that +side of the fire. You two men remain over there +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71'></a>71</span> +also. Remember, we are quite well prepared +to assert our rights if you do not do as you +are told. Watch that neither of them gets into +the tent, Harriet,” she added in a whisper. +</p> +<p> +Harriet Burrell nodded understandingly. The +bear, in response to frequent prods of the pole, +ambled about, dancing awkwardly, now and +then uttering a growl of resentment at the +treatment he was receiving. His master put +the animal through its paces. At this juncture, +Jane McCarthy, who, some time before, had +driven off to a farm house in quest of milk for +breakfast, drove in with a great rattle and honking. +At first the Italians were for dragging +their bear away. But, upon discovering that +the newcomer was only another young woman, +they grinned and went on with the performance. +</p> +<p> +“Hello! what have we here?” cried Jane. +“Where did you catch that beast? Hey, you +men! Didn’t I pass you on the road this afternoon? +Yes, I did. I recognize your friend, +the bear. Better look out for those fellows. I +don’t like the looks of them,” declared Crazy +Jane to Miss Elting in a low voice. “I’d a +heap sooner trust the bear than the men, and +I wouldn’t care to turn my back on either for +very long at one time.” Then turning to the +men she said: “Make your bear do his tricks +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72'></a>72</span> +over again. I haven’t seen the show, you +know.” +</p> +<p> +“Twent-five cent,” answered the man. +</p> +<p> +Jane looked at him for a few seconds, then, +throwing back her head, laughed loudly. +</p> +<p> +“Twent-five cents, eh? I guess not! Does +he dance, or does he not?” she demanded. +</p> +<p> +For answer the man with the pole gave the +bear a vicious poke, the other led the animal +to a small tree, to which he tied him. +</p> +<p> +“My gracious, are they going to camp here?” +gasped Margery. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t be afraid. We will send them on +their way soon enough,” answered Harriet in +a low voice. “I wouldn’t make them angry, +Miss Elting.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t intend to.” +</p> +<p> +“Leave them to me. See here, men, what +do you propose to do now?” demanded Jane +briskly. +</p> +<p> +“We lika somathing to eat.” +</p> +<p> +“All right. You shall have somathing. +Twent-five cent please,” mimicked Crazy Jane, +holding out a hand. She was so droll about it +that the girls burst out laughing. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, you shouldn’t have done that. See, +you have made them angry,” whispered Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t care if I have. I’ll be getting angry +myself, pretty soon—maybe.” +</p> +<div class='figcenter' style='padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='i003' id='i003'></a> +<img src="images/illus-073.jpg" alt="“Twent-five Cent, Please,” mimicked Jane." title=""/><br /> +<span class='caption'>“Twent-five Cent, Please,” mimicked Jane.</span> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75'></a>75</span></div> +<p> +“Shall I get something for them, Miss Elting?” +questioned Harriet. +</p> +<p> +The guardian nodded. Harriet ran into the +tent, where she quickly prepared some roast +beef sandwiches. These she carried out and +handed to the leader of the bear. He divided +with his companion. The two men sat down +by the fire and began eating voraciously. +</p> +<p> +“You gotta coffee?” asked the leader, his +mouth so full of the sandwich he was eating +that he was barely understandable. +</p> +<p> +“No. We have no coffee made,” replied Miss +Elting. “You will have to get along with what +you have.” +</p> +<p> +“You maka coffee. You maka now!” +</p> +<p> +“What?” cried Crazy Jane belligerently. +“You order us to make coffee for you, you lazy +good-for-nothings? Get out of here before I +lose my temper with you.” +</p> +<p> +“Easy, Jane!” warned Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +“You no giva coffee, I letta out da bear,” +threatened the leader, scrambling up and running +to the tree where the cinnamon bear was +secured. The second Italian also had risen to +his feet. He was edging toward the rear of the +tent, evidently thinking that he was not observed. +But Harriet, though not appearing to +notice, was watching him narrowly. Tommy +and Margery were trembling with fear. Harriet and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76'></a>76</span> +Jane were unafraid. They were getting +a little angry, however. Miss Elting +slipped into the tent and getting her revolver, +secreted it in a fold of her skirt. Just as she +emerged the second Italian ducked in under the +edge of the tent. The tent had been staked +down firmly and as the man was somewhat +stout he stuck when half way under the side +wall. +</p> +<p> +“Come out of that,” commanded Harriet. +</p> +<p> +Instead of obeying her the man tried to wriggle +in. +</p> +<p> +“I see I’ve got to attack him from inside the +tent,” decided the girl. Wheeling about she ran +into the tent where, in the light from the campfire, +she could see the tousled head and rolling +black eyes of the man underneath the side wall. +Without speaking she seized a pail of water that +stood near the entrance of the tent and dashed +it full into the man’s face. +</p> +<p> +“Hurrah for Harriet!” cried Crazy Jane +from the tent door, where she stood waving her +arms now and hopping about gleefully. +</p> +<p> +Choking and sputtering the man wriggled +out from under the tent uttering a perfect torrent +of abuse in his native tongue. It was about +this time that Miss Elting discovered that she +had forgotten to load the revolver before taking +it from the tent. Meanwhile the leader had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77'></a>77</span> +untied the chain of the bear and was urging it +forward, evidently intending to frighten the +women. +</p> +<p> +“You giva me mon. I then-a go way with da +bear. You giva me mon,” he demanded angrily. +</p> +<p> +Tommy Thompson, at this juncture, found +her courage. Snatching up a burning fire +brand she charged the man leading the bear. +He leaped back to avoid the thrust of the fiery +club. The bear swung a giant paw at her. +Tommy hit him over the nose with the firebrand. +In the meantime Hazel Holland, following +Harriet’s example, appeared on the scene with +another pail of water, which she dashed over +the leader and the bear. +</p> +<p> +Fire and water were a little more than the +man or the bear had bargained for, so they +made haste to get out of the danger zone. +Crazy Jane, in the meantime pursued them +shouting and brandishing a stout stick that she +had picked up in the field. Jane chased the men +all the way to the road, with Tommy and her +fiery club in close pursuit. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, those rascals!” cried the guardian, +when the girls returned. “And that miserable +bear! I’ll warrant the three of them got the +fright of their lives. They won’t bother the +Meadow-Brook Girls soon again.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78'></a>78</span> +</p> +<p> +“I am not so certain of that,” answered Harriet, +smiling. “We did give them a scare, +though. But I’m sorry I had almost to drown +that one man. He was determined to get into +the tent. What do you suppose he wanted?” +</p> +<p> +“To steal something, of course,” answered +Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +“And Tommy. Did you see Tommy and her +torch, girls? Oh, wasn’t it a sight?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes. And Hazel and Harriet with their +pails of water,” chuckled the guardian. +</p> +<p> +“Tommy, dear,” exclaimed Miss Elting, as +the little girl sat down beside her, flushed and +triumphant. “You have earned a bead this +evening. I think each one of you is entitled +to a bright red bead. Now pile on the wood, +girls, so we shall have plenty of light. I don’t +apprehend further trouble, but it is well to be +prepared.” +</p> +<p> +“I will see to that,” spoke up Harriet. “I +have a plan that will make it unnecessary for +any one to sit up and keep watch.” +</p> +<p> +Harriet explained her plan, which met with +the approval of the others. That plan was +destined to fulfill its purpose later in the night, +for their excitement was not yet ended, and before +the dawning of another day, the Meadow-Brook +Girls were once more to distinguish +themselves. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79'></a>79</span><a name='chVII' id='chVII'></a>CHAPTER VII—DISCOVERING MIDNIGHT PROWLERS</h2> +<p> +“Have you a ball of strong twine in your +kit, Jane?” asked Harriet. “You +told me to ask for anything I wanted +but did not see.” +</p> +<p> +“Sure, I have. In the tool box. Wait. I’ll +get it for you.” +</p> +<p> +While Jane went for the twine, Harriet hurried +out, returning a few moments later with +two sticks, each stick being about five feet long. +Next she got a tin pail and stood the pail bottom-side-up +on the sticks. Her companions +watched her wonderingly. +</p> +<p> +“What <em>are</em> you trying to do?” demanded +Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +“Fixing a burglar alarm. You’ll agree that +it is all right after I have it finished. Now, I +want to run this twine all the way around the +camp. I shall need some round sticks. Help +me find some, Tommy. You have sharp +eyes.” +</p> +<p> +All hands set out to hunt for the desired +sticks. Harriet began thrusting them into the +soft ground at more or less regular intervals. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80'></a>80</span> +</p> +<p> +When the stakes had been placed loops of +string were tied near the tops of them, and +through these loops was threaded the long twine +until the camp was entirely surrounded by it. It +formed a thread-like barrier that seemed too +slender a thing to be of much use. One end of +the string was secured to the two sticks on which +the pail had been placed. The slack in the +string was taken up until the sticks and the +pail tilted from the wall of the tent at a sharp +angle. +</p> +<p> +“Hurrah!” cried the guardian. “That is a +most ingenious contrivance. How did you come +to think of it?” +</p> +<p> +“Nethethity ith the mother of invention, tho +my father thayth,” spoke up Grace. +</p> +<p> +Harriet nodded approvingly. The others +laughed. +</p> +<p> +“Tommy is becoming quite a philosopher,” +averred the guardian. “Aren’t you going to +give us a demonstration of your invention, Harriet?” +</p> +<p> +“Very well,” laughed Harriet. “Hazel, will +you go out and stumble against the string? +Don’t you dare to break it for—Oh!” +</p> +<p> +The two sticks had come down with a crash, +the tin pail rattling as it rolled over the floor. +Tommy screamed and so did Margery. +</p> +<p> +“There’s your demonstration,” announced +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81'></a>81</span> +Harriet. “Some one is coming. I hope it isn’t +those Italians again.” +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting with her loaded revolver, Jane +with her club, Harriet armed this time with a +stout stick, sauntered forth to meet the newcomer. +Jane had run to the dark side of the +tent, thrusting her club across the corner ready +to use it at the first indication of trouble. To +her disgust, the farmer from whom she had +obtained permission to make camp, now appeared +on the scene. +</p> +<p> +“It’s all right, girls. This is the gentleman +who let us make camp here,” called Jane. +</p> +<p> +“I just came over to tell you to take care of +your fire. If it runs it’ll burn off the meadow, +it being all fresh seeding there. I wouldn’t +want to lose it,” hailed their visitor. +</p> +<p> +“Thank you for calling our attention to it. +We are always careful of fire,” Miss Elting +made reply. +</p> +<p> +“What was it I fell over when I came in +here?” he asked, glancing about him. “You +certainly look mighty comfortable here.” +</p> +<p> +The girls looked at each other and giggled. +</p> +<p> +“It was a little contrivance of one of our +young women, so that we might be warned of +the approach of strangers,” the guardian informed +him. “You see, it warned us that some +one was coming.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82'></a>82</span> +</p> +<p> +“I guess you can take care of yourselves, +all right. Is there anything you want? If there +is, come over to the house. My wife is curious +to see this outfit. Maybe she will come over in +the morning.” +</p> +<p> +“Thank you very kindly for your interest,” +answered the guardian. “We shall be breaking +camp early in the morning.” +</p> +<p> +The farmer left. Harriet nodded to her companions. +</p> +<p> +“Was the demonstration satisfactory?” she +questioned. +</p> +<p> +“I should say it was,” answered Margery. +“It nearly scared me out of my wits.” +</p> +<p> +“I suppose we shall have to mend the string +now. The farmer’s big boots broke it in two +places. However, we needn’t worry about any +person getting into this camp to-night without +giving us warning of his approach,” said Harriet. +She repaired the broken “burglar alarm,” +then returning to the tent adjusted the sticks +and the pail, placing several other pieces of +tinware with it. The girls then gathered about +the campfire, where they chatted, told stories +and exchanged experiences until a late hour. +</p> +<p> +Harriet got out the map just before they retired. +After consulting with Miss Elting for +some time, it was decided that they should take +a short cut across a rugged country, using their +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83'></a>83</span> +compass to guide them, meeting Jane some +twelve miles further on. She would have to +drive more than twenty miles to make the point. +The girls did not enjoy the highways very +much. In the first place, the roads were dusty; +many curious people were to be met with on +the roads; then again they thoroughly enjoyed +breaking new paths through the forests and +over fields and hills. Now that all the crops +had been garnered there was no danger of doing +damage to the farmers’ fields by tramping +across them. Jane was instructed to wait for +them after driving into the next town for fresh +supplies. +</p> +<p> +“It’s curious that we don’t run across any +melon fields. The first one I catch sight of I’m +going to raid,” she declared. +</p> +<p> +“No, Jane, you mustn’t do that,” objected +the guardian. “What we get we must pay +for.” +</p> +<p> +“Certainly,” agreed Jane. “But there isn’t +any sport in just walking up and paying for +melons. It’s a heap more fun to forage for +them.” +</p> +<p> +“But, Jane, think what it means to take an +object of value that doesn’t belong to you. It +is stealing!” +</p> +<p> +“That’s true. It surely is,” agreed Jane. +“I won’t ever mention any such thing again.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84'></a>84</span> +</p> +<p> +“Thank you,” returned Miss Elting with a +smile that amply repaid Crazy Jane for her +decision. +</p> +<p> +At last all hands began making preparations +for bed. Folding cots were opened and made +up, fresh fuel was heaped on the campfire, +then Harriet and Miss Elting made a round of +the camp to see that all was in shape for the +night. Jane lighted the big headlights on her +car, turning them on the darkest part of the +camp, after which they drew the flap to the tent +and began preparing for bed. Half an hour +later the camp was silent, save for the occasional +crackling of the fire. All the dead leaves +and inflammable stuff had been raked away and +the ground dug up immediately about the fire +to prevent it from spreading. The moon now +silvered the landscape, and a faint mist was +rising from about the Willow Ponds, adding to +the beauty of the night. +</p> +<p> +Midnight came, then the silence became more +marked than before. About one o’clock in the +morning two men might have been observed +skulking about the farther side of the pond +nearest to the camp. They took care not to +come within range of the headlights of Crazy +Jane’s motor car. Had one looked closely at +them the men might have been recognized as +the same pair that had visited the camp with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85'></a>85</span> +the bear earlier in the evening. What their +purpose was in returning could only be surmised. +</p> +<p> +It might be revenge or robbery. In either +event it was bad enough, and the Meadow-Brook +Girls, sleeping soundly, were blissfully unconscious +of the danger that menaced them. Their +faith in Harriet Burrell’s burglar alarm permitted +them to sleep without fear. +</p> +<p> +All at once there was a mighty crash in the +tent. As Tommy Thompson described it afterwards, +“it thounded ath if lightning had thtruck +a tin thhop.” The tin pail and the other kitchen +utensils that had been hung on the long sticks +in the tent came down with a clatter and a bang. +The tin pail rolled clear across the tent, landed +on Margery Brown, bringing from her a scream +of terror. +</p> +<p> +“Quick! Put on your bathrobes!” called +Miss Elting. “There is trouble here.” +</p> +<p> +No need to tell them that. The tin pail already +had conveyed this information to the +Meadow-Brook Girls. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, thave me!” wailed Tommy. +</p> +<p> +Harriet was the first one to run outside the +tent. +</p> +<p> +“There they are!” she cried, having caught +sight of two skulking figures near the automobile. +“It’s the same Italians. Let’s call for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86'></a>86</span> +help as loudly as we can. Perhaps that will +make them take to their heels.” +</p> +<p> +It had the desired effect. Seeing that the +camp was fully aroused the intruders fled. Then +a daring plan suggested itself to Crazy Jane +McCarthy. Leaving her companions she started +on a run for her car. +</p> +<p> +“Come back! Where are you going?” cried +the guardian. +</p> +<p> +“I’ll show you, I’ll show them! Just watch +and you’ll see more fun than a barrel of monkeys +eating cayenne pepper.” +</p> +<p> +Dashing up to the car, she advanced the spark +control, and gave the crank a quick turn. The +car began a sputtering that quickly grew into +a roar from the exhaust. Crazy Jane leaped +in. She was clad in a bathrobe that reached to +her ankles; her tangle of hair fell about her face +and shoulders giving her face a wilder and more +weird expression than ever. +</p> +<p> +Jane threw in the high speed lever. The +car leaped forward. Harriet Burrell, who had +divined something of Jane’s purpose, made a +running leap and landed on the step, grasping +one of the cover braces for support. +</p> +<p> +“Jane, Jane! For goodness’ sake, what are +you going to do?” +</p> +<p> +“I’m going to give the rascals the scare of +their lives. They haven’t had enough. Get in!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87'></a>87</span> +</p> +<p> +Harriet did so, but only to prevent being +thrown off the car. She had little desire to participate +in the drive that she well knew would +be an exciting one. Miss Elting was shouting +to Jane to come back. Jane did not or would +not hear. Uttering a shrill little cry of triumph +she drove the car ahead at a perilous +rate of speed. Over the rough field the automobile +lurched and careened imperiling the +safety of its occupants and threatening momentarily +to upset and wreck the car. +</p> +<p> +The two men were fleeing across the field. +Seeing the car bearing down upon them, they +began to dodge. The big white eyes of the +headlights followed them wherever they went. +It was maddening. Now the fugitives began +zig-zagging. So did Crazy Jane. Once she +nearly ran them down. The Italians sprang +out of the way just in time and began running +back toward the camp. Jane pursued them as +soon as she could get the car turned about and +facing the other way. By this time the men +had gotten a long start. +</p> +<p> +“They’re making for the camp, the villains,” +breathed Jane. +</p> +<p> +“It is because they are trying to get out of +your way,” answered Harriet almost breathlessly. +“You will have to head them off.” +</p> +<p> +“Head them off nothing!” exploded Jane. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88'></a>88</span> +“Rather will I take their heads off, the miserable +rascals.” +</p> +<p> +“Jane, Jane! You mustn’t run them down. +You simply <em>must not</em>. You might kill them. +Please, please don’t try to do that, dear!” +begged Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“All right, darlin’. But you’re making me +lose a lot of fun. I don’t get an opportunity +like this every day in the week. They deserve +all I can give them.” +</p> +<p> +“You mustn’t harm a human being, no matter +how bad he is. There, they have turned toward +the road.” +</p> +<p> +“I won’t hurt them,” promised Jane. “I’ll +just scare them a little.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh!” cried Harriet as the car rose on two +wheels, nearly turning over. “Do be careful!” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t be afraid. As long as I’ve got two +wheels on the ground I’m all right. Now if +I had only one wheel on the old sod you might +worry, but you wouldn’t worry for long. See +’em go. They know I’ve got them now!” +</p> +<p> +Just then the men plunged headlong into a +ditch that extended all the way across the field. +The girls had not discovered it until that moment. +Jane checked her car just in time to prevent +it also from going into the ditch. +</p> +<p> +“There’s a bridge to the right,” Harriet informed +her, then was sorry she had made the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89'></a>89</span> +suggestion. Crazy Jane charged the bridge at +full speed. All four wheels seemed to strike +the planking at the same instant. +</p> +<p> +Jane turned sharply. They were now chasing +the two men obliquely across the field. The +men were lagging. +</p> +<p> +“They’re getting winded,” shouted Crazy +Jane triumphantly. +</p> +<p> +“Please go back now,” begged Harriet +“You have frightened them enough. They +never will trouble us again.” +</p> +<p> +“Not till I get the wretches on a run down +the road. I’ve not finished with them yet.” +</p> +<p> +“They have nearly finished themselves,” answered +Harriet. She was no longer apprehensive +that Jane would injure the men intentionally, +though Harriet feared that one of them +might stumble and be crushed underneath the +car. Still her pulses were beating high, the +color in her cheeks had mounted to her forehead. +She was entering into the spirit of the wild +chase almost with the enthusiasm of Crazy Jane +herself. +</p> +<p> +The voices of their companions in the camp +no longer reached them. The two girls were +too far away to hear now, even had the car not +been making such a din. +</p> +<p> +The two men were making for the roadside +fence, a board structure, which in the haze of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90'></a>90</span> +the damp night, the girls did not see. They had +forgotten that the fence was there. +</p> +<p> +All at once the men reached the fence. Grasping +the top board they flung themselves over, +landing heavily on the ground on the other side. +</p> +<p> +“Look out!” cried Harriet warningly. +</p> +<p> +“Hold fast!” yelled Jane. +</p> +<p> +Crash! +</p> +<p> +The car struck the fence with a mighty crash +accompanied by the sound of splintering woodwork. +The headlights went out, and Jane +brought her car to a stop in the midst of the +wreck at the roadside. +</p> +<h2><a name='chVIII' id='chVIII'></a>CHAPTER VIII—CAUGHT IN A MORASS</h2> +<p> +“Well, here we are,” announced Crazy +Jane calmly. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, see those fellows run!” +cried Harriet, gaspingly. “There they go!” +she cried, in almost hysterical amusement, after +she had picked herself up from the bottom of +the car, where the collision had hurled her. +</p> +<p> +“I’ve a good notion to send the car straight +through the fence, and chase that pair of +skulkers out of the state!” Jane McCarthy proposed +vindictively. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91'></a>91</span> +</p> +<p> +“Don’t you try to do it,” protested Harriet, +now sobered by the realization of how reckless +her companion might easily become. “Jane, +<em>some day</em> you’ll really hit some one—that would +be awful!” +</p> +<p> +“But I didn’t half frighten that pair of rascals,” +returned Jane. +</p> +<p> +“If the men weren’t frightened, then they’ll +never know fear,” insisted Harriet Burrell. +“How badly is the car damaged?” +</p> +<p> +“A blow on the nose, but the nose is not even +out of joint,” Jane answered coolly. +</p> +<p> +“Then let us get back to Miss Elting. How +she’ll scold!” +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting did scold when they reached camp +with the car. It is to be feared, however, that +Jane heard but little of the rebuke, for she was +busy examining the damage done to her beloved +car. She found that she could put the lamps in +condition again. The guard rod in front of the +radiator was also injured. Jane decided that +this could be easily fixed. +</p> +<p> +“Girls, girls! What do you mean by such +actions. Jane, I am amazed at you. Harriet, +how could you?” Miss Elting rebuked them +roundly. +</p> +<p> +“I—I guess it was impulse,” answered Harriet, +her face crimsoning under the reproachful +words of the guardian. “Please don’t scold +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92'></a>92</span> +us. We drove the men off. They will not +trouble us again, I am quite sure.” +</p> +<p> +“But they might have been run down, girls.” +</p> +<p> +“Served them right if they had, bad luck to +them!” retorted Jane mischievously. “However, +’all’s well that ends well.’ I’m for bed. +What do you say?” +</p> +<p> +“Thay, why didn’t you take me along?” demanded +Tommy. +</p> +<p> +“It was quite bad enough without your assistance,” +replied the guardian. “Yes, we had +better retire at once. Do you wish to put up +your burglar alarm again, Harriet?” +</p> +<p> +“I do not think it will be necessary. The +men won’t prowl about the camp again to-night.” +</p> +<p> +“No, they won’t,” agreed Jane, laughing uproariously. +“They’re running yet and they’ll +be running as long as their wind holds out. I +wonder where they left the bear? Wouldn’t it +be fun if we could find the bear and let him +loose?” +</p> +<p> +“Oh-h-h!” cried Margery. “How can you +talk so, Jane?” +</p> +<p> +“Most certainly not,” rebuked Miss Elting. +“You have done quite enough as it is, without +turning a bear loose on the community. You had +better all go back to bed. What did you do to +your car, Jane?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93'></a>93</span> +</p> +<p> +“Bumped its nose, that’s all. My only regret +is that I didn’t bump it against one of the +Italians. I shouldn’t have minded giving the +bear a smash, too. Good night. Sweet dreams, +darlin’s!” Jane flounced into the tent and +throwing off her bathrobe tumbled into bed, +where she was soon sound asleep. The others +did not quiet down quite so quickly. Harriet, +especially, lay thinking over the experiences of +the evening, and each time the thought of the +pursuit of the Italians by Crazy Jane and her +motor car occurred to her, Harriet would laugh +softly to herself. She finally laughed herself +to sleep, to be awakened in what seemed but a +few moments later, by the blowing of a fish horn +at the lips of Crazy Jane McCarthy. Day had +dawned. The sun was just peeping over the +eastern hills, the campfire was blazing and Miss +Elting was getting breakfast. +</p> +<p> +Harriet quickly drew on her bathing suit, then, +running out of the tent, plunged into the pond, +uttering a little scream as the cold water enveloped +her. None of the others had the courage +to take a cold plunge that morning, as the +air was rather cool. As for Harriet, she remained +in the pond until Miss Elting insisted +that she come ashore. +</p> +<p> +Camp was struck immediately after breakfast +as the girls wished to make as much progress on their +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94'></a>94</span> +journey in the cool of the morning +as possible. They struck camp with the skill +of veterans, and within half an hour from the +time they began the operation, everything was +packed and stowed in the car. +</p> +<p> +“Now, don’t you girls try to play me any more +tricks to-day. I’ve got the food. If you don’t +find Jane, you get no supper. Understand?” +laughed Jane. +</p> +<p> +“I’ve got thome bithcuit in my pack,” piped +Tommy. +</p> +<p> +“She won’t have them for long,” laughed +Margery. “Tommy will have eaten the biscuits +before she has gone a mile.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, I don’t eat tho much that I get fat,” +protested Tommy. “I gueth I know when to +thtop.” +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting was giving Jane final directions +as to when and where to look for them, after +which the four girls and their guardian, with +their packs slung over their backs, stout sticks +in their hands to assist them over rough places +and also to frighten away troublesome dogs, +started out on their journey of ten miles or +more. They crossed the road, traveled up a +hill and headed straight across country. The +unmarked trail was rough and following it +fatigued them considerably during the first two +miles of their journey. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95'></a>95</span> +</p> +<p> +Shortly after eleven o’clock they came in +sight of a remote farm house tucked away in +a valley. Miss Elting decided to call there to +get some milk. The woman of the house at +first regarded them with suspicion, but she soon +thawed under Miss Elting’s gentle voice and +winning smile. +</p> +<p> +The milk had not been skimmed. All the old +milk had been churned that day. There was +nothing left but buttermilk, the woman told +them. +</p> +<p> +“Buttermilk!” cried the girls in chorus. +</p> +<p> +“I jutht love buttermilk!” declared Tommy. +“Do you have buttermilk cowth? Ithn’t that +fine? I’m going to make my father buy me a +buttermilk cow.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, I was going to feed that buttermilk +to the hogs, but seeing as you want it I suppose +you may have it,” decided the woman with +some reluctance. “Do you like it cold?” +</p> +<p> +The party answered in the affirmative. The +housewife lowered a pail of buttermilk into +the well to cool, the party sitting down under +an apple tree in the yard to rest themselves +in the meantime. Margery lay down and +went to sleep. Tommy amused herself by tickling +Buster’s ear with a long, dead stalk of +timothy grass. Margery in her sleep thought +it a fly. She fought the fly for some time, then +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96'></a>96</span> +finally opening her eyes, she caught Tommy red +handed. Tommy fled into the farm house, +where she pretended to be much interested in +the housewife’s work. She soon won her way +into the good graces of the woman, and when, +finally, the little lisping girl emerged from the +house she was carrying a tin tray of food. +</p> +<p> +“Jutht thee what I’ve got,” she cried. “It +taketh Tommy Thompthon to get thingth to +eat.” +</p> +<p> +There were sandwiches, ginger cookies—great +fat brown fellows—and a large dish of apple +sauce. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, girls!” cried Margery her eyes glistening +at the prospect of a feast. “I could die +eating that food.” +</p> +<p> +“Tommy, did you beg for this?” demanded +the guardian. +</p> +<p> +“I gueth not. I jutht athked for it,” returned +Tommy calmly. “When you want +thomething you want, jutht athk for it, and if +you don’t get it you haven’t wasted anything but +your breath.” +</p> +<p> +“Madam, we are very grateful to you for +this kindness, and will pay you before leaving,” +called Miss Elting to the housewife, who +came out at this juncture to draw up the bucket +of buttermilk from the cool depths of the well. +</p> +<p> +“You’re welcome, I’m sure. I just baked +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97'></a>97</span> +to-day. Hope the cookies are all right. They +didn’t rise to suit me.” +</p> +<p> +“They’d have burthted if they’d rithen any +more,” observed Tommy. She was rebuked by +a look from Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“I hope you like them,” smiled the woman. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, they are simply delicious,” answered +Harriet, with glowing eyes. “And that buttermilk! +I never drank any that tasted better.” +</p> +<p> +The party ate their fill of the good things, +Margery doing even more than her share in +disposing of both buttermilk and food. When +they had finished, the tray was empty. The +woman offered to bring them more food, but +Miss Elting said “no.” She gave the woman +fifty cents despite the protests of the latter; +then, after a brief rest, they started on again, +first having expressed their thanks to the housewife, +who stood in the door of her home watching +the little party until it had passed out of +sight. +</p> +<p> +About the middle of the afternoon the girls +halted for another rest because of Margery’s +complaints that she was feeling ill. +</p> +<p> +“You ate too much,” declared Harriet. “It +doesn’t do to eat so much when one is taking +exercise as we are.” +</p> +<p> +“Yeth. Buthter alwayth eatth too much,” +averred Tommy wisely. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98'></a>98</span> +</p> +<p> +“Oh!” moaned Margery Brown, sitting down +all in a heap. “I can’t walk another step to-day.” +</p> +<p> +“Do you think we should leave her here?” +asked Harriet, with solemn face but twinkling +eyes. +</p> +<p> +“We shall see how she feels after I have +given her something to settle her stomach,” answered +Miss Elting gravely. +</p> +<p> +“No, no, no!” wailed Margery. “Don’t +leave me. I’ll go. Let me lie still and rest myself +a little first.” +</p> +<p> +“You thee Buthter, it doethn’t pay to be tho +greedy,” admonished Tommy. +</p> +<p> +“Will you please make her stop?” begged +Buster. “I can’t stand it.” +</p> +<p> +“Tommy!” rebuked Harriet. “Haven’t you +any consideration for Margery?” +</p> +<p> +“Yeth. Of courthe I have. But thhe doethn’t +detherve any thympathy.” +</p> +<p> +“I’m ashamed of you, Tommy, dear. Wait. +You, too, will be ill one of these days, then we +shall make unpleasant remarks to you,” warned +Harriet. +</p> +<p> +Grace Thompson flushed guiltily. +</p> +<p> +“That ith too bad, Buthter. I didn’t mean to +make you feel worthe. Honetht I didn’t. I +hope you will be better pretty thoon.” Tommy +kissed her. “There. Ithn’t that better?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99'></a>99</span> +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” admitted Margery. She already had +taken some peppermint drops that Miss Elting +had administered. After a further rest the +girls assisted her to her feet and walked her +slowly up and down the road. She was then +permitted to sit down and rest again. Tommy, +an expression of concern on her impish face, +crouched before the now pale-faced Buster, +munching a hard biscuit. +</p> +<p> +“Come, girls,” said Miss Elting finally. “It +is nearly five o’clock. We were to meet Jane +at five, and we must have a good two hours’ +walk ahead of us still. Now that Margery is +feeling so ill we shall not be able to make nearly +as good time as that. I wonder if we hadn’t +better find the highway and finish the day’s +tramp on that?” +</p> +<p> +Margery protested that they must not change +their plans on her account. She declared that +she could walk as well as any of them. +</p> +<p> +“Margery will repent her rash assertions before +she has gone a mile,” laughed Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“No. I think she will be all right, now,” replied +the guardian. “Margery, if you find that +you are feeling worse, at any time, you must +be sure to tell me at once. Now, girls, march!” +</p> +<p> +The little company plodded along. Harriet +linked one arm within Margery’s. The latter, +while feeling much improved, was still a little +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100'></a>100</span> +weak and Harriet Burrell’s sturdy arm was +appreciated. +</p> +<p> +About six o’clock they came to a long hill that +sloped gently down into a valley. The greater +part of the valley was covered with trees. It +appeared to be a dense forest of second growth, +the trees not being very large. The guardian +consulted the map. +</p> +<p> +“Yes. We are on the right trail. We must +keep straight on through the woods. According +to this map there should be a trail that leads +directly to the other side of the valley, and +when we reach that point we shall have finished +our day’s journey.” +</p> +<p> +“I am afraid we are going to be caught in +the dark, Miss Elting,” said Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“If we find the trail we do not need to worry +about that. We can’t very well go astray. I +would suggest that, when we get down farther +into the valley, we spread out and look for the +wood trail. The one who first discovers it will +shout. By taking this open formation we shall +be saving time. It certainly seems to me that +the distance to be covered to-day is more than +ten miles.” +</p> +<p> +“It does seem so,” agreed Hazel. “But we +have lost considerable time on the way.” +</p> +<p> +They began spreading out when about half +way down the hill, calling to each other good-naturedly, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101'></a>101</span> +shouting as they got farther and +farther away. Tommy discovered the road. +She ran out into the field waving her arms and +crying shrilly to attract the attention of her +companions. They hurried toward her. The +road, as they soon learned, was a mere path and +one not much frequented at that, as was evidenced +by the vegetation that grew in the middle +of it. +</p> +<p> +“This looks to me like rather low swampy +land,” declared Harriet. “It is my idea that +we had better stick closely to the path, or we +may get into trouble.” She did not say definitely +what she feared, not wishing to needlessly +terrorize Margery and Tommy. Miss Elting +understood their danger, however. She nodded. +Harriet started along the trail, leading the way, +with the guardian following at her heels. +They went on in this way for half an hour. The +forest grew darker as they proceeded, the vegetation +being thick in there. The day was waning +rapidly. It was not very long before they +were groping their way, rather than finding it +by sight. +</p> +<p> +A scream from Margery, who was at the rear, +brought them up sharply. Then Tommy’s +voice was raised in a sharp cry of alarm. +</p> +<p> +“What is it?” shouted Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“I’m sinking!” screamed Margery. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102'></a>102</span> +</p> +<p> +Harriet instantly knew the meaning of this. +Her worst fears were confirmed. They were in +the middle of a vast morass that stretched on +each side of the trail. +</p> +<p> +“Thave me! Oh, thave me!” wailed Tommy. +</p> +<p> +Both girls were in the mud, but just how +deeply Harriet Burrell did not know. Now +Hazel added her cries to those of Tommy and +Margery. She, too, had stepped off the path. +Harriet could hear Hazel floundering in the +mire. Miss Elting hurried back to them, regardless +of her own safety. +</p> +<p> +“Be careful!” called Harriet warningly, +groping her way to her companions who were +crying and screaming for help. +</p> +<h2><a name='chIX' id='chIX'></a>CHAPTER IX—THE TRAMP CLUB TO THE RESCUE</h2> +<p> +“Look out, Miss Elting,” warned Harriet +again. “The girls are in the mud.” +</p> +<p> +“So am I,” cried the guardian in a +voice of alarm. “Oh, it’s deep. I’m sinking.” +</p> +<p> +“Stand perfectly still,” advised Harriet. +“You will get in deeper if you struggle. I’ll see +what I can do. I may get in, too.” +</p> +<p> +“Be quick, Harriet,” urged the guardian. +“This is serious. I can’t move an inch.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103'></a>103</span> +</p> +<p> +“I’ll do the best I can. Oh, I wish I had some +good sized limbs of trees to throw to you. +Here’s one. Where are you, Miss Elting?” +</p> +<p> +“Here. It’s no use. I can’t pull myself +out.” +</p> +<p> +Margery was screaming at the top of her +voice. It seemed as though her cries must be +heard throughout the woods. No amount of +urging could induce her to be quiet. +</p> +<p> +“Let her yell. Let her make all the noithe +she can. Maybe thomebody will hear her,” +wailed Tommy. +</p> +<p> +This was good logic. Miss Elting told Buster +to shout as loudly as she could. The other +girls now added their voices to Buster’s frantic +screams. Harriet was moving about as rapidly +as she dared, but she was unable to find any +limbs large enough to be of much use to Miss +Elting, who was nearest to the trail over which +they had come. Harriet tried another experiment. +Breaking down a sapling that grew beside +the path she thrust this toward the +guardian. +</p> +<p> +“Take hold of it,” she commanded. “Have +you got it, Miss Elting?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes.” +</p> +<p> +“Give way loosely when I pull. I may be +able to pull you out. Don’t resist at all.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s no use, Harriet!” announced the guardian, after +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104'></a>104</span> +several minutes of the hardest sort +of work on Harriet’s part. “I am getting +deeper in the mud with every move I make. +You will have to think of something else.” +</p> +<p> +“Girls, stop your screaming for a moment,” +called Harriet. “Tell me how you are? Are +you sinking deeper into the mud or are you remaining +about the same?” +</p> +<p> +“Whenever I make the slightest movement I +sink in deeper. I’m keeping as still as possible,” +answered Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“I’m in almotht up to my waitht,” cried +Tommy. “I’m going to be buried alive. Oh, +thave me!” +</p> +<p> +“As long as you are able to scream like that +you are all right,” comforted Harriet. “When +you stop yelling I shall begin to believe you are +in real trouble.” +</p> +<p> +Harriet now set to work cutting down small +saplings with her hatchet. These she threw out +into the space between Miss Elting and the +three girls. They were close together, which +somewhat simplified the work. The Meadow-Brook +girl knew that it would take a quantity +of the small trees and limbs to support her +weight, but it was the only course she knew of +to follow. Fortunately for Harriet she was an +athletic girl, possessing great strength for one +of her age and build. Better still, she possessed a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105'></a>105</span> +courage and will all her own. Then, +too, Harriet Burrell was one of those doggedly +determined persons who never know when they +are worsted. Her mind was working even +more rapidly than were her hands. She had +succeeded in piling up enough stuff to form a +slight support for the arms of her companions. +She now explained her plan to them. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t think I shall be able to get you out +of the morass without taking a long chance of +getting in myself,” she began. +</p> +<p> +“Oh-h-h-h!” cried the girls despairingly. +They had relied implicitly on Harriet’s resourceful +brain to find the means to release +them from their dangerous predicament. +</p> +<p> +“Wait until I have finished. You know that +I’m not afraid. You know better than to think +so,” soothed Harriet. “Don’t you see, if I +were to get caught in the mud, your last hope +would be gone? We might all perish here before +any one found us.” +</p> +<p> +“You are right as usual, Harriet,” said Miss +Elting. She was apparently calm. If she +were nervous no trace of it was discoverable in +her voice. “What do you propose to do?” +</p> +<p> +“I am going to pile some more stuff on what +I have already placed there. Each of you is to +throw out her arms and if possible lock hands +across the barrier. When one hand gets tired +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106'></a>106</span> +change to the other one. That will keep you +from sinking down much deeper. The saplings +should keep you up, though it will be a rather +severe strain on your arm.” +</p> +<p> +“What will you do, Harriet?” asked Miss +Elting. +</p> +<p> +“I am going for help.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, don’t leave uth!” wailed Grace. +</p> +<p> +“Harriet is right,” agreed Hazel. “It is the +only thing to do. But which way will you go?” +</p> +<p> +“I will go back the way we came. I believe +that if I am careful I shall be able to reach +solid ground without getting off the trail. A +short distance from here the ground rises somewhat +and is harder. Once I reach that I shall +be safe.” +</p> +<p> +“But, Harriet, where will you go for help?” +</p> +<p> +“I saw the top of some farm buildings to the +west of where we were just before we entered +this horrid place. I think it will be best for me +to hurry there. I ought to be back in a couple +of hours at the outside.” +</p> +<p> +“Two <em>hourth</em>!” mourned Tommy. +</p> +<p> +“That will be better than staying there all +night, won’t it?” demanded Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“I should say it will,” agreed Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“Then hurry, dear,” urged Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +“Is any one of you in pain?” questioned Harriet. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107'></a>107</span> +</p> +<p> +“I think not,” replied Miss Elting. “The +ground is too soft to hurt. That’s the worst +of it. If the ground weren’t so soft and sticky +we should be able to get out. Do you think you +could build a fire before you go, Harriet?” +</p> +<p> +“I wouldn’t dare to do so. Suppose it should +spread to the trees about you after I had gone? +There are cedars and small pine trees in here. +The foliage of these trees is like tinder.” +</p> +<p> +“You are right!” exclaimed the guardian. +“To build a fire would be the height of folly. +Hurry, please. We will be here when you come +back,” she added with a forced laugh. +</p> +<p> +“Be brave, girls. Remember, we are Meadow-Brook +Girls,” said Harriet, as with a shouted +“good-bye” she started back along the trail on +her mission. Both arms were outspread so +that she might be warned by touch when getting +too close to the sides of the trail. +</p> +<p> +“Girls,” began Miss Elting brightly, after +Harriet had left them. “Harriet reminded us +that we are Meadow-Brook Girls. Let’s show +that we are by giving the Meadow-Brook yell. +Now. One, two, three, go!” +</p> +<p> + “Meadow-Brook. Meadow-Brook.<br /> + Rah, rah, rah!<br /> + Meadow-Brook, Meadow-Brook,<br /> + Sis, boom, ah-h-h!”<br /> +</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108'></a>108</span></div> +<p> +The girls’ voices grew stronger after the second +line. The voices of Miss Elting and Tommy +Thompson rose above those of the other two. +Some one laughed. It was Tommy. Her +laugh was a trifle hysterical, but it was a laugh, +and for the moment it relieved the strain somewhat. +Miss Elting gave them no time to think +about themselves. +</p> +<p> +“Girls. Forty-nine Blue Bottles now,” she +cried, then began the chant herself, the others +joining in promptly. +</p> +<p> + “Forty-nine blue bottles were hanging on the wall,<br /> + Forty-nine blue bottles were hanging on the wall.<br /> + Take one of the bottles down and there’ll be forty-eight<br /> + blue bottles a hanging on the wall, a hanging on the<br /> + wall.”<br /> +</p> +<p> +They continued to chant regardless of aching +throats and hoarse voices, until every one of +those offending blue bottles had been removed +from the wall. +</p> +<p> +“Now the Meadow-Brook yell again. It will +bring assistance to us if any one hears it,” reminded +the guardian. They repeated the yell. +</p> +<p> +“Gracious!” cried Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, what is it now?” begged Margery, in +a frightened voice. +</p> +<p> +“Why, some malicious person has put all +those forty-nine blue bottles back on the wall +again. What shall we do?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109'></a>109</span> +</p> +<p> +“I gueth we’ll have to take them off,” lisped +Tommy, amid laughter from her companions +and the guardian as well. +</p> +<p> +“I can’t,” moaned Margery. She began to +choke and cough. “I’ve swallowed a bug.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, the poor bug. I’m tho thorry for him,” +piped Tommy. +</p> +<p> +“Maybe we can catch him in one of those +bottles,” suggested Miss Elting. “Come, girls, +you aren’t going to desert me now, are you? +Already! ‘Forty-nine blue bottles were hanging on the wall.’” +</p> +<p> +Once more the girls went over the familiar refrain, +ending finally with the Meadow-Brook +yell. Again and again did they take the bottles +from the wall, but as often as they removed +them invisible hands replaced every one of the +forty-nine blue bottles in their accustomed position +on the wall. +</p> +<p> +For the tenth time the forty-nine blue bottles +had been taken down and hung up again. The +voices of the girls were so hoarse that they +could barely speak aloud, though they were +laughing hysterically as they labored with the +forty-ninth. They had almost forgotten that +they were in danger, forgotten their aching +bodies, forgotten that Harriet Burrell was +speeding through the darkness in quest of assistance, +when a distant but familiar cry +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110'></a>110</span> +reached their ears. It was the long drawn out +“hoo-e-e-e-e” of the Meadow-Brook Girls. +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting heard it first. Her companions +were laughing so immoderately that they failed +to hear it the first time. The guardian’s voice +failed her. A lump rose in her throat. The +strain had been so great that several times she +found herself on the point of giving way. Now +the reaction had set in. +</p> +<p> +“Hoo-e-e-e-e!” +</p> +<p> +Tommy heard it, and uttered a scream. The +call was repeated. This time all the girls heard +it plainly. +</p> +<p> +“It’s Harriet, it’s Harriet!” cried Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“Yes. Rescue is at hand,” replied Miss Elting +fervently. +</p> +<p> +A light twinkled far away through between +the trees. It seemed to the anxious eyes of +the guardian as though it were miles and miles +distant. She raised her voice in a shout, but +the voice was so weak that it carried but a short +distance. +</p> +<p> +“Shout, girls!” she begged. “You may be +able to make them hear. I can’t. My voice has +completely left me. Tommy! You can always +scream. Do so now.” +</p> +<p> +Tommy let loose a thrilling, penetrating yell. +The rescue party heard it. They answered with +return shouts in male voices. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111'></a>111</span> +</p> +<p> +“That sounds to me like boys’ voices,” cried +Miss Elting huskily. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, thave me!” wailed Tommy. “My hair +ith all tumbled down, my frock ith muddy from +top to bottom and my fathe ith thmudged. I’m +a thight, I know I am. I can’t retheive company +to-day. Thend them away, pleathe.” +</p> +<p> +Some one came running toward them considerably +in advance of the light. +</p> +<p> +“Girls! Girls!” shouted an anxious voice. +</p> +<p> +“Here!” cried the guardian. +</p> +<p> +“Thank goodness you’re alive,” answered +Harriet Burrell. “I’ve been terribly anxious +about you. Here—here’s a can of fresh water. +I know your throats must be dry.” +</p> +<p> +Reaching forward, Harriet handed the can to +the guardian. Miss Elting passed it on to +Tommy. Each of the girls drank. +</p> +<p> +“Where are you, folks?” shouted a boyish +voice. +</p> +<p> +“Here. Just ahead of you,” answered Harriet. +She had sunk down on the trail, her +strength gone. A moment later she was on +her feet again, hurrying down the trail to guide +the rescuers to the spot. +</p> +<p> +A tall young fellow clad in khaki, a campaign +hat on his head, rushed up. Behind him came +half a dozen other young men similarly clad. +They were bearing fence rails on their shoulders, fairly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112'></a>112</span> +staggering under the weight of their +burdens. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I’m so glad!” cried Miss Elting, now +on the verge of tears after the strain. “Who +are they, Harriet, my brave girl?” +</p> +<p> +“We’re the Tramp Club,” answered the +first boy. “We’ll introduce ourselves after we +get you girls out of the morass. You’re in a +fine mess and you certainly do need help.” +</p> +<h2><a name='chX' id='chX'></a>CHAPTER X—IN THE HANDS OF THE RESCUERS</h2> +<p> +“Now, keep perfectly quiet. Don’t move +an inch. We’ll have you out of it in +a few moments. Here, Dill, give me +the rope. Now the end of a rail. The young +lady over there with the flaxen hair——” +</p> +<p> +“It ithn’t flaxen. It ith blonde,” protested +Tommy indignantly. +</p> +<p> +“I stand corrected,” laughed the young man. +“Please grab the rope and pull on it. I don’t +dare throw a rail out there for fear of hitting +one of you. Being the farthest out, you will +be able to pull the rail right up to you. Never +mind if you do settle down an inch or two. I’ll +have you out at any rate. Do you understand?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113'></a>113</span> +</p> +<p> +“Yeth.” +</p> +<p> +“Then here goes.” The boy tossed a coil of +rope so accurately that the coil dropped directly +over Grace Thompson’s head. She uttered +a little scream as the rope slipped over +her head, then clawed frantically at it. “That’s +right,” cried her rescuer. “Now pull.” +</p> +<p> +Tommy pulled desperately drawing the rail +towards her, but sinking deeper and deeper into +the mud until she was nearly up to her armpits. +The little lisping girl took fresh alarm. +She began to cry, “Thave me!” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t be frightened. Here’s another rail!” +encouraged the youth. “We’ve got to build up +a bridge. Those limbs and saplings you have +out there will make an excellent foundation. +Hurry them up here, Dill! The young ladies +will grow impatient and refuse to wait for us +longer.” +</p> +<p> +The girls declined to laugh at this pleasantry. +They were in too much distress. Harriet stood +holding a lantern above her head so that the +boys might see to work to the best advantage. +The rails were drawn out by Tommy in each +instance, assisted by the girls between herself +and the path. Then the leader set his boys at +work felling the largest trees they could find +along the trail. The lads went at their work +with a will. As soon as the trees and brush +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114'></a>114</span> +were cut down they were carried over and +dumped in on the rail and brush foundation, +forming a rude bridge. The leader then advanced +cautiously over it until he reached a +point near to the guardian and the girls. +</p> +<p> +“Now we will see what we can do.” +</p> +<p> +A rope was passed about the waist of the +guardian despite her protests that the others +should be gotten out of the morass first. Three +boys were put at the shore end of the rope with +orders to pull when their leader gave the word. +He, on his part, took firm hold of Miss Elting +under the arms, then shouted “now!” +</p> +<p> +Those on shore began to pull. The leader, +at the same time, began to lift with all his might, +moving the guardian’s shoulders from left to +right. +</p> +<p> +“Tell me if the rope hurts you,” gasped the +muscular young fellow. +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting came up so suddenly that her +rescuer fell over, narrowly escaping a plunge +into the morass. The guardian was finally +dragged to the path. The rescuers then turned +their attention to the other girls. Their wooden +raft was slowly sinking under the weight that +had been put upon it, but fresh stuff was being +constantly piled on it to keep it above the mud. +One by one the Meadow-Brook Girls were +hauled out. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115'></a>115</span> +</p> +<p> +Harriet had helped Miss Elting aside into the +shadows, where she assisted the guardian in +scraping the mud from her clothing. At first +Miss Elting was barely able to stand. She +found herself trembling from head to foot now +that the strain, mental and physical, was removed. +</p> +<p> +“Here’s another one!” cried the cheery +voice of the leader +</p> +<p> +“What wonderful boys!” breathed Miss Elting, +starting to go to Tommy’s assistance. +</p> +<p> +“Please lie down on the ground and rest, +Miss Elting. Don’t try to get up until we are +ready to start. I can take care of the others +as they are dragged out,” directed Harriet. +</p> +<p> +She assisted Tommy to a place beside Miss +Elting, the latter insisting upon trying to help +the unfortunate and humiliated Tommy in her +distressing condition. +</p> +<p> +“I withh I had thome clotheth fit to be +theen,” complained the little girl. “Thith dreth +ith a thight.” +</p> +<p> +“Be thankful that you are alive,” answered +Harriet sharply. +</p> +<p> +“We should have perished, had it not been +for you,” answered the guardian. +</p> +<p> +“Considering that I was the only one who +didn’t get into the mud, I simply had to be the +one to go for help. I don’t deserve any credit,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116'></a>116</span> +flung back Harriet, hurrying over to assist the +suffering Buster. After Buster, came Hazel, +the last to be rescued. +</p> +<p> +“Have we got them all?” questioned the +young man. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, thank goodness,” answered Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“We are under great obligations to you, +young gentlemen. We are in no condition to +properly express our appreciation this evening. +I hope we may have an opportunity to do +so in the morning,” said Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +“We are very glad to have been able to help +you. We needed a little exercise,” laughed the +young man. “Yes, we shall see you again, but +we haven’t finished our work yet. What do +you say? Shall we fix up some litters and carry +the young ladies out?” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know. We shall see in a few moments. +Give them a chance to rest. They are +completely exhausted.” +</p> +<p> +“Certainly. We fellows are going on ahead +to examine this path. We'll return presently.” +</p> +<p> +The boys trudged off down the trail. +</p> +<p> +“We shan’t go far,” called back the leader, +then strode off after his companions. Harriet +and Miss Elting made the girls as comfortable +and presentable as possible, though it was apparent +that both girls and clothes needed a +thorough scrubbing. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117'></a>117</span> +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know how we are going to reach +camp,” pondered the guardian, while waiting +for Grace, Margery and Hazel to rest. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I forgot to tell you,” exclaimed Harriet; +“Jane met these boys this afternoon. Two +of them are acquaintances of hers. They are +high school boys from the town of Proctor. +Like ourselves they are out on a long tramp, +and they are camped right near where we are +to camp for the night. They assisted Jane to +put up the camp and get everything in order. +Then, when night came, Jane began to grow +worried. She declared that something had happened +to us. One of the boys wanted to know +which way we were to come and Jane told them.” +</p> +<p> +“‘Then they have gotten into the swamp and +they’re in trouble,’ declared one of the boys. +It seems that these boys passed through here +yesterday, and two of them got into the morass +in broad daylight. No wonder we floundered +into it trying to get through there in the dark. +Of course Jane was wild with anxiety. She +said they must help her find us. This they were +willing and glad to do. They decided to come +to this end of the swamp and begin their search +from the point where we were supposed to +have entered.” +</p> +<p> +“Did you meet them?” interrupted Miss Elting. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118'></a>118</span> +</p> +<p> +“Yes. Jane rushed them, in her car, to the +nearest point on the road, then ran across the +field with them to the place where we took the +swamp trail. I met them just as I came out +into the field. Jane was wild with delight, then +she cried when I told her where you were. She +wanted to come here with me. I told her to +hurry back to camp and prepare hot water, get +everything ready, then come for us. She will +be back long before we get out of the swamp +I think. The boys told me all that I have told +you, as we were hurrying in here. It is very +fortunate for us that we met them,” declared +Harriet in a matter-of-fact tone. +</p> +<p> +“I think you are a very brave and resourceful +girl, Harriet. You will get some honor +beads for this. Girls, shall we sing ‘Forty-nine +Blue Bottles’ now?” questioned Miss Elting +quizzically. +</p> +<p> +“No!” shouted Tommy, so loudly that the +Tramp Club, who had gone a short distance +down the trail, heard and thought that the girls +were calling them back. +</p> +<p> +“Did you call us?” hailed the leader, running +back toward the girls. +</p> +<p> +“No,” returned Miss Elting. “We are all +right, thank you.” +</p> +<p> +The boys continued on down the trail. Half +an hour later they returned to find the girls +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119'></a>119</span> +somewhat rested and ready to proceed on their +journey. +</p> +<p> +“Do you think you feel strong enough to +go on?” asked the leader of the Tramp Club +solicitously. +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” replied Miss Elting. “We are anxious +to meet Jane and get settled for the night. +You have not told us yet to whom we are indebted +for our rescue.” +</p> +<p> +“My name is George Baker. I’m the captain +of the Tramp Club. They’re a fine lot of +fellows, but full of mischief.” +</p> +<p> +“As I said before, we haven’t words with +which to express our gratitude to you for what +you have done for us,” said Miss Elting. “Ah! +There are your friends. Won’t you introduce +us to them? I’ll first introduce my Meadow-Brook +Girls.” Miss Elting introduced the girls +to the Tramp Club as a body, after which the +captain did the same with his friends. The +names of the members of the club as given by +the captain in his introduction, were Dill Dodd, +Fred Avery, Sam Crocker, Charles Mabie, Will +Burgess and Davy Dockrill. +</p> +<p> +“Taken altogether, ladies,” remarked the +captain, “we are a choice band of ruffians on +the road, though sometimes gentlemen when we +are at home.” +</p> +<p> +“I disagree with you,” laughed the guardian. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120'></a>120</span> +“I shall never meet any finer gentlemen than +I have met to-night.” +</p> +<p> +The captain doffed his hat. Tommy was regarding +him out of the corners of her eyes. +She seemed about to say something; then, apparently +changing her mind, smiled impishly to +herself and remained silent. +</p> +<p> +“I told your friend, Miss McCarthy, to set +the boys at work getting things ready for the +ladies when they reached camp,” said the captain. +“My, but I got some thrills riding out +here with Miss McCarthy. We must have +driven out here at the rate of about a hundred +miles an hour. I never before rode so fast in +my life. Here, fellows, what’s the matter with +you! This is no marathon. The young ladies +can’t hit up that pace and keep on their feet. +Slow down.” +</p> +<p> +“We can walk jutht ath fatht ath any boy in +bootth,” retorted Tommy indignantly. +</p> +<p> +Captain Baker touched the rim of his hat. +</p> +<p> +“I’ll argue it out with you some other time, +Miss Thompson,” he said. +</p> +<p> +“Oh!” moaned Margery, staggering a little. +</p> +<p> +The head tramp immediately sprang to Margery’s +assistance. “Let me help you,” he insisted, +taking Margery by the arm. Miss Elting +stepped up on the other side of Margery, +taking the latter’s free arm. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121'></a>121</span> +</p> +<p> +“Now, you will be all right, dear,” encouraged +the guardian. +</p> +<p> +Harriet, in the meantime, was assisting +Tommy along. The boys ahead began to sing. +In this way the party followed the trail out to +the field. The girls breathed sighs of relief as +they emerged into the open. +</p> +<p> +Just then, out of the darkness, rushed a figure, +throwing itself upon Tommy and Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, you dear girls!” cried Jane, flinging +an arm about the neck of each. “I nearly cried +my eyes out over you. But, when the boys +started out to find you, I knew it would be all +right. Everything is ready for you. Nice +warm baths, and there will be a pot of hot coffee +for you. I’ll whisk you to camp in short order.” +</p> +<p> +“Never mind the whisking,” spoke up the +guardian. “Captain Baker has told us about +your whisking him out here this evening.” +</p> +<p> +Jane threw back her head and laughed. +</p> +<p> +“How about going back? I’ll tell you what, +boys. I’ll take the girls and one of you, then +I’ll come back and get the rest.” +</p> +<p> +“No thank you, we will walk it,” answered +the chief tramp promptly. +</p> +<p> +“Never,” insisted Jane. “You come with +us, young man. I’ll be back here in half an +hour for the rest of these brave boys.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122'></a>122</span> +</p> +<p> +The captain declined to desert his men. +Jane therefore urged him no further. The +boys assisted in helping the Meadow-Brook +Girls into the car, then Jane drove away at a +rapid rate. She let the girls out at their camp, +located in a very pretty and now moonlit valley. +</p> +<p> +“You’ll find everything ready. I’m going +back for those unruly boys,” Jane announced, +turning her car about and racing back over the +road, her hair streaming over one shoulder, +her eyes sparkling with the excitement of it all. +The tramps had another lively ride to camp. +Jane did not spare them. She took an almost +savage delight in trying to frighten them, but +did not succeed very well in this attempt. If +they were afraid they failed to show it. +</p> +<p> +On reaching camp the tired wayfarers lost +no time in making for their tent where hot water +for their baths awaited them. By the time +Jane returned with the members of the Tramp +Club the Meadow-Brook Girls, clad in dry, fresh +clothing, were ready to receive their guests. +They presented a wholly different appearance, +now, and the boys gazed at them admiringly. +</p> +<p> +“Jane, the boys must join us at supper,” declared +Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +George shook his head. +</p> +<p> +“There are too many of us. We’ll eat you +out of house and home.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123'></a>123</span> +</p> +<p> +“There’s lots more stuff to eat in the automobile,” +declared Jane hospitably. “You wait +till I unload the real supplies.” +</p> +<p> +She dragged out a hamper. It was filled with +good things to eat, and what particularly +pleased the boys, was the unexpected invitation +to eat with their new found friends. +</p> +<p> +Though the girls were tired and exhausted +from their trying experiences in the swamp, it +proved a happy evening. It was decided to +remain in camp all next day to rest. Strangely +enough Captain Baker announced that they too +had already concluded that they needed a rest. +He said they would do some foraging next day, +and bring the girls some good things to eat to +pay them back for what they had eaten and +for the exciting ride Jane had given them. +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting smiled knowingly. The tramps +appeared to be gentlemanly boys, however +“full of mischief” they might be. +</p> +<p> +It was ten o’clock when the Tramp Club said +good night and set out for their own camp. +</p> +<p> +“Now, children, go to bed at once,” directed +the guardian. “We have had excitement enough +for one day at least.” +</p> +<p> +The girls agreed with her, and half an hour +later the camp had settled down for the night. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124'></a>124</span><a name='chXI' id='chXI'></a>CHAPTER XI—A CONTEST OF ENDURANCE</h2> +<p> +“Forty-nine blue bottleth were hanging +on the wall,” muttered Tommy +in her sleep, as Miss Elting and Harriet +stepped into their tent at eight o’clock the +next morning, after having finished their inspection +of the camp. The rest of the Meadow-Brook +Girls were still sleeping soundly. +</p> +<p> +“Poor Tommy,” smiled the guardian. +</p> +<p> +“What is Tommy muttering about forty-nine +blue bottles?” questioned Harriet. +</p> +<p> +The guardian laughed merrily. +</p> +<p> +“I had the girls say that doggerel about the +forty-nine blue bottles while we were stuck fast +in the mud. You see, I wished to keep their +minds from their troubles. We repeated the +song until we were so hoarse we could scarcely +speak.” +</p> +<p> +“I noticed that when I returned, but thought +you had all caught cold. So it was forty-nine +blue bottles that made you so hoarse,” laughed +Harriet. “I think you deserve the real credit +of the rescue. Had you not done what you did +to keep up the spirits of the girls there might +have been a different ending,” declared Harriet Burrell +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125'></a>125</span> +with emphasis. She kissed the +guardian impulsively, than stepping softly, to +avoid waking her sleeping companions, she +made her way outside the tent. Shading her +eyes and gazing about she finally discovered a +brown-clad figure sitting on a fence. He evidently +was observing the camp, for, when he +caught sight of Harriet, he waved his hand. +</p> +<p> +“I’ll wager that’s Captain Baker,” smiled +Harriet, waving back to him. “He is a peculiar +young man. We are under great obligations +to them all, but those boys think girls are +of no account. We are going to clash with +them. I know we are.” +</p> +<p> +Harriet poked the fire and built it up until a +cloud of smoke was ascending skyward. It +was not a skilfully made fire, but Harriet had +a purpose in making a great smudge that morning. +She wished to show the tramps that the +girls had just gotten up and were not yet ready +to receive company. She had construed Captain +Baker’s action in watching the camp as +being for the purpose of learning when the +Meadow-Brook outfit was ready to see them. +As the girl cast frequent glances across the +fields she saw the other members of the Tramp +Club scattered about not far from their own +camp, though all of the boys kept a respectful +distance from the camp occupied by the girls. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126'></a>126</span> +</p> +<p> +Breakfast was out of the way and the camp +of the Meadow-Brook Girls put to rights by +ten o’clock. The travelers felt somewhat lame +and stiff after their experience in the swamp. +Tommy walked with a distinct limp, which Harriet +accused her of putting on for effect. +</p> +<p> +“I’m not pretending,” protested Tommy indignantly. +“I gueth you would walk like I do +if you had been fatht in the mud motht all +night.” +</p> +<p> +Harriet laughed good-naturedly. +</p> +<p> +A halloo out back of the camp cut short any +further argument. It was Captain Baker with +his fellow “tramps.” +</p> +<p> +“Is it too early in the morning to make our +party call?” shouted George. +</p> +<p> +“No. Come right along,” called Harriet +cordially. “We got up rather late this morning. +Didn’t I see you sitting on the fence off +yonder?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, I was watching for a woodchuck to +come out. Fellows, you’ve all met Miss Burrell, +I think. And Miss Thompson.” +</p> +<p> +“Yeth I met them in the thwamp,” lisped +Tommy. +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting came out, her face wearing a radiant +smile of welcome for the tramps. Their +hats were off instantly. She insisted on shaking +hands with each of the boys in turn. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127'></a>127</span> +</p> +<p> +“I suppose you have had your breakfast?” +smiled the guardian. +</p> +<p> +“Breakfast!” exclaimed Davy Dockrill. +“Yes. We men eat our breakfast at six o’clock. +We aren’t like girls, who take their breakfast +in place of luncheon.” +</p> +<p> +“And eat cookies between meals,” laughed +Harriet. “How many miles do you walk a +day?” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, a lot,” answered George airily. +</p> +<p> +“How many?” persisted Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“Well, maybe ten, fifteen, twenty miles, +maybe more.” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll wager that you take a ride now and +then,” interjected Tommy. +</p> +<p> +“We don’t. We walk, I tell you.” +</p> +<p> +“We aren’t like girls, who have to stop and +rest every half mile or so,” declared Will +Burgess. +</p> +<p> +“And get stuck in the mud,” laughed Fred +Avery. +</p> +<p> +“That’ll be about all, boys,” reproved Captain +Baker, frowning. “I told you these boys +were full of mischief. But you mustn’t mind +them,” he added apologetically. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, we don’t mind them at all,” smiled Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“When are you going to start out again?” +</p> +<p> +“Not until some time to-morrow morning,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128'></a>128</span> +answered Miss Elting. “We are all a little +lame and tired to-day.” +</p> +<p> +The captain nodded gravely. +</p> +<p> +“Yes; girls can’t stand as much as boys when +it comes to hard work like a week or so of walking,” +he said with an air of conviction. +</p> +<p> +“Yeth they can,” resented Tommy. “Girlth +can walk jutht ath far in a day ath boyth can.” +</p> +<p> +“You’ve got to show us before we can believe +that,” declared Davy. +</p> +<p> +“Very well; we will show you,” answered +Harriet quietly. “Name your conditions.” +</p> +<p> +“Do you mean it?” questioned George. +</p> +<p> +“Of course I mean it.” +</p> +<p> +“You’re plucky, all right,” he said regarding +her admiringly. “But I don’t like to have +a contest with girls.” +</p> +<p> +“Why not? Are you afraid of them?” demanded +Margery. +</p> +<p> +The boy flushed. +</p> +<p> +“No, ma’am. It isn’t manly, that’s all.” +</p> +<p> +“You mean it wouldn’t be manly to be beaten +by girls, eh?” suggested Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“Well, yes, I suppose that’s what I mean.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, very well. If you wish to back out, +why, of course——” +</p> +<p> +“Back out? I guess not!” exclaimed Sam. +“We’ll walk your heads off, if you say the +word.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129'></a>129</span> +</p> +<p> +“Oh, mercy, no,” protested Harriet, laughingly. +“I hope you will not do anything so terrible +as that. You haven’t said what the conditions +are to be. We must have some rules +if we are to have a hiking contest. They have +rules even in a walking contest, I understand.” +</p> +<p> +Captain Baker pondered a moment. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know about rules. I think it will +have to be a go-as-you-please contest.” +</p> +<p> +“We are willing to abide by whatever you +say,” replied Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“Where do you go to-morrow? I mean +where do you make your next camp?” +</p> +<p> +Harriet consulted their map. +</p> +<p> +“We are going to try to make Hunt’s Corners,” +she said, scrutinizing the map. +</p> +<p> +“May I see that map?” asked Davy. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t think it would be quite fair,” answered +Harriet brightly. “You see, our route +is marked out on the map. Were I to show it +to you, you would know which way we are going. +That would give you an advantage. I will +show the map to you some other time.” +</p> +<p> +“Of course it would be unfair. We don’t +want to see the map, Davy,” rebuked George. +“How far is it to Hunt’s Corners?” +</p> +<p> +“Ten or twelve miles.” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t let that trouble you, boys. I’ll be +on hand with the car and I’ll pick up the stragglers,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130'></a>130</span> +interjected Jane, joining the group. +She had been at work cleaning her car. Her +face was smudged and her hands blackened. +“If any of you get tired out I’ll promise to take +care of you.” +</p> +<p> +“Thank you,” answered the captain, flushing. +His companions laughed at him. +</p> +<p> +“But, Captain,” protested Harriet, “we +haven’t decided on anything. Is this to be a +race for one day, or for all the way home? You +go right through Meadow-Brook, do you not?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes. Just as you say. I don’t think you +can stand it to race all the way home.” +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps not,” answered Harriet dryly. +</p> +<p> +“No. The poor, delicate things,” mourned +Jane. “Just think how you are going to walk +them to death. You boys should be ashamed +of yourselves.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t care if the girls don’t,” laughed +George. “Yes. We’ll walk you all the way in +to Meadow-Brook. The party that gets in first +must give the other side something. What’ll it +be?” asked George. +</p> +<p> +“I’ll take marthhmallowth for mine,” piped +Tommy. +</p> +<p> +“That’s it. A box of candy for each of you +if you win. What do you say, fellows?” questioned +George, appealing to his companions. +</p> +<p> +They nodded, smiling acquiescence. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131'></a>131</span> +</p> +<p> +“Suppose we give each of you a handkerchief +if you win,” smiled Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“It’s a go,” declared Captain George. +</p> +<p> +“Then I propose this. Each party is to go +as it chooses. The one that gets in first wins,” +suggested Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“Are tricks barred?” demanded Sam. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know what you mean by tricks. +Strategy isn’t,” returned Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“Whew! That’s a big word,” exclaimed +Dill. +</p> +<p> +“Neither party is to ride, you know,” spoke +up George, eyeing them suspiciously. +</p> +<p> +“Certainly not,” answered Harriet. “We +shouldn’t do such a dishonest thing.” +</p> +<p> +“I beg your pardon. Of course not. You +girls have a car and, perhaps, you might think +it amusing to work a trick on us.” +</p> +<p> +“Our Meadow-Brook Girls aren’t that kind, +Mr. Baker,” interposed Miss Elting severely. +</p> +<p> +“Ride? You couldn’t drag them into the +car,” declared Jane. +</p> +<p> +“By the way, young men, have you seen anything +of two Italians and a bear?” asked Miss +Elting. +</p> +<p> +“Yes. We met them two days ago,” answered +the captain. “Why?” +</p> +<p> +“We had some difficulty with them; that’s +all.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132'></a>132</span> +</p> +<p> +“I wish we had known that.” The captain’s +lips compressed, a frown appearing on his forehead. +“What did they do?” +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting told the boys the whole story. +How the boys did laugh when the guardian described +how Jane had chased the Italians about +the field with her car! +</p> +<p> +“We will keep out of the road when you are +abroad, Miss McCarthy,” said George. “I +don’t believe you are a safe person to be allowed +on the highway.” +</p> +<p> +“You are right, she isn’t,” nodded Miss +Elting. “Well, have you settled your plans +for the contest?” +</p> +<p> +“All the plans we can make. We are to walk +to Meadow-Brook. Neither party should actually +walk more than ten hours a day——” +</p> +<p> +“My goodneth,” interrupted Tommy. “Ten +hourth a day. Thave me!” +</p> +<p> +Captain Baker smiled a superior smile and +nodded to his companions. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, no. We shouldn’t want to wear you +out to that extent,” replied Harriet mildly. +</p> +<p> +“In the meantime we wish you to come to +supper with us this evening,” invited Miss Elting. +“We will show you that Meadow-Brook +Girls can cook as well as walk. We shan’t +promise you much of a variety, but there will +be plenty to eat. That will give you new +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133'></a>133</span> +strength for the coming contest,” she added, +with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. +</p> +<p> +The captain accepted the invitation for his +friends. He offered to bring over some provisions +and some milk. Jane replied that she +had arranged for the milk, which she was to go +after in her car. It was decided that the boys +need bring nothing with them, there being +enough in camp for all. The Tramp Club went +away, to return at about half past five in the +afternoon. +</p> +<p> +The young men had become very much interested +in the Meadow-Brook Girls. As Captain +Baker characterized them, “They aren’t +the helpless, fainting kind. Those girls know +how to take care of themselves. Now, what do +you think of their fighting off two Italians and +a bear? Fellows, we’ve got to hike some to +beat them! They’ve got something in the back +of their heads that we don’t know about.” +</p> +<p> +“Pshaw! We can walk them off the earth,” +scoffed Sam. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134'></a>134</span><a name='chXII' id='chXII'></a>CHAPTER XII—MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS UP A TREE</h2> +<p> +Supper, that night, was a jolly affair. +Miss Elting decided that, though the boys +were full of pranks, they were lads well +worth knowing. She, naturally, was very particular +as to the associates of her charges, but +she approved of the Tramp Club. The boys, +even as their captain had averred at the first +meeting, were “full of mischief.” Despite their +love of fun however they were straightforward, +manly young men. +</p> +<p> +The party broke up about nine o’clock that +evening. +</p> +<p> +“To-morrow the contest begins,” reminded +the captain. +</p> +<p> +“So it does,” answered Harriet, as though +she had overlooked that fact. “What time do +you start?” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I don’t know. What time do you +start?” +</p> +<p> +“After breakfast,” laughed Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“Ha, ha! That’s another joke,” chuckled +Dill. +</p> +<p> +“It isn’t as yet. Perhaps it may be to-morrow +night,” replied Harriet. But just how +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135'></a>135</span> +much of a joke it was to be, or on whom, Harriet +Burrell at that moment did not know. She +rather suspected it would be on the Tramp +Club, but in this conjecture she was wrong. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, Harriet, why did you ever get us into +this?” groaned Margery, after the departure of +the boys. “Here am I half dead, with swollen +feet and aching bones, and now I’ve got to enter +a race of I don’t know how many miles against +a lot of athletic boys.” +</p> +<p> +“As I said before, Margery, you may ride +in the car if you prefer.” +</p> +<p> +“No; I’m going through with this hike if it +kills me.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s the way to talk!” nodded Harriet +briskly. “Faint heart never won strong race.” +</p> +<p> +“Have you any plans for fooling the boys, +Harriet?” asked Jane. +</p> +<p> +Harriet shook her head, but, after a gesture +of apology, drew Jane aside, whispering with +her. +</p> +<p> +“Can you spare us a moment, Miss Elting?” +asked Harriet. Soon the three were in earnest +council. +</p> +<p> +“I agree,” called Tommy ironically. “What +ith it? I’m thtrong for it!” +</p> +<p> +“It’s going to be hard work,” declared the +guardian, “and it’ll be rough traveling during +the last five miles, but we’ll be there by noon. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136'></a>136</span> +We made no agreement with the boys to stop at +any particular place?” +</p> +<p> +“No, Miss Elting,” Harriet answered. +</p> +<p> +“Then everybody to bed!” ordered the +guardian tersely. +</p> +<p> +At three the next morning four sleepy girls +were tumbled out of bed by a barely less +drowsy chaperon. But swift, silent work had +to be done. Harriet put wood on the still +glowing coals of the fire, then prepared coffee +and a light meal. +</p> +<p> +“Thtop it!” screamed Tommy, when energetic +Jane “struck” the tent, bringing it down +on a pair of heads, the other of which was Margery’s. +</p> +<p> +Jane McCarthy, heedless of their protests, +hustled relentlessly. The girls and their guardian +ate as best they could, under the circumstances. +By the time the light breakfast had +been eaten all the packing had been done, and +everything was ready for moving, except the +dishes and supplies. These were packed by +Margery, Hazel and Tommy. At four o’clock +all was in readiness for the start. +</p> +<p> +“We are going to travel eastward over the +mountains, girls,” explained Harriet. “We +shall have dense forests to go through and +rugged paths to follow, but we shall save a +number of miles and a great deal of time by +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137'></a>137</span> +going that way. We ought to reach Meadow-Brook +some hours ahead of the boys if they +take the road, as I heard Mr. Baker say they +would. We shall touch the road occasionally, +especially after we get over the mountains. And +you, Jane, must leave a sign on the fence. We +will do the same. Wherever we touch the highway +we will make a sign, also putting down the +time. Those boys don’t know anything about +our secret signs, and they mustn’t.” +</p> +<p> +“Are we all ready?” asked the guardian. +</p> +<p> +“Yes.” +</p> +<p> +“You had better start your car quietly, +Jane,” suggested Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +Jane nodded. She understood. The camp +of the Tramp Club was not so far away but +that the boys could hear the motor plainly if +they were awake, which the girls very much +doubted, as the Tramps had confessed that they +sat up late nights, telling stories, playing Indian +war games and scouting in the woods. +</p> +<p> +“Shoulder packs!” commanded Harriet. +</p> +<p> +A few moments later the four girls with their +guardian, after having put out the fire, started +from the field. They were headed for the highway. +Jane stood beside her car, waving to +them until they were out of sight, then she +calmly climbed into the vehicle and went to +sleep. Crazy Jane had a plan of her own. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138'></a>138</span> +</p> +<p> +About five o’clock the camp of the Tramp +Club began to show signs of life. The captain +roused his companions. It had been his intention +to get out earlier, but he had overslept, as +had all of his men. Still, he did not consider +that there was any necessity for great haste. +Of course he had not the slightest idea that the +Meadow-Brook Girls had broken camp at any +such early hour. +</p> +<p> +The boys, while losing no time, made no effort +at great haste. It was nearly six o’clock +when they finished their breakfast and half an +hour later, before they strapped on their packs +and started down the road. +</p> +<p> +Dill Dodd chuckled triumphantly as he +pointed to Jane McCarthy’s automobile standing +right where it had been since the previous +afternoon. +</p> +<p> +“All sleepy heads over there,” nodded Sam. +“We could beat that outfit and sleep all the +time.” +</p> +<p> +“Wait a minute,” answered George. “I +don’t see the tent, do you, fellows?” +</p> +<p> +No one spoke for a moment. Then the leader +announced that he was going down to the girls’ +camp. He returned at a trot after having +visited the deserted camp and peered into the +automobile. +</p> +<p> +“Well, what is it?” questioned several boys. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139'></a>139</span> +</p> +<p> +“Fellows, we’re stung. They’ve gone!” declared +George. +</p> +<p> +“But—but the automobile is there?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, and that Miss McCarthy is curled up +like a kitten on the back seat sleeping as sweetly +as you please. There’s not another girl in +camp.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, what do you know about that?” +drawled Davy. +</p> +<p> +“How long have they been gone, do you +think?” asked Will. +</p> +<p> +“From the feel of the ashes I should say +several hours.” George did not know that +they had smothered the fire with a damp +blanket. “That was a fine trick to play on us +the first day,” growled George. “That’s the +girl of it.” +</p> +<p> +“Hold on, Cap. You know Miss Burrell, +who seems to be the spokesman for the outfit, +said strategy wasn’t barred. This isn’t a trick, +it’s strategy. There’s a difference between +tricking and strategy you know.” +</p> +<p> +“Boys, we’ve <em>got to</em> catch up with them,” declared +the captain. “Are we going to let a lot +of girls get the best of us?” +</p> +<p> +“No!” shouted the boys in chorus. +</p> +<p> +“Then hike! Don’t lose your wind at the +start. Strike a steady clip, but after half an +hour hit it up, and keep hitting it up till we +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140'></a>140</span> +catch up with them and take the lead once more. +This is a fine mess, but we’ll soon be out of it +with flying colors.” +</p> +<p> +The Tramp Club walked for two hours without +finding any trace of the Meadow-Brook +Girls. The boys were becoming worried. By +this time they surely ought to have found the +tracks of the girls in the road. +</p> +<p> +“You don’t think they have taken a short cut, +do you?” asked Charlie. +</p> +<p> +Baker shook his head. +</p> +<p> +“They couldn’t get over those mountains. +No; they have been following the side of the +road, so we wouldn’t be able to pick up the trail. +They’re sharp ones. They know something +about trailing. That’s plain to be seen. Hark! +what’s that?” +</p> +<p> +The honk, honk of an automobile horn was +heard in the far distance to the rear of them. +They listened a moment, then pressed on. It +was not an unusual happening to be passed by +a motor car. They soon realized, however, that +this one was coming at a much higher rate of +speed than the statute said was lawful. +</p> +<p> +A cloud of dust arose a full half mile to the +rear of them. As it bore down on the boys the +dust rose higher and higher. +</p> +<p> +“Hoo-e-e-e! Hoo-e-e-e!” yelled a shrill +voice from the heart of the dust cloud. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141'></a>141</span> +</p> +<p> +“It’s that Miss McCarthy. They call her +Crazy Jane,” shouted Dill. “Let’s hold her +up.” +</p> +<p> +Bent on mischief, the boys formed a chain +across the road with clasped hands. On came +the car careening from side to side, its horn +honking hoarsely like the warning of a sentinel +crow, its driver uttering her shrill “hoo-e-e-e,” +her hair standing out almost straight behind her +in the breeze. +</p> +<p> +The boys stood firm; the car did not slacken +its speed. +</p> +<p> +“Jump for your lives!” yelled the captain +of the tramps. “She’s going to run us down!” +</p> +<p> +A great black object flitted past them just +as their ranks opened. There was not even +time to get out of the road. The most they +could do was to make an opening large enough—and +barely large enough at that—to permit +the passage of the car, which went roaring past +them. A long-drawn “hoo-e-e-e,” floated back +to them, a choking cloud of dust and sand showered +over them, sending the boys into severe +coughing fits as they staggered off to the side +of the highway and sat down on the dusty grass. +</p> +<p> +“Well, what do you think of that?” gasped +Sam Crocker. +</p> +<p> +“I think it’s exceedingly lucky for us that +we got out of the road when we did,” answered Captain +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142'></a>142</span> +George, shaking an angry fist +in the direction of the disappearing cloud of +dust. “Why, she would have run right over +us.” +</p> +<p> +“She would,” agreed the boys in chorus. +</p> +<p> +“But also she wouldn’t. She knew we would +get out of the way,” added Sam Crocker. +</p> +<p> +“Come on, fellows. This won’t do,” cried +George. “We’ve got to make tracks now.” +They scrambled to their feet and set out at a +fast pace. In the meantime Jane McCarthy, +chuckling over the scare she had given the +Tramp Club, was racing along the highway in +her mad drive to the eastward. +</p> +<p> +A few miles farther on she stopped the car +and after taking a survey of the land, got out +and made some chalk marks on a fence. Then +she drove on more leisurely. +</p> +<p> +While all this was happening the Meadow-Brook +Girls were traveling on, also at a fast +pace. They had gotten over the rugged range +of hills after having sustained some scratches +on their hands and several rents in their frocks. +They then came out into a corn field. A highway +lay below them which they would have to +cross. On the opposite side of the highway +lay an apple orchard, the trees standing close +together, their tops in most instances interlacing. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143'></a>143</span> +</p> +<p> +“I wonder if the boys have passed here?” +questioned Hazel, shading her eyes and gazing +up and down the road. +</p> +<p> +“No. They must still be a long way back,” +answered Harriet. +</p> +<p> +The Meadow-Brook Girls started down the +hill, climbing the fence into the road. There +before them, plainly discernible, were the tracks +of an automobile. +</p> +<p> +“Jane went past here not long ago,” decided +Margery. “These are her car tracks, I am +sure.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, and there’s a chalk mark on the fence,” +said Miss Elting, pointing down the road a few +rods. They hurried over to examine the sign. +</p> +<p> +“A broken arrow,” exclaimed Harriet. +“That means danger or ‘look out.’ Now, I +wonder what we are to look out for? I don’t +see anything alarming.” +</p> +<p> +“I think Jane means to inform us that the +boys are not far from here and to look out for +them,” suggested the guardian. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, that must be it. Half-past twelve, the +signal says, she passed here. That is nearly +an hour ago. Come, girls, let’s get over that +fence in a hurry and be off. Once through the +orchard, and they can’t see us,” urged Harriet +Burrell. +</p> +<p> +“Wait; let’s be certain that we are right,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144'></a>144</span> +warned the guardian. She took a careful survey +about them. Nothing of an alarming nature +was to be seen. It was just an ordinary +country scene, with the sun shining down overhead, +the air warm and oppressive about them. +</p> +<p> +“Everything appears to be all right,” she +decided finally. “Yes, go ahead, girls.” Miss +Elting was the first to climb the roadside fence +and drop down on the other side. She was +quickly followed by the four girls of her party. +“Keep on the alert, girls. If any of you +catches sight of the boys drop down behind +trees and don’t speak.” The guardian had entered +into the spirit of the contest with an enthusiasm +equal to that of the girls themselves. +“I can’t believe that they have gotten ahead +of us. It isn’t probable that that was what +Jane meant when she marked the danger signal +on the fence here.” +</p> +<p> +“Wait,” called Harriet. Springing back over +the fence she wrote the letters “O. K.” underneath +the broken arrow and the triangle. This +was for the purpose of informing Jane that +her message had been read and understood in +case she were to return that way later on, as +she was more than likely to do. +</p> +<p> +This done they started briskly in among the +trees of the orchard. They had not gone far +before Tommy, who was in the lead, uttered a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145'></a>145</span> +shrill little scream of alarm. The girls had +started to run toward her when they halted +abruptly. Just ahead of them stood a great +hulking bull with head lowered to the ground, +his small eyes fixed menacingly on the girls. +The bull uttered a deep, rumbling bellow. +</p> +<p> +“Thave me! Oh, thave me!” wailed Tommy. +</p> +<p> +“Run for your lives, girls,” shouted the +guardian. +</p> +<p> +They turned and were about to flee for the +road when they came to another abrupt stop. +To the right and the left of them were two +other bulls, each with lowered head, pawing the +dirt with first one front foot then the other. +</p> +<p> +All at once the girls understood the meaning +of Jane’s danger sign. She had seen the +bulls in passing, and knowing that her companions +would pass that way, had halted to +leave a warning for them. +</p> +<p> +“Quick! Into the trees!” shouted Miss +Elting. She grabbed the trembling Tommy and +helped her up into a tree, Harriet in the meantime +performing the same service for Margery +and Hazel. Then the guardian and Harriet began +scrambling up, but ere they had gotten off +the ground the bulls charged them. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146'></a>146</span><a name='chXIII' id='chXIII'></a>CHAPTER XIII—A SERIOUS PREDICAMENT</h2> +<p> +“Climb! Miss Elting, climb!” begged +Harriet. +</p> +<p> +Margery and Tommy uttered shrill +cries of terror. +</p> +<p> +The guardian reached for the crotch of the +tree, just above her head, and drew herself up. +Harriet leaped into the air, catching hold of +an overhanging limb. She intended to pull +herself free from the ground and out of the +reach of the angry bulls. +</p> +<p> +The limb snapped. Apple tree boughs always +are treacherous. Harriet landed on the ground +in a heap. A gasp of horror escaped from the +lips of the girls in the trees near at hand. +</p> +<p> +There followed a bellow and a rush from +the third bull, which was some few yards distant +from its fellows. The girls closed their +eyes as the lowered head and wicked-looking +horns seemed to come into contact with Harriet +Burrell’s body. Miss Elting, strong-nerved +as she was, could not repress a scream. Margery, +utterly terror-stricken, lost her balance, +and had it not been for Hazel, who threw an +arm about her, Margery would have fallen +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147'></a>147</span> +from the tree and been at the mercy of the savage +bulls. +</p> +<p> +In the meantime, having heard no scream +from Harriet, the girls opened their eyes fearfully. +They saw Harriet leaping for a higher +limb of the tree. The head of the bull had +crashed against the base of the tree where Harriet +had been but a second before. +</p> +<p> +With remarkable presence of mind the girl, +when she struck the ground, had rolled herself +to one side, thus placing the tree between +herself and her assailant. This gave her a few +seconds respite. But in these few seconds Harriet +gathered her faculties together. Springing +to her feet she had flung herself straight +up into the air, with arms thrown above her +head to grasp the limb that her quick eyes had +noted. +</p> +<p> +Most girls would have fainted, but Harriet +Burrell did not. She was not of the fainting +kind, as Captain Baker had so truly said a few +hours before. A few awful seconds of suspense +followed. +</p> +<p> +With feet curled under her, the girl’s hands +reached and clasped the limb. Then she drew +herself up to it; a feat requiring both muscle +and practice. Once there she lay along the +creaking limb of the apple tree just out of +reach of the tossing horns, gazing down into +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148'></a>148</span> +the bloodshot eyes of the ferocious beast. The +limb bent perilously. It threatened, at any +second, to give way beneath her weight. +</p> +<p> +“Climb higher!” cried Miss Elting, “oh, +climb higher!” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t dare move. The limb may break +if I do,” answered Harriet in a wholly calm +voice. +</p> +<p> +“Thave me, thave me!” wailed Tommy +Thompson weakly. +</p> +<p> +“What shall we do? Please be careful, Harriet,” +begged the guardian in an agonized +voice. +</p> +<p> +“I intend to be careful. I haven’t any burning +desire to fall on those sharp horns. I +never saw such a fiendish expression in the +eyes of an animal.” +</p> +<p> +The limb creaked warningly. Harriet instantly +ceased speaking. Somehow, she thought, +the muscular effort of speaking must be putting +a little added weight on the limb. +</p> +<p> +The bull walked away a few paces. He +stopped and began bellowing and pawing. +</p> +<p> +“See if you can’t call him away. I simply +don’t dare to move as long as he is so near,” +said Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“How shall I call him?” questioned the +guardian. +</p> +<p> +“Flaunt something at him.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149'></a>149</span> +</p> +<p> +“I haven’t anything to flaunt.” +</p> +<p> +“Wait till I take off my thkirt,” piped the +little lisping girl. +</p> +<p> +“Be careful that you don’t fall,” warned +Harriet. +</p> +<p> +Tommy quickly stripped off her skirt, then +leaning over, swung it back and forth. Instantly +there was a bellow and a charge from +the enraged bull. The skirt was whisked from +her hands on the sharp horns of the furious +animal that had charged it. +</p> +<p> +“Thave me!” cried Tommy. “Oh, thave my +thkirt!” +</p> +<p> +There was reason for alarm in Tommy’s case +at that moment. The bull was tossing its head +to release the skirt that had become impaled +upon the sharp horns. Presently the skirt fell +to the ground. The animal began stamping +upon and prodding it. Tommy got into action +at about the same time. Shrieking and protesting, +she began pelting the animal with +apples that she picked from the tree for the +purpose. Some of the missiles reached their +mark. Most of them did not. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, my thkirt, my thkirt!” wailed the little +girl. +</p> +<p> +“Never mind, you have saved Harriet,” +comforted Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +Harriet, the instant the bull left her, started +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150'></a>150</span> +to wriggle backwards. The limb gave way +with a crash, and Harriet plunged to the +ground, but by skilfully twisting her body she +avoided striking on her head. She was up like +a flash and once more sprang for the tree. This +time she did not trust to a treacherous limb, +but scrambled hastily up the trunk and perched +herself high and safe in the crotch of the tree +a few seconds later. +</p> +<p> +“Gracious! That was a narrow escape,” +gasped the guardian. “How do you feel?” +</p> +<p> +“I am all right.” Harriet smiled faintly. +Her cheeks were pale and her eyes large and +bright. There were no other indications that +she was disturbed at her succession of narrow +escapes from the bull. “Poor Tommy, you +lost your skirt, didn’t you?” +</p> +<p> +“Ye—eth. Oh, what thhall I do?” +</p> +<p> +“I guess you will have to finish the day’s +hike in your petticoat,” answered Miss Elting. +“However, from present indications it will be +dark by the time we get away from here. Besides +your petticoat is black and will easily +pass for an outside skirt.” +</p> +<p> +“I can’t, I can’t,” wailed the girl. “I won’t +go on thith way.” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t worry, Tommy. You may have my +skirt. I don’t mind going without it at all. I +have a black underskirt, so the absence of my +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151'></a>151</span> +outside skirt will hardly be noticed,” answered +Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“I won’t. The naughty old bull. I want my +own thkirt.” +</p> +<p> +“You won’t need it,” said Margery, speaking +for the first time since she had been overcome +with terror. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t you think they will go away?” questioned +Hazel anxiously. +</p> +<p> +“Not so long as we are up here,” replied +Harriet. “I know their kind pretty well. I +was chased by one at grandfather’s farm two +years ago. There is only one way to save yourself +from them when they are angry—that is +to keep out of their way. I think——” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, look! Look, girls!” cried Hazel in a +tone of suppressed eagerness. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, thave me! There they come,” moaned +Tommy. +</p> +<p> +“It’s the Tramp Club as I live,” exclaimed +Miss Elting. “Girls, we must call to them. It +is a humiliating position for us, but we must +get out of here. They can at least go for the +farmer and ask him to drive the animals off.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, Miss Elting, please don’t call to them,” +begged Harriet. +</p> +<p> +The boys were swinging down the road at a +rapid but steady pace. They were walking in +step, each with a heavy pack on his back, hat +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152'></a>152</span> +brims tilted back, a manly looking lot of young +men. As they reached a point opposite to the +lower end of the orchard they began to sing, +their voices raised in chorus: +</p> +<p> + “Forty-nine blue bottles are hanging on the wall,<br /> + Forty-nine blue bottles are hanging on the wall.<br /> + Take one of the bottles down and there’ll be forty-eight<br /> + blue bottles a hanging on the wall, a hanging on<br /> + the wall.<br /> + Take one of the bottles down and there’ll be forty-eight<br /> + blue bottles a hanging on the wall, a hanging on<br /> + the wall.”<br /> +</p> +<p> +“Oh, help!” moaned Margery Brown. +</p> +<p> +“Thave me!” wailed Tommy. +</p> +<p> +Harriet and Miss Elting burst out laughing, +but not loudly enough for their laughter to +reach the Tramp Club, the members of which +organization were trudging along past the +orchard, wholly unconscious of the nearness of +their friends. +</p> +<h2><a name='chXIV' id='chXIV'></a>CHAPTER XIV—HARRIET IS RESOURCEFUL</h2> +<p> +The boys were still removing blue bottles +from the wall as they swung on out of +sight of the girls in the apple trees. +Harriet Burrell was shaking with laughter. +</p> +<p> +“That ith right. Laugh!” jeered Tommy. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153'></a>153</span> +“I gueth it ith funny, but I don’t thee it. +Maybe I’ll laugh, to-morrow.” +</p> +<p> +“It is really the most laughable situation I +ever heard of,” admitted the guardian. +</p> +<p> +“One side of it, yes,” agreed Harriet. “The +other side isn’t so funny. We must think of +getting out of here. All our plans have come +to nothing. The boys have passed us. I am +afraid we shan’t be able to catch up with them +again unless we can get a start before long.” +</p> +<p> +The bulls, attracted by the singing, had +turned, now facing the road. They regarded +the boys menacingly, but the Tramp Club did +not see them. Now the animals once more +turned toward the trees that held the girls. +The beasts resumed their bellowing and pawing +and moved up under the trees, tossing their +heads, issuing challenge after challenge to the +girls to come down. But the challenges were +not accepted. Harriet regarded the beasts +frowningly. The other girls gazed at them in +terror. +</p> +<p> +“Now, Harriet Burrell, as you wouldn’t +allow me to call the boys, what do you propose +to do? Remain up in a tree all night?” demanded +the guardian. +</p> +<p> +“By no means.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t dare thleep up here,” complained +Tommy. “What if I thhould fall out?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154'></a>154</span> +</p> +<p> +“You wouldn’t have far to fall,” answered +Margery. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, wouldn’t it be awful,” gasped Hazel, +“if we were to fall out of these trees?” +</p> +<p> +“The animals will go to sleep themselves +after dark, I am sure. We shall be able to get +away then,” replied Harriet wisely. +</p> +<p> +“I believe you are right. I hadn’t thought +of that,” nodded Miss Elting. “But must we +remain in this position all the rest of the day?” +</p> +<p> +“No, indeed,” replied Harriet. “I had +hoped that the owner of these animals might +come along, but there seems to be no one about. +You see, in the autumn, the farmers are seldom +abroad in the fields unless they chance to be +plowing, so I think we had better move.” +</p> +<p> +“What have you in mind, Harriet? I know +you have formed some plan to get us out of +this predicament.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, I have. The plan may not work, but +it is worth trying. I wish you would call the +beasts to your tree. I can depend upon you. +You will not lose your head. You will have to +use your own skirt this time, but for goodness’ +sake, don’t lose it. Some one must be presentable +when we get to camp.” +</p> +<p> +“See here, Harriet, I positively forbid your +taking any further chances. You have had +enough narrow escapes to-day as it is.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155'></a>155</span> +</p> +<p> +“There will be no particular danger for me, +Miss Elting. You will be in more danger than +I shall be when the plan really begins to work. +Will you call the bulls over to your tree?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes. But I warn you I shan’t be a party +to any more foolishness.” +</p> +<p> +Harriet made no reply. She scanned the +orchard about her, finally fixing her eyes upon +a tree with low-hanging limbs, situated several +rods farther down the orchard and away from +the road. The girl nodded, as though in answer +to some question she had asked of herself. +</p> +<p> +“Now I am ready. I have removed my +skirt,” called the guardian. “What next?” +</p> +<p> +“Wait a moment.” Harriet clambered down +the tree a little way, placing herself in a position +where she could jump without loss of time. +“Now wave your skirt, please.” +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting leaned down from her position +in the tree and began swinging her skirt slowly +back and forth. The result was immediate and +startling. With bellows of rage, three savage +bulls with lowered heads charged the blue +skirt. It seems that these animals were not +particular as to color. Blue was every bit as +aggravating as red to them. +</p> +<p> +Harriet, the instant the beasts began charging, +had dropped fearlessly to the ground. The +bulls had not observed her. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156'></a>156</span> +</p> +<p> +“Harriet!” screamed Margery. +</p> +<p> +Harriet gave no heed to the cry of alarm. +Instead she ran with all speed farther down +the orchard, casting apprehensive glances over +her shoulder now and then. A cry of warning +from Miss Elting told her that the bulls had +turned and were charging her. Harriet gave +one quick glance over her shoulder, then leaped +for a tree, up which she clambered with agility. +She was none too soon, for, by the time she had +cleared the trunk, the bulls met at the tree with +horns clashing. For a moment they turned +their attention to each other and then backed +away and looked up at their intended victim. +</p> +<p> +“Miss Elting!” called the girl. +</p> +<p> +“Yes?” +</p> +<p> +“I am going to decoy the bulls as far away +from you as possible. When you hear me +scream you are all to climb down from the trees +and run for the road fence. I’ll try to hold +the ugly beasts here while you are making the +dash. But run for your life. Don’t you dare +to fall down.” +</p> +<p> +“All of us?” questioned the guardian apprehensively. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, please.” +</p> +<p> +“But, Harriet—suppose that we do get +safely away—how are you going to leave the +orchard?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157'></a>157</span> +</p> +<p> +“I have thought of a way to do it,” Harriet +assured the guardian. “The danger, now, +is in so many of us being here. When I scream +the first time you are to run. When you get +safely over the fence you are to give me the +signal ‘hoo-e-e-e-e.’ I will know, by that, that +you are safe. When I give you a second call, +after you are in the highway, try to attract the +attention of the bulls. That will be my chance +to make a dash for the nearest fence.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t like your plan,” objected the guardian. +“You are taking too great a risk.” +</p> +<p> +“It is the only way we can get away from +here before night,” argued Harriet. “Even +then, we should find it difficult to escape, for +I think the beasts would camp right under +these trees. They are determined to get us. +I’m going to fool them. Now, call them!” +</p> +<p> +The guardian did so. The animals did not +show any immediate inclination to move. So +Miss Elting cautiously got down to the ground. +That was all that was necessary. The beasts +charged her. The guardian lost no time in +scrambling into the tree. In the meantime Harriet +had again dropped to the ground and was +running at the top of her speed. She was still +within easy reach of the voices of her companions, +though out of their sight. +</p> +<p> +“Where are they?” she called. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158'></a>158</span> +</p> +<p> +“Right here,” answered the guardian. +</p> +<p> +“All right. Don’t try to keep them there. +I am not afraid.” +</p> +<p> +“We have no desire to, I assure you, Harriet. +But do be careful.” +</p> +<p> +Harriet was still on the ground. She moved +a little farther down through the orchard, getting +out where the trees were less thick, so +as to be still within sight of the beasts she was +hoping to lure away from the trees that held +her companions. The bulls did not appear to +see her, so Harriet stripped off her own skirt +and began waving it at them. It was several +moments later when the bulls discovered her +and then they started for her without loss of +time. +</p> +<p> +“Run!” screamed Harriet. “Run! Don’t +make a sound to attract their attention.” She +adopted her own advice and started down +through an aisle of apple trees, her feet scarcely +seeming to touch the ground. The girl was +flaunting her skirt over her head. She heard +bellows of rage off toward the trees in which +her companions were perched. The girl halted. +A few seconds later she saw the beasts coming. +Instead of immediately taking to a tree Harriet +began running again, still waving the skirt +high above her head. +</p> +<p> +Harriet heard Tommy give a little scream. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159'></a>159</span> +It was quickly suppressed. Undoubtedly Miss +Elting had sharply rebuked the terrified little +girl. Harriet did not pause again. This was +her last chance to get the bulls away from the +trees that held her companions. Their safety +depended upon her doing so. She was determined +to succeed, even at the imminent risk of +losing her own safety. The animals did not +seem to be gaining on her, but all at once they +put on a great burst of speed. Harriet darted +sideways, then straight ahead again. This time +she leaped out into the open, flaunting the skirt, +tantalizing the ugly beasts, resorting to every +artifice she could think of to take their attention +from Miss Elting and the other girls. +</p> +<p> +Harriet succeeded beyond her expectations. +She also succeeded in enraging the beasts far +more than she had hoped to do. +</p> +<p> +Now they were getting too close for safety, +so Harriet darted in among the trees, followed +by the three savage, bellowing bulls. She +grasped the first low-hanging limb that she +came to, and swung herself up into a tree. A +pair of sharp horns caught the end of the skirt, +rending it nearly to the waist. Harriet clung +desperately to the skirt. She did not propose +to lose it if she could help doing so. Jerking +the skirt away she climbed higher and, bracing +herself, gazed down triumphantly. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160'></a>160</span> +</p> +<p> +“That’s the time I fooled you, didn’t I?” she +taunted. Leaning forward the girl waved the +skirt. She reached down far enough to flaunt +the skirt full in the face of the nearest animal. +He bellowed his rage and pawed the dirt. She +continued to aggravate him. If she could only +keep them all there until her companions +reached the highway! +</p> +<p> +“Hoo-e-e-e-e!” sounded the distant, long-drawn +call of the Meadow-Brook Girls. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, they’re safe!” cried Harriet joyfully. +For a moment she closed her eyes and clung +panting to the trunk of the tree. After resting +a few moments she cautiously drew on her +skirt and fastened it, three pairs of red, evil +eyes observing her threateningly. Then she +climbed to the topmost branches of the apple +tree, hoping to get high enough to obtain a +glimpse of her companions. +</p> +<p> +“I might have known that a tree with such +low boughs would not be high enough for +that,” she muttered. “But I’ll call.” +</p> +<p> +Listening she heard the “Hoo-e-e-e!” of Miss +Elting again. +</p> +<p> +“Hoo-e-e-e-e-e-e! Hoo-e-e-e-e!” answered +Harriet Burrell. +</p> +<p> +In response the others began shouting. The +bulls did not appear to be interested. One of +them lay down. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161'></a>161</span> +</p> +<p> +“My goodness! I do hope they aren’t going +to stay here the rest of the day,” cried Harriet. +“I don’t know what I shall do in that +event.” +</p> +<p> +She now tried Tommy’s plan and began pelting +the animal that had lain down with apples. +It took very little of this sort of treatment to +bring the beast to his feet. He leaped up with +a bellow and began pawing up the dirt, sending +showers of it over his companions. +</p> +<p> +Harriet chuckled. +</p> +<p> +“Now, if only Miss Elting will attract their +attention. I think I had better try to hide +myself and keep quiet.” This she did. She +could hear the shouts and yells of her companions. +They were setting up a great racket off +there in the road, doing their utmost to draw +the attention of the animals away from Harriet. +</p> +<p> +After fully five minutes of this one of the +bulls walked off with his head in the air. He +stood a moment with head still erect, gazing +off toward the highway. Suddenly he started +on a run. The other two bulls followed him +with their gaze for a few moments, then they, +too, started away at a moderate trot. +</p> +<p> +“The plan has worked! It has worked!” +cried Harriet in triumph, under her breath. +“Oh, I do hope they get far enough away. I +must crawl down so as to be ready for my big +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162'></a>162</span> +spring. This is almost equal to a Spanish bull +fight, except that I haven’t any barbs to stick +into them.” +</p> +<p> +The girl crept cautiously to the ground. She +stood at the foot of the tree, shielding her body +by its trunk, peering around the tree at the +running bulls. They were headed straight +toward the road fence, traveling more rapidly +now. +</p> +<p> +In order to reach the fence at the side of the +field, Harriet would be obliged to go out into +the open, where, if the animals turned, she +would be sure to be discovered. +</p> +<p> +A cry from her companions told her that the +time for action on her part had arrived. Without +an instant’s hesitation Harriet Burrell +started for a fence which stood to the eastward +of her place of refuge. A few moments later +she had cleared the orchard and reached the +open field. She saw the three bulls pawing the +ground by the roadside fence in the distance. +Her companions were standing in the middle +of the road waving their skirts at the animals, +not daring to get close to the fence. +</p> +<p> +“Run! Run, Harriet!” screamed Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +As though they had understood the meaning +of the guardian’s warning, the bulls wheeled +sharply. They saw the fleeing figure of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163'></a>163</span> +Meadow-Brook Girl and, leaving Miss Elting +and her party, charged straight across the field +towards Harriet, while the latter was still some +distance from the fence towards which she was +running. +</p> +<p> +“Run! Oh, run!” came the voice of Miss +Elting in a terrified wail. “Run!” +</p> +<p> +Suddenly, Harriet, who had turned to glance +over her shoulder to measure the distance between +herself and her pursuers, stumbled and +plunged headfirst into a little depression in the +ground. +</p> +<p> +A scream rose from her horrified companions. +</p> +<h2><a name='chXV' id='chXV'></a>CHAPTER XV—A RACE FOR LIFE</h2> +<p> +“She’ll be killed!” wailed Hazel, covering +her eyes to shut out the sight. +</p> +<p> +“Thave her!” screamed Tommy. +The little girl sprang forward, scrambled over +the fence and, had she, too, not fallen would +have dashed down the field to Harriet Burrell’s +assistance, utterly regardless of her own +peril. The guardian climbed over the fence +and had placed a firm grip on the little girl +before the latter could get to her feet. Miss +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164'></a>164</span> +Elting fairly dragged Tommy back to the fence +and assisted her over. +</p> +<p> +“She’s up again!” cried Hazel. “Oh, hurry, +hurry!” Her voice rose to a piercing wail. +</p> +<p> +Harriet had gotten to her feet. She cast one +frightened look over her shoulder, then continued +to run towards the fence. They saw +that she limped a little. Nor was the girl running +as fast as before her fall. The three bulls +had gained considerably during the few seconds +that Harriet had been down. They were +now charging with lowered heads, bunched +closely together, this time as though determined +that their victim should not escape them. +</p> +<p> +Just ahead of her, Harriet had seen a ditch, +deep and broad, made for the purpose of draining +the land. Instantly a plan formed in her +active mind. She could not hope to win the +race for life by running straight ahead now +that the beasts had gained so much on her. +</p> +<p> +“She’s tiring! They’ll get her!” moaned +Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“Why didn’t you let me go?” screamed +Tommy, beside herself with anxiety. +</p> +<p> +The guardian did not answer. Her eyes, +wide and staring, were following every movement +of the fleeing girl and the pursuing bulls. +</p> +<p> +Harriet stopped short, bending over in a +crouching position. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165'></a>165</span> +</p> +<p> +“She’s going to try to trick them! Oh, what +courage!” breathed Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +“Look! Thee her now!” shouted Tommy, +with a note of triumph in her strained voice. +</p> +<p> +The animals were fairly upon Harriet. When +it seemed as though their horns were touching +her, the girl leaped obliquely into the ditch. +They saw her run, splashing along in it for a +few rods, then spring to the bank on the same +side from which she had jumped in. +</p> +<p> +The watchers saw something else too. The +bulls, so intent upon reaching their victim, had +taken no notice of the ditch. Perhaps they had +been charging with closed eyes, as many bulls +do. At any rate the leading beast flung himself +headlong into the ditch. The others braced +themselves with their front feet and went sliding +into the ditch on top of their leader, digging +furrows with their hoofs in the soft dirt. +</p> +<p> +Harriet Burrell’s ruse had been successful. +She spoke no word, but a glint of triumph +flashed into her eyes as she cast a quick glance +at the floundering animals, then ran straight +toward her companions. This time there was +no limping, no lessening of speed. She had +covered less than half the distance before two +of the animals that had slid into the ditch had +recovered themselves and began looking about +for the prey that had eluded them. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166'></a>166</span> +</p> +<p> +The slender figure of the Meadow-Brook +girl, they soon discovered, was racing across +the field. The two bulls clambered out of the +ditch and charged again. Now that they were +in the open field it was a race that would go +to the fleetest. No tricks would avail Harriet +this time. She knew that her safety depended +on outrunning her pursuers. Had Harriet not +been an athletic girl she would have succumbed +long before. As it was she ran at a wonderful +rate of speed. The shouts of her companions, +though heard but faintly, encouraged her, +for Harriet’s mind was on her work. +</p> +<p> +The ruse practiced by Harriet had given +her the lead in the race. Miss Elting, however, +saw that the bulls were gaining on the plucky +girl. +</p> +<p> +“Girls,” she said sharply, “remain where +you are.” With that she climbed to the top +of the fence and leaped over into the field. +It was her idea that even though Harriet did +succeed in reaching the fence, the girl might +not have sufficient vitality left to enable her to +climb over it. +</p> +<p> +Harriet, as she drew near, discovered the +guardian on her side of the fence and divined +the latter’s purpose. The girl motioned for +Miss Elting to get back. The guardian shook +her head and remained where she was. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167'></a>167</span> +</p> +<p> +“Go back! Go back! I’m all right,” cried +Harriet breathlessly. +</p> +<p> +The bulls were gaining rapidly. They were +now but a few rods behind Harriet Burrell. +She put on more speed after one last look over +her shoulder while Tommy and Hazel were +shouting their encouragement. +</p> +<p> +“You will be caught. Quick!” gasped Harriet, +as she drew rapidly near to the guardian. +“Oh, please hurry back to the road!” +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting did not move. Harriet dashed +up beside her and stopped short. Miss Elting +grasped the girl’s arm. Harriet pulled herself +free. +</p> +<p> +“Not an inch till you get over,” declared the +girl. +</p> +<p> +The guardian glanced at her questioningly, +then vaulted the fence. Harriet followed her. +But ere Harriet had touched the ground on +the other side, two sharp-horned heads crashed +into the fence. Harriet sank down at the side +of the road breathless and exhausted. +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting pulled the girl to her feet. +</p> +<p> +“Throw your shoulders well back and inhale +deeply!” she commanded. She then led Harriet +slowly up and down the road for a few +moments. Harriet’s heavy respirations soon +moderated, and ten minutes later her breathing +was almost normal. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168'></a>168</span> +</p> +<p> +“I think we had better wait here. Jane will +be along looking for us if we do not get to our +camping place by night. Do you feel exhausted?” +asked Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +“A little weak in the knees, that’s all,” answered +Harriet. “I shall be ready to move in +a few minutes. I don’t want to stay here. We +must try to catch up with the boys.” +</p> +<p> +“No. I shall not allow it. Yon have done +quite enough for one day—quite enough to tire +out the strongest man. Do you really think +you can stand it to walk slowly?” +</p> +<p> +“Of course I can,” answered Harriet +brightly. “See, I still have some sprint left +in me.” Harriet ran up and down the road, +vaulting the fence on the opposite side of it. +</p> +<p> +“You have indeed,” laughed Miss Elting. It +was the first laugh that had been heard in some +time. “You are the most remarkable girl I’ve +ever known, or ever shall know. Now we had +better decide on which way we shall go. I think +the shorter way will be to skirt the orchard and +continue on across the fields. We shan’t try +the orchard again.” +</p> +<p> +All the girls agreed with the guardian. They +had had quite enough of that particular orchard. +Following the road for a short distance they +came to the adjoining field, which they entered +and continued on their journey. The afternoon +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169'></a>169</span> +was now well advanced. Miss Elting had left a +mark on the fence to inform Jane of their route, +in case she should come back to look for them. +This with the time of their passing would give +Jane an idea when to expect them at the place +stretched for the camp. +</p> +<p> +As they proceeded, Harriet’s strength returned +to her. By the time they had walked +two miles from the scene of their recent exciting +experiences she had fully recovered from +her recent exhaustion. Tommy, now that she +had time to think about herself, was bewailing +the loss of her skirt. She firmly declared she +would not go to camp with only an underskirt +on and announced her intention of sleeping out +in the fields. +</p> +<p> +Six o’clock had arrived by the time they came +out on the crest of a hill overlooking the valley +in which they hoped to find Jane McCarthy and +their camp. They scanned the valley eagerly. +</p> +<p> +“There’s our tent,” cried Hazel, pointing to +a clump of trees to the left of them. No person +was in sight, however. This they thought +strange. +</p> +<p> +“I should not be surprised if everybody had +gone in search of us,” said Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +“I hope they don’t find uth,” spoke up +Tommy. +</p> +<p> +“It will be a good opportunity for you to get +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170'></a>170</span> +into camp without being seen,” suggested Harriet. +“Come, let’s hurry down before some one +does come.” +</p> +<p> +In order that their approach might be the +more screened, they hurried over to a fence +along which bushes and small trees grew. Sheltered +by these they made their way down into +the valley. But when they reached the road +Tommy halted. +</p> +<p> +“Not another thtep,” she declared stubbornly. +No amount of urging would induce +her to go on. It was decided to leave her there +while the rest continued on, Harriet promising +to return to the little girl with another skirt +as soon as possible. So Tommy hid in the +bushes, peering out at the retreating forms of +her companions. +</p> +<p> +A fire was smouldering in the Meadow-Brook +camp. As the party of girls approached, four +boys sprang up. They had been sitting about +the fire. Their hats were off instantly, and +they tried gallantly to force down the grins +that persisted in appearing on their faces. +</p> +<p> +“Why, how do you do?” greeted Captain +Baker of the Tramp Club. +</p> +<p> +“Where is Miss McCarthy?” questioned Miss +Elting, pretending not to have observed the +grins. +</p> +<p> +“She and a couple of the fellows went back +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171'></a>171</span> +to look for you,” spoke up Dill Dodd. “The +pace was rather swift for you, even if you did +get an early start, wasn’t it?” he chuckled. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, the pace was much swifter than you +imagine,” answered the guardian frigidly. +</p> +<p> +“It is too bad that Miss McCarthy started +out. She may spend a good part of the evening +searching for you, not knowing that you have +reached camp,” said the captain. +</p> +<p> +“She will know,” replied Harriet. “Jane +will be back here soon.” +</p> +<p> +“How will she know?” frowned Davy. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, they have a wireless telegraph system, +you know,” chuckled Sam. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, that is it! How did you guess it?” +smiled Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t forget Tommy,” reminded Miss +Elting. +</p> +<p> +Harriet flushed. She had indeed, forgotten +all about the little lisping girl who was hiding +in the bushes. Harriet hurried into the tent. +</p> +<p> +“That’s right. You are one girl short,” exclaimed +George, suddenly discovering the absence +of Miss Thompson. “Did she fall by the +wayside? Was the pace too swift for her?” +</p> +<p> +“Young man, you talk too much,” objected +Margery indignantly. +</p> +<p> +“I know it,” laughed George. “I can’t help +it.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172'></a>172</span> +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting’s face relaxed in a smile. +</p> +<p> +“Where <em>is</em> Miss Thompson?” questioned +Dill. +</p> +<p> +“Miss Thompson will be here soon,” replied +the guardian. +</p> +<p> +Unnoticed by the boys Harriet slipped away, +a bundle under her arm. She returned, a quarter +of an hour later, accompanied by Tommy +clad in her outside skirt and at peace with the +world. They had barely reached the camp before +the sound of a motor horn was heard. A +few moments afterward Crazy Jane came tearing +along the road and swung up to the camp. +</p> +<p> +“Here we are darlin’s,” she cried. “I got +your message.” +</p> +<p> +“Message?” questioned the captain. “Who +gave her a message, Fred?” +</p> +<p> +“Blest if I know,” answered Fred Avery, getting +down from the car, removing his hat and +scratching his head thoughtfully. “Wireless, I +think.” +</p> +<p> +“What did I tell you?” nodded Sam. +</p> +<p> +The captain regarded Fred inquiringly. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, don’t ask me,” said the latter. “Miss +McCarthy got out of her car about five miles +back, walked to the fence then back to the car. +She said her friends had passed there about +four o’clock in the afternoon and were in camp +then.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173'></a>173</span> +</p> +<p> +“Well, what do you know about that?” wondered +the captain. “Tell us how you did it?” +</p> +<p> +“A little bird told me,” chuckled Jane. +The girls burst into a merry peal of laughter. +</p> +<h2><a name='chXVI' id='chXVI'></a>CHAPTER XVI—A TREAT THAT WAS NOT A TREAT</h2> +<p> +“Never mind. We won’t be as mean as +you are,” declared Sam, springing up. +“We will return good for evil.” +</p> +<p> +“Did you see the three bulls?” interrupted +Jane. “I knew you would cross that orchard +and I was afraid you’d meet them.” +</p> +<p> +“We did,” answered Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +“What’s that?” The captain was interested +instantly. “You say you met the bulls?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes. I might as well tell you,” explained +Miss Elting. “You think we weren’t able to +keep the pace we set for ourselves. I don’t +want my girls to rest under that imputation, for +I believe that they can completely outdistance +you boys. We did meet the three bulls. Yes, +they treed us. We were all up in apple trees +when you boys passed singing ‘Forty-nine Blue +Bottles.’” +</p> +<p> +Some one laughed. The captain frowned at +the boy who had done so. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174'></a>174</span> +</p> +<p> +“You let us pass, and never called us to come +to your assistance?” he demanded. +</p> +<p> +“Yes.” +</p> +<p> +“Why?” +</p> +<p> +“We preferred to get out of our scrape without +appealing to our rivals, Captain Baker.” +</p> +<p> +“Whew! That was a fix. How’d you manage +it?” +</p> +<p> +“Through the resourcefulness and courage of +Harriet Burrell. Had it not been for her we +undoubtedly should still be up in the trees in the +apple orchard.” +</p> +<p> +“Please tell us about it.” +</p> +<p> +“Please don’t,” begged Harriet blushingly. +</p> +<p> +“Now that you have aroused our curiosity, +it would be cruel not to tell us the whole story,” +declared George. +</p> +<p> +“Yeth. Cruelty to animalth,” nodded Tommy. +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting, despite Harriet’s protestations, +did tell the boys the story, giving the full credit +for their rescue to Harriet Burrell, to whom +it belonged. The boys listened in open-mouthed +wonder. +</p> +<p> +“Fellows, we aren’t so much as we think we +are,” declared the chief of the Tramp Club. +“I propose three cheers for Miss Burrell. +Now! Altogether! One, two, three!” +</p> +<p> +They gave three rousing cheers in which, +Tommy’s shrill voice joined. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175'></a>175</span> +</p> +<p> +“Who’s all right?” demanded the captain at +the end of the cheer. +</p> +<p> +“Miss Burrell’s all right!” yelled the +Tramps. “For she’s a jolly good fel—low; +For she’s a jolly good fellow,” sang the Tramps, +as with hands on each other’s shoulders they +marched through the camp, and out into the +field on their way to their own camp, a short +distance from that of the Meadow-Brook Girls. +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting was laughing merrily. Harriet’s +face was crimson. +</p> +<p> +“I call that downright mean. They were +making fun of me.” +</p> +<p> +“Why, Harriet! You know they were not,” +rebuked Miss Elting. “It was the highest compliment +those lads could pay.” +</p> +<p> +“It hath been a day of experientheth, hathn’t +it?” Tommy questioned. +</p> +<p> +Harriet’s face was still flushed as she began +to prepare the supper. Each member of the +party now remembered that she had an appetite. +While they were getting the meal Jane +told them how the boys had gloated over having +“walked the girls off their feet,” as the +tramps expressed it. Jane announced triumphantly +that she had been more than a match for +them, which her companions could well believe, +for Jane had a sharp tongue, besides being the +possessor of a fund of Irish wit. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176'></a>176</span> +</p> +<p> +The smoke curling up from the other camp +told the girls that the boys were busy getting +their own supper. While eating, the guardian +was obliged to go over the story of their experiences +for the benefit of Jane, who interrupted +now and then with humorous questions. +</p> +<p> +“Are the boys coming over this evening?” +asked Margery, after they had finished supper +and she and Tommy were washing the dishes. +</p> +<p> +“They did not say,” called Hazel. “It is +safe to believe they will. I wonder if we can’t +get rid of those boys? They make me nervous. +It seems to me that they are perpetually +on the scene whether one wants to see them or +not.” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t be hard on the poor Tramp Club, +Hazel,” laughed Harriet. “Remember you +might still be stuck fast in the swamp had they +not come to the rescue.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s so,” responded Hazel, with a sigh. +“I never thought of that. They’re really not +so bad after all.” +</p> +<p> +“I have met worse,” averred Harriet solemnly. +Whereupon there was a general laugh. +</p> +<p> +The tramps had gathered the fuel for the +Meadow-Brook Girls, stacking it up in piles of +various lengths. The lads really were trying +to make themselves useful to the young women. +As yet there had been no outward evidence of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177'></a>177</span> +Captain Baker’s assertion that some of them +were “full of mischief.” The girls had piled +the campfire high with wood and gathered +about it when strains of music were heard. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, it ith a band, it ith a band,” cried +Tommy. +</p> +<p> +“Coming to serenade us, probably,” announced +Margery. +</p> +<p> +“No. I think it is some one playing on harmonicas,” +answered Miss Elting after a moment +of listening. +</p> +<p> +“It’s those boys,” groaned Hazel. “What +mischief are they up to now?” +</p> +<p> +“I told you. They are coming over to serenade +us. I think the serenade must be for +Harriet.” +</p> +<p> +“They are carrying something on their shoulders +too,” cried Harriet. +</p> +<p> +The girls, by this time, had run out to the +edge of the camp and in the faint twilight were +trying to make out what it was that the Tramp +Club were carrying. As the boys drew nearer, +the girls saw that it was a burlap sack. Four +boys were bearing the sack on their shoulders. +It appeared to be very heavy. +</p> +<p> +“Why, boys,” exclaimed Miss Elting. “Are +you moving?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, Miss Elting,” answered Captain Baker, +doffing his hat. “We are moving, in a sense. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178'></a>178</span> +We have come prepared to lay the spoils of +our forage at the feet of beauty. Boys, dump +the bag. You know where.” +</p> +<p> +One of the boys untied the string by which +the mouth of the sack had been secured, then +the two lads at that end stepped from under. +Instantly the contents began rolling out at Harriet +Burrell’s feet. +</p> +<p> +“Muskmelons!” gasped the girls. +</p> +<p> +Great golden and green muskmelons bumped +to the ground. Harriet’s face was full of color. +</p> +<p> +“They—they aren’t all for me? Surely, you +don’t think I am equal to eating all of those?” +she gasped. +</p> +<p> +“They are laid at your feet,” answered +George dramatically. “For you and your +friends.” +</p> +<p> +“This is splendid,” declared the guardian, +her face aglow with pleasure. “But we do not +deserve so much. You have robbed yourselves. +Where did you get them?” +</p> +<p> +“Of a farmer,” replied George promptly. +</p> +<p> +“You must take most of them for yourselves, +boys,” urged Miss Elting. “We simply could +not eat half of all that lot.” +</p> +<p> +“No. They are all for you. We have plenty. +Besides, you’ll find some of them aren’t good, +but out of the lot you may be able to get enough +for breakfast.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179'></a>179</span> +</p> +<p> +“We can eat all night if nethethary,” announced +Tommy. “Maybe we can eat them +all before we go on to-morrow.” +</p> +<p> +“One melon apiece will be quite enough for +us, my dears,” reproved Miss Elting. “Won’t +you join us in our feast, boys?” +</p> +<p> +The young men shook their heads. +</p> +<p> +“They’re yours,” replied the captain, his +eyes on Harriet as he said it. “I brought you +some salt, too,” he added, drawing a piece of +newspaper from his pocket. “Perhaps you like +salt on your melons.” +</p> +<p> +“You are very thoughtful,” smiled Miss +Elting. “I think we have salt. How about it, +Jane?” +</p> +<p> +“We have a whole bag of it.” +</p> +<p> +“We will take yours, thank you,” smiled +Harriet. “It is much finer salt than ours.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, it’s the salt the farmer over yonder +uses to give to his sheep,” interjected Sam. +“We borrowed some from him.” +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting laughed a little at this blunt +speech. +</p> +<p> +“You are very funny, boys!” she said. “But +we are grateful to you. I don’t know how we +shall be able to repay you.” +</p> +<p> +“We have shared your hospitality—your +bounteous hospitality,” answered the captain. +“We wished to make some slight return.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180'></a>180</span> +</p> +<p> +“What shall we do with what melons are +left over?” asked Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +“Carry them on with you. You have a car +in which to transport your stuff.” +</p> +<p> +“I suppose we had better do that,” mused +the guardian. “When we reach the next camping +place we shall insist on entertaining you at +our camp. We greatly appreciate this treat.” +</p> +<p> +“Thank you,” said George Baker, looking +somewhat embarrassed. +</p> +<p> +Shortly afterwards Captain Baker rose from +where he had been sitting and with an uneasy +look on his face announced that they must go. +With his fellows he hurriedly left the camp, +not even taking the melon sack along. They +were seen no more that night. +</p> +<p> +The girls noted Baker’s embarrassed manner +and thought it strange that the boys should +have left so abruptly. They were at a loss to +understand it. +</p> +<p> +“I am glad they have left the melons, anyway,” +declared Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, wasn’t that lovely of the boys to bring +the fruit to us?” nodded Miss Elting. “They +are really nice boys. I am rather glad that we +met them.” +</p> +<p> +“You may change your mind before we have +finished with them,” replied Harriet, with an +enigmatical smile. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181'></a>181</span> +</p> +<div class='figcenter' style='padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='i004' id='i004'></a> +<img src="images/illus-181.jpg" alt="“So I've Caught You at It?”" title=""/><br /> +<span class='caption'>“So I've Caught You at It?”</span> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183'></a>183</span></div> +<p> +“What do you mean, dear?” +</p> +<p> +“I can’t really explain. But I feel rather +than know that those young men are ready to +play tricks. They’d better not try any of them +or we shall make them regret that they ever +played tricks on the Meadow-Brook Girls.” +</p> +<p> +“Aren’t the melonth delithiouth?” +breathed Tommy. She was now eating her +second melon. The other girls were enjoying +theirs equally well. +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” agreed Miss Elting. “The finest I +ever ate. They must have cost the boys quite +a sum of money, even though melons are cheap +in the country. I——” +</p> +<p> +“Thomebody ith coming,” warned Tommy. +</p> +<p> +“The boys are returning, I presume,” smiled +Miss Elting. But instead of the boys they were +surprised to see a strange man striding into +camp. He was plainly a farmer. He wore his +whiskers long and his trousers were tucked in +the tops of his boots. His face did not bear a +pleasant expression. +</p> +<p> +“So I’ve caught you at it, eh?” he said sarcastically. +</p> +<p> +“What do you mean?” demanded the guardian +rising hastily. +</p> +<p> +“You know well enough what I mean. In +the first place, you are trespassing on my premises.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184'></a>184</span> +</p> +<p> +“We have permission to camp here,” interjected +Jane. +</p> +<p> +“Who gave it?” +</p> +<p> +“The farmer who owns this land.” +</p> +<p> +“I happen to own this land, and I haven’t +given any tramps permission to camp on it.” +</p> +<p> +“Then some one must have played a trick +on me,” declared Crazy Jane. “Wait till I +get sight of that man again.” +</p> +<p> +“We are very sorry, sir, but we are wholly +innocent of trespassing. We are not tramps, +either. Of course we are willing to pay you +for the privilege of camping here to-night. +What do you consider a fair price?” +</p> +<p> +“Wal, I reckon about seventy-five cents will +be all right for the camping.” +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting handed the money over to him. +</p> +<p> +“I am sorry to have put you to all this +trouble, but we supposed we had permission +to stay here over night.” +</p> +<p> +“Thay,” questioned Tommy. “You are a +rich man, aren’t you?” +</p> +<p> +“No. Why?” +</p> +<p> +“Well, you thhould be.” +</p> +<p> +“By the way, ladies, there is another little +matter that you’ll have to fix up before we go +any further.” +</p> +<p> +The guardian and the girls glanced inquiringly +at their mercenary visitor. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185'></a>185</span> +</p> +<p> +“What do you mean?” +</p> +<p> +“Them melons,” answered the farmer, indicating +the fruit with a nod. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t understand you, sir.” The guardian +was plainly perplexed. Harriet was smiling +broadly. She thought she understood now. +</p> +<p> +“The melons you stole from my field.” +</p> +<p> +“Stole from your field?” gasped Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +“Yes.” +</p> +<p> +“Sir, you insult us! We have stolen neither +melons nor anything else. I demand that you +leave this camp instantly. We shall not endure +such accusations.” +</p> +<p> +“You didn’t steal them, eh?” +</p> +<p> +“No, we didn’t,” answered Jane, who had +stepped forward. +</p> +<p> +“Then where did you get them?” +</p> +<p> +The girls looked at one another. No one +spoke. None wished to place the blame on the +Tramp Club. The girls now began to understand +the hurried departure of Captain Baker +and his friends. Miss Elting saw that there +was only one course to pursue under the circumstances. +</p> +<p> +“I can’t tell you where we got the melons, +sir, but we didn’t steal them. How much are +the melons worth?” +</p> +<p> +“Why?” queried the farmer, scenting a bargain. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186'></a>186</span> +</p> +<p> +“We intend to pay for them,” answered Harriet +coldly. +</p> +<p> +“How many melons were there?” asked the +farmer, more blandly. +</p> +<p> +“Two dozen,” Harriet replied. +</p> +<p> +“That’ll be about four-eighty,” nodded the +farmer. +</p> +<p> +“But that’s——” +</p> +<p> +“It’s cheaper than the risk of going to jail,” +broke in the farmer meaningly. +</p> +<h2><a name='chXVII' id='chXVII'></a>CHAPTER XVII—TRYING OUT THE GIPSY TRAIL</h2> +<p> +The farmer pocketed the money that Miss +Elting handed him. +</p> +<p> +“I’ve my own opinion of you!” flared +Crazy Jane. +</p> +<p> +“Maybe you have,” chuckled the farmer, +“but——” +</p> +<p> +“You’re quite right,” Jane McCarthy +taunted. “You wouldn’t feel highly complimented +if I were to express that opinion!” +</p> +<p> +“If it’s that kind of an opinion——” muttered +the farmer, turning red under the coat +of tan on his face. +</p> +<p> +“It’s <em>worse</em>!” retorted Crazy Jane incisively. +</p> +<p> +Muttering under his breath, but failing to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187'></a>187</span> +speak clearly, the abashed farmer turned on +his heel, striding away. +</p> +<p> +The humor of the situation now appealing +to them, the girls and their guardian began to +laugh heartily. +</p> +<p> +“Harriet, I believe you suspected this all the +time,” declared Miss Elting finally. +</p> +<p> +“Those boys looked mischievous. I didn’t +know what it was all about, but after a while, +I confess, I did suspect them. Never mind, I’ll +be even with them.” +</p> +<p> +“No, you leave it to me,” interjected Jane. +</p> +<p> +“I am glad that none of you girls betrayed +the boys,” declared Miss Elting approvingly. +“I would suggest that you say nothing to them +when we next see them. Let them introduce +the subject if it is introduced at all. They may +betray themselves. Tommy, don’t you lisp a +word of it.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t lithp,” retorted the little girl indignantly. +“I thpeak jutht like other folkth.” +</p> +<p> +“I did not mean it that way, dear,” laughed +the guardian. “I meant that you shouldn’t +mention our experience to any one. Now that +we have bought and paid for the melons I think +we had better stow them in the car. Come, let +us get ready for bed.” +</p> +<p> +“Are we to make an early start in the morning?” +asked Hazel. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188'></a>188</span> +</p> +<p> +“Yes. We must not delay if we expect to +remain in the contest.” +</p> +<p> +The girls had no intention of giving up the +contest. They thought it possible that they +might have the company of the Tramp Club +on the morrow, as a good part of the Meadow-Brook +course lay over a highway, this being +the most direct route for the day’s tramping. +</p> +<p> +Rather to their surprise they discovered no +trace of the Tramp Club next day. The smoke +from the latter’s campfire was no longer visible +when the girls left their own camp in the morning, +nor was there any indication on the road +that the boys had passed over it. What the +girls did not know was that the boys had +slipped off into a ravine when the word had been +brought to them that the irate farmer was out +looking for the people who had visited his +melon patch. From there they had moved inland +and made a new camp. In the morning +they took a roundabout course, avoiding the +highway. It were better to be beaten by the +girls that day than to be caught by the angry +farmer. It was because of this longer route +that the Meadow-Brook Girls were again able +to get ahead of their rivals. +</p> +<p> +The tracks of Jane’s car had long since been +obliterated when the party neared the end of +the day’s journey. This did not trouble them, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189'></a>189</span> +for a certain definite stopping place had been +agreed upon, and as was customary, when following +the highway, the girls now and then +dropped a handful of grass in the road. Especially +was this done when they came to forks +in the road, so that in case Jane McCarthy returned +that way to look for them she might +see which direction they had taken. In doing +this, though the girls were unaware of the fact, +they were following a gipsy practice as old as +gipsies themselves. It was the gipsies’ way of +marking their trail for the benefit of others +of their kind who had straggled behind. +</p> +<p> +“I think this is the place,” decided Miss +Elting, halting, pointing down a narrow lane +that extended through a field of stunted bushes +and brush. The gate that had once shut off +this byway from the main road lay broken at +one side of it and a ridge of grass had grown +knee high in the middle of the lane. It was +a lane that had once led down to a cider mill +that now lay a heap of ruins. +</p> +<p> +“It ith thpooky-looking,” observed Tommy. +</p> +<p> +“Jane is here,” exclaimed Harriet. “I see +her car tracks, but I don’t see her car.” +</p> +<p> +“No; the car has come out onto the highway +and gone on,” Miss Elting declared. “Jane +must have driven to the next town to get something. +We will go down that lane.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190'></a>190</span> +</p> +<p> +Harriet dropped some grass in the road, +marking a trail into the byway to notify Jane +that they had arrived. They then made their +way down the lane. The girls were tired and +footsore. Walking in the road had been more +wearisome than tramping over the hills and +fields, perhaps because the former was less interesting +and more monotonous. It was therefore +a welcome sight when they espied the tent +that they called home, even though it was a now +weather-beaten and dingy-looking piece of canvas. +But Jane was nowhere in sight. Neither +was her car. +</p> +<p> +“Where can Jane be?” exclaimed Margery. +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps this will explain matters,” replied +Miss Elting, taking down a sheet of writing +paper that had been pinned to the flap of the +tent. “Ah! Jane says she has gone on to the +town of Granite to meet her father, from whom +she got a letter this morning. She says she +may not be back until late, and that we shall +find the melons in the bushes to the west of +the tent.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t want any of those old melons,” +pouted Margery. +</p> +<p> +“I do,” retorted Tommy. “I’ll eat all I can +get.” +</p> +<p> +“At least, we have a right to eat them now +that we have paid for them,” smiled the guardian. “The +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191'></a>191</span> +first thing to do will be to heat +some water and bathe. We are all very dusty. +Tommy, you and Margery take your baths +first. In the meantime we will build the fire +and get the supper going. This is going to be +a pleasant camp. I wonder if we shall see our +friends, the boys, this evening?” +</p> +<p> +“Not if they see us first,” chuckled Harriet. +“Oh, what we won’t do to them when we get +the opportunity.” +</p> +<p> +“Jane must have had quite a time putting +up the tent without assistance,” remarked Miss +Elting. “She did it very well, too.” +</p> +<p> +Harriet was making the fire with Hazel’s +assistance, Tommy and Margery were preparing +for their baths. Twilight was upon them +before they realized it. By that time the supper +was cooking, the coffee steaming, the savory +odor of food filling the air about them. The +melons were reserved for the dessert. These +had ripened and were now soft, sweet and delicious. +</p> +<p> +“Girls, it is worth four dollars and eighty +cents to have such melons, isn’t it?” smiled +the guardian. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, indeed,” chorused the girls. +</p> +<p> +“I wonder what has become of the Tramp +Club,” mused Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“You will not see any more of the Tramps +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192'></a>192</span> +for a while,” laughed Hazel. “It is a wonder +to me that we haven’t seen any real tramps +since we have been out on this trip. At potato-digging +time one usually sees a great many of +them.” +</p> +<p> +“We haven’t been on the road much, or perhaps +we should have seen more of them. That +is one advantage in keeping away from the +highways. One meets few live things in the +fields except the birds and occasionally sheep +and cattle.” +</p> +<p> +“Not to mention bulls,” finished Harriet +laughingly. “Speaking of tramps, I believe +I just saw one over yonder,” added the girl. +</p> +<p> +“Are you joking?” questioned the guardian. +</p> +<p> +For answer Harriet sprang up and ran toward +the tent. She did not reach it. She halted +sharply as a man stepped in front of her. He +was a typical follower of the road, dirty, unkempt +and evil looking. +</p> +<p> +“What do you want here?” demanded Harriet, +with a calmness that she was far from +feeling. +</p> +<p> +“Not much. We want some money and something +to eat,” leered the intruder. +</p> +<p> +“You will get neither here. What were you +doing in that tent? You came here to rob us. +Go away before we give you something you +won’t like.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193'></a>193</span> +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting and Hazel sprang up, scattering +the tin dishes far and wide as they ran to Harriet’s +assistance, when three other men stepped +into view from the far side of the tent. +</p> +<p> +“If you folks will hand out your valuables, +and make no racket about it, we won’t hurt +you,” announced one of the newcomers. “What +we want is a little help, that’s all. We’re poor +fellows in distress. We ain’t the kind that rob +women. We ask for assistance.” +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting’s revolver was in the tent where +she could not reach it now. Had she had it with +her she would have assisted the men in a way +that they would not have liked. What to do +under the circumstances she did not know. +Neither Tommy nor Margery appeared able to +do anything. They were frightened nearly out +of their wits. +</p> +<p> +“You have a peculiar way of asking for assistance. +Had you come to us in the proper +manner we should have been glad to give you +something to eat. Now we shall not. Neither +have we money for you. I order you to go +away from here. If you refuse the consequences +will be on your own heads. We are +not quite so defenseless as you might think. +Will you go?” +</p> +<p> +The spokesman laughed. The spirit of the +girls appeared to amuse him. The fellow had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194'></a>194</span> +not the least idea that there was any other person +about. He, with his companions, had seen +the Meadow-Brook Girls come into the camp +alone. Not another person so far as they knew, +was within some miles of the place. They had +watched the camp and waited until dark to carry +out their plan of robbing the five women. +</p> +<p> +“Can you get it, do you think, Harriet?” +questioned Miss Elting in a low tone. +</p> +<p> +“I’ll try,” she answered. She knew what +the guardian meant. “It” meant Miss Elting’s +revolver. All at once the girl darted past the +man who stood directly in front of her. She +had almost reached the tent, when one of the +tramps caught hold of her by the shoulder. +Harriet was lithe and quick. She slipped from +his detaining clutch and sprang back. But her +opportunity was gone. The men partly divining +her purpose, had quickly blocked the entrance +to the tent. The leader nodded to one +of them to watch Tommy and Margery. Three +others directed their attention to Miss Elting, +Harriet and Hazel. They placed themselves in +such positions that the girls were hedged in. +To try to run would be to fall into the clutches +of one or another of the three ruffians who +were guarding them. +</p> +<p> +One of the men uttered a shrill whistle. Still +another tramp came running into the camp. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195'></a>195</span> +</p> +<p> +“Turn out the tent in a hurry. Don’t take +anything that ain’t good. There’s money in +there somewhere. Now turn your pockets out, +ladies.” +</p> +<p> +His words were cut short by a long wailing +cry uttered by Harriet Burrell. +</p> +<p> +“Hoo-e-e-e-e! Hoo-e-e-e-e-e! Help, help!” +It was the call of the Meadow-Brook Girls, with +the warning cry for assistance added. +</p> +<p> +The man who had made the demand sprang +at her. Harriet leaped back. In doing so she +felt her arms pinioned by a second man. She +had forgotten for the moment that there were +guards behind her. Miss Elting suddenly found +her arms gripped from behind. She struggled +with all her strength. So did Harriet. Hazel +screamed as she felt her own arms pinioned. +</p> +<p> +“Herd the other two in the tent, then git all +the swag you can find,” commanded the +spokesman breathlessly, for he was having his +hands full helping his assistant to hold Miss +Elting and the two girls. One grasped Tommy +and Margery by their arms, and fairly dragging +them over, flung them into the tent. “Get +the stuff! Never mind those two. They’re too +scared to bother. It’s these that we’ve got to +look out for,” he directed. +</p> +<p> +“Hoo-e-e-e-e-e! Hoo-e-e-e-e-e! Help, help!” +screamed Harriet. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196'></a>196</span> +</p> +<p> +“Yell, Hazel!” gasped Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“I—I can’t! Oh, I can’t!” wailed Hazel. +</p> +<p> +Tommy found her voice at this juncture and +raised it in a piercing scream. A moment later +a blanket was twisted about her head and she +was flung into a corner, clawing and kicking. +Margery cowered at one side of the tent, too +frightened to move. +</p> +<p> +Just then a new note was sounded. From +behind the tent rose a shrill cry in a voice unfamiliar +to either the girls or to the thieving +tramps, a voice that caused the tramps to release +their prisoners and turn to face the owner +of the voice prepared for trouble. +</p> +<h2><a name='chXVIII' id='chXVIII'></a>CHAPTER XVIII—THE QUEEN TAKES A HAND</h2> +<p> +A strange figure stepped into the light +of the campfire. It was the figure of an +old woman, bent with age. Her face +was yellow and wrinkled, her eyes, black and +piercing. She hobbled a few steps toward +them, using a long stick as though for support. +</p> +<p> +“Out with you, villains!” she screamed, +brandishing the stick threateningly. “My +curses be upon your vile heads! Rob, would +you? You shall burn in the fire from the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197'></a>197</span> +clouds,” she hissed, pointing to the spokesman. +“And you,” pointing to another, “shall wither +in the pit with the iron doors, where all evil +doers shall come sooner or later. You shall +perish as you deserve. Sybarina says it. So +it shall be. Out with you!” +</p> +<p> +“It’s the Gipsy Queen,” screamed Hazel. +</p> +<p> +For a moment the tramps stood utterly +dumbfounded. They realized that the old +Gipsy was laying a curse upon them. More +or less superstitious, they stood in considerable +awe of Sybarina and her supposedly supernatural +powers. The tramp who had pinioned +Harriet’s arms behind her back involuntarily +relaxed his hold. Harriet made a dash for freedom. +In an instant her captor was at her heels. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t pay any attention to that old lunatic,” +he shouted to his companions. “She can’t hurt +you. Get the stuff and be quick about it.” +</p> +<p> +But he had reckoned without his host. Raising +her head, Sybarina sent a long shrill call +echoing across the fields. Even in the excitement +of the moment Harriet realized that it was +a signal. A second later the call was answered. +</p> +<p> +“Skip!” warned the leader of the tramps. +“It’s Gipsies. We’ll have the whole lot to fight +if we don’t light out!” +</p> +<p> +At this juncture five dark swarthy men came +running across the fields. With one accord the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198'></a>198</span> +tramps took to their heels. The Gipsies started +in pursuit of them, but the tramps had a lead +of several yards and fear lending wings to their +feet, they soon outdistanced their pursuers who +finally abandoned the chase and returned to +where Sybarina stood, surrounded by the +Meadow-Brook Girls and their guardian. +</p> +<p> +Harriet sprang eagerly forward to thank +their rescuers, but Sybarina waved her aside. +Turning to the Gipsy men she spoke a few sharp +words in the Romany tongue. The men nodded, +talked among themselves for a moment then +turned and strolled off in the direction whence +they had come. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, Sybarina!” cried Harriet disappointedly. +“Why didn’t you let me thank them for +chasing those tramps away?” +</p> +<p> +“I, their queen, have commended them. That +is sufficient,” returned Sybarina proudly. +“They need no thanks for obeying my commands.” +</p> +<p> +“Then we must thank you doubly,” smiled +Harriet, holding out her hand to the old Gipsy. +“What would we have done if you had not been +near?” +</p> +<p> +“It is well,” replied Sybarina earnestly, taking +Harriet’s hand in both of hers. “But you +must come with Sybarina. You must not stay +here alone this night. The bad men will return +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199'></a>199</span> +again. But Sybarina’s men will stay here and +watch for them. You and your kind friends +will go with Sybarina to her camp.” +</p> +<p> +“But how did you happen to find us?” questioned +Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +“Sybarina has eyes. Did those eyes not see +the patteran (trail of grass)? Did she not read +the message of the patteran that all of her tribe +know? Where did you learn to make the patteran +that leads the Gipsy toward the land +where the sun goes down?” +</p> +<p> +“She means the grass that we dropped in the +road,” explained Harriet. +</p> +<p> +The old woman nodded. +</p> +<p> +“The patteran,” she reiterated. +</p> +<p> +“Why,” laughed Harriet. “We did that so +that our friend Jane McCarthy would know +where we had gone.” +</p> +<p> +“Then there is Romany in your blood. None +but the people of the Romany would think of +such a thing. Where is the other princess?” +questioned the queen, glancing about. +</p> +<p> +“Miss McCarthy has gone to meet her +father,” Miss Elting informed the old woman. +“But we have not thanked you enough for the +great service that you have done us.” +</p> +<p> +“It is nothing. Did not the princess save +Sybarina’s miserable life? The debt is still unpaid. +Many summers will come, and many +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200'></a>200</span> +summers will go, ere the debt is paid. Sybarina +never will live to pay it. Her people will remember. +The Romany has a long memory, +princess. Come, pretty ladies, come to the +camp of the Gipsy. It is not good that you +should stay the night here. To-morrow night, +yes, but not this night.” +</p> +<p> +“What do you say, girls?” questioned Miss +Elting. +</p> +<p> +“Spend a night in a Gipsy camp?” asked +Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“Yes.” +</p> +<p> +“I think that would be fine.” +</p> +<p> +“But, Sybarina, what of our own camp? Will +not the men return and rob us?” +</p> +<p> +“I have told you. Sybarina’s people will be +on guard. You need have no fear. And when +the princess with the fair hair returns, she shall +be led to the Gipsy camp. Come.” +</p> +<p> +“Wait please, until we fix our camp and leave +a message for Miss McCarthy,” said Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +So excited were the Meadow-Brook Girls at +the prospect of spending a night in a Gipsy +camp that they almost forgot the thrilling experiences +through which they had passed. +There were few preparations to be made. Miss +Elting pocketed her revolver, though she had +no idea that she would need it. She knew that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_201'></a>201</span> +the old Gipsy woman might be trusted; that a +Gipsy never forgets a favor—nor a wrong. +Sybarina felt under deep obligations to them +for what they had done for her. By inviting +them to her camp she was conferring upon them +the highest possible mark of her regard, as the +guardian who knew something of the wandering +tribes of Gipsies was well aware. +</p> +<p> +The camp was some little distance from +where the Meadow-Brook tent was pitched. A +note for Jane was pinned to the tent flap on +the same spot where she had pinned hers; then +the party set out through the darkness. Not a +man of the tribe was to be seen. The guardian +asked no questions. She knew that Sybarina’s +word was law and that keen eyes were upon the +Meadow-Brook camp, that no marauders would +be permitted to enter there that night. Sybarina +led the way as if it were a familiar path, calling +out now and then to warn the travelers of +a root or a stone that lay unseen in the path +they were following. How she was aware of +the presence of the obstacles the girls could +not imagine. +</p> +<p> +They came in sight of the dull glow of the +Gipsy campfire after a quarter of an hour’s +walking. Then as they stepped into the circle +of light, many inquiring eyes were fixed upon +them. There were dark-eyed, olive-complexioned women +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202'></a>202</span> +of various ages, children clad in +bright colors, some sitting under wagons eating +bread and butter, others peering from the +gaudily painted wagons, and still others lying +asleep upon the ground just outside the circle. +Horses might have been heard munching +at the foliage out in the bushes, occasionally +neighing or stamping. The fire crackled merrily. +It was a bright but unfamiliar scene to +the Meadow-Brook Girls. +</p> +<p> +Tommy and Margery were a trifle apprehensive. +</p> +<p> +“Where are we going to thleep?” questioned +Tommy cautiously. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know, dear,” returned Miss Elting. +“Sybarina will provide a place when the time +comes. We have our own blankets. I think we +may sleep out of doors if we wish to do so. But +we have a long evening before us yet. It is +your opportunity to learn something of the life +and habits of the Gipsies.” +</p> +<p> +“Thay, Mith Elting do—do you think it thafe +to thtay here?” questioned Tommy. +</p> +<p> +“Perfectly so. Much more so than in our +own camp this evening.” +</p> +<p> +Sybarina was brewing the tea with her own +hands. Miss Elting stepped over to her. +</p> +<p> +“May I assist you?” she asked. +</p> +<p> +The Gipsy queen shook her head. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203'></a>203</span> +</p> +<p> +“Sybarina will make the tea for her friends, +her good friends, the pretty ladies. Sybarina +will have other guests this evening.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, will you?” questioned the guardian, in +a surprised tone. +</p> +<p> +“Yes. Pretty ladies will come to cross the +Gipsy’s palm with silver. Sybarina will read +the future and the past for them. Sybarina will +read your future too, but you and your friends +need not cross her palm with silver. Sybarina is +your friend.” +</p> +<p> +Harriet had been an interested listener to the +brief dialogue. She drew a little closer. +</p> +<p> +“I should like to learn to read the past and +future, Sybarina. Will you teach me?” asked +Harriet. +</p> +<p> +The old woman fixed her piercing eyes upon +the eager face before her. +</p> +<p> +“The princess shall be taught to read the future +this very night. The stars have said it.” +</p> +<p> +“I’m afraid I never could learn to read palms +in one night,” laughed Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“The stars and the voices of the air will help +you. Be not afraid. But you must be a Gipsy +true.” +</p> +<p> +“How do you mean?” +</p> +<p> +“You must be like other Gipsies.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh! You mean dress like them?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes. After the tea you shall see.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204'></a>204</span> +</p> +<p> +Tea was a most formal affair. Sybarina first +took a sip from her own cup then passed the +cup to the others, each girl taking a sip in turn, +after which cups were served to each member +of the party. By this time the other members +of the tribe appeared to have lost interest in +the visitors. +</p> +<p> +“My girls would know something of your people, +Sybarina,” suggested Miss Elting after the +formalities of the tea drinking had been finished +and the girls had settled down to their own cups +of tea. +</p> +<p> +She regarded her teacup frowningly, as +though she were seeking light in the amber fluid. +</p> +<p> +“My daughters,” said the old woman. “It +takes many years to earn the confidence of a +Romany. You have done so in a hour. All are +Gorgios to the Gipsy.” +</p> +<p> +“What ith a Gorgio?” piped Tommy. +</p> +<p> +“Any one not Romany is a Gorgio. Forever +has the Gorgio hounded the Gipsy. The Gorgio +thinks the Gipsy a thief, but the Gipsy is not a +thief. The Gipsy has little history, my +daughters, but the Gipsy dates back to antiquity, +to the famed Kings of Egypt. He keeps +his sacred tongue—the Romany. It is his secret +language. Through it he can hold converse +with the Romanys of the world. Ages and ages +ago, the Romany was called a Jat. That was in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_205'></a>205</span> +far off India. Then came a bad king from Persia +who stole ten thousand of them to make +music for him. There they remained until nine +hundred years after the Son of Man came, when +they were taken captive again and held in bondage +until at last they separated and journeyed +to the far places of the world. To-day the +Gipsy is the only free man who wanders the +earth. He pays no tithes, he has no cares.” +</p> +<p> +“But you have a ruler, a head of all the Gipsies, +have you not?” interjected Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +“There is the queen of all,” answered the +old woman softly. “She now is one hundred +years old. She lives in Roumania. Each year +are her commands received by all her peoples +throughout the world. How, I cannot tell you. +It is a secret of the Romanys. We love, we +hate, but not as do the Gorgios. But see! The +princess has returned. She seeks her friends.” +</p> +<p> +“You—you mean Miss McCarthy?” questioned +Harriet. +</p> +<p> +The Gipsy nodded gravely. +</p> +<p> +“Good grathiouth,” exclaimed Tommy. +“Thhe’th got eyeth in the top of her head. How +doeth thhe know that Jane hath come back?” +</p> +<p> +“I read the message in the teacup,” answered +Sybarina. “It is time, fair daughter to begin, +if you would read the secrets of the stars. Come +with me and you shall be prepared.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_206'></a>206</span> +</p> +<p> +Harriet rose and followed the old woman +to one of the gaudily painted wagons, without +the slightest hesitancy. +</p> +<h2><a name='chXIX' id='chXIX'></a>CHAPTER XIX—DELVING INTO THE MYSTERIES</h2> +<p> +“Oh, good gracious! Where are they?” +cried Crazy Jane, as she walked into +the Gipsy camp. +</p> +<p> +The girls glanced at each other wonderingly. +Had not the Gipsy queen just told them that +Jane had arrived at the Meadow-Brook camp? +The mystery was too great for them to solve. +</p> +<p> +“But darlin’s, what does it mean? The Gipsy +girl who came for me, said you were staying +here for the night.” +</p> +<p> +“We have been invited to be the guests of +the tribe for this night, Jane. Sybarina is the +queen of these Gipsies, you know. She is the +one we rescued from the burning barn.” +</p> +<p> +“Of course. Why are you here?” +</p> +<p> +The guardian explained how they had been +attacked by tramps and how the Gipsy woman +and her companions had come to their rescue. +</p> +<p> +Jane was amazed, then her face flushed with +anger. She wanted to know if the Tramp Club +had been seen. Miss Elting said they had not. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207'></a>207</span> +</p> +<p> +“But where is my darlin’ Harriet?” questioned +Jane, gazing at her inquiringly. +</p> +<p> +“She has gone with the queen into one of the +wagons. You will see her soon.” +</p> +<p> +“Won’t it be jolly, Jane, to spend a night in +a Gipsy camp?” cried Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“Well, that depends. I’ve heard the tribes +weren’t overly clean.” +</p> +<p> +“Sh-h-h!” warned Miss Elting. “You +mustn’t say such things here. Remember we are +guests.” +</p> +<p> +“I’m not likely to forget it. Oh, look at that +pretty Gipsy girl! What a beauty!” cried Jane +delightedly. +</p> +<p> +The Gipsy girl who had emerged from one of +the wagons was indeed pretty. Her hands were +demurely folded, her head lowered, and her eyes +veiled by drooping lashes, as she moved slowly +toward the group. She came to a halt directly +in front of Crazy Jane. +</p> +<p> +“Cross my palm with silver and I’ll read +your past and your future,” invited the pretty +Gipsy girl. +</p> +<p> +Crazy Jane leaned forward regarding the +Gipsy girl with keen, searching eyes. +</p> +<p> +“Indeed I will. Yes, darlin’, you can read my +future and my past. How much silver shall I +cross your palm with?” +</p> +<p> +“What you will, pretty lady.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208'></a>208</span> +</p> +<p> +Jane placed a shining fifty cent piece on the +open palm. Something about the palm appeared +to interest her very much. Just at this +juncture, the Gipsy girl chanced to look up. The +eyes of the two girls met. Jane uttered a whoop +and embraced the girl in a bearlike hug. +</p> +<p> +“If it isn’t my own darlin’ Harriet,” she +cried. “But who would have thought it. Hurrah +for Harriet, the Gipsy!” +</p> +<p> +“Ah, daughter, she is the true Romany,” interrupted +Sybarina, suddenly appearing behind +Harriet. “None but a true daughter of +Romany could have said those words so well.” +The old woman’s eyes gleamed with pride. +Then she exclaimed: “I see strangers coming to +the camp of the Gipsy! Would you have them +see you, or would you watch them from the +wagons?” +</p> +<p> +“From the wagons,” chorused the girls. +</p> +<p> +“The Romany princess, she of the brown +eyes, may wander at will. The strangers will +not think her a Gorgio. She is a true Romany.” +</p> +<p> +“Thank you, Sybarina, I will go with my +friends. Perhaps I may come out later,” answered +Harriet. She was dressed in Gipsy +costume, and her face, already dark, had been +slightly stained with herbs which the old woman +had rubbed on both her face and hands. +</p> +<p> +The young men and women from nearby +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209'></a>209</span> +farms began to stroll into the camp to have their +fortunes told. With them came several keen-eyed +farmers, leading horses which they had +brought in for a chance at a trade. The Gipsy +men quickly gathered about the animals, then +began the incessant talk of the horse trader, +the Gipsies being particularly shrewd in that +line of business. In the meantime Sybarina +and several other women of the tribe were reading +the futures of the giggling country girls. +It was all very interesting to the girls in the +nearby wagon. They were peering out from +the darkened interior, unseen. Never before +had they experienced anything so romantic or +so picturesque. +</p> +<p> +Harriet finally wandered out into the field. +She attracted attention only because of her +slender figure and pretty face. She had no fear +of being recognized, for no one there ever had +seen her before. +</p> +<p> +“Isn’t she a typical Gipsy, though?” +chuckled Jane, gazing admiringly at Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“Unless one knew she were not, one couldn’t +tell the difference,” answered Miss Elting. +“Just look at that girl for whom the queen is +telling a fortune. See how eagerly she drinks +in every word. Every word is true to her. She +believes it all.” +</p> +<p> +“So does Sybarina,” replied Hazel. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210'></a>210</span> +</p> +<p> +“Yes, I think she does. Do you know, Jane, +she told us when you arrived at the tent. I +think it must have been at the moment when you +reached there. I can’t imagine how she knew.” +</p> +<p> +“Maybe she heard the car,” suggested Margery. +</p> +<p> +“No she didn’t,” declared Jane. “I drove +into the camp without making a sound. I +wanted to give you a surprise. I wonder how +she knew I was near.” +</p> +<p> +Neither Jane nor any of her companions had +thought of the big headlights on the car, the +glint of which had flashed on the foliage of +a tree near the gipsy camp just as Jane was +swinging into the byway that led down to the +Meadow-Brook camp. Perhaps the old gipsy’s +keen eyes had caught this flash and read it +aright. But this the girls were never to know. +Their attention, just now, was attracted by the +sound of loud talking. Voices were heard approaching +the camp. +</p> +<p> +“I guess we are going to have quite a party +this evening,” said Harriet, stepping into the +wagon. “Oh, this is simply great! What a +pity we aren’t all made up to look like Gipsies.” +</p> +<p> +“Look, girls!” exclaimed the guardian. +</p> +<p> +They did look, with widening eyes. +</p> +<p> +“My grathiouth, if it ithn’t thothe Tramp +boyth,” breathed Tommy. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211'></a>211</span> +</p> +<p> +“It certainly is the Tramp Club. There’s +Captain Baker and Sammy and Dill and Davy. +Where could they have come from?” wondered +Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, let’s go out and call to them,” suggested +Margery enthusiastically. +</p> +<p> +“Wait,” warned Harriet. “I have a plan +that I think will work to perfection. If it does, +we’ll have some fun with the Tramp Club this +evening.” +</p> +<p> +“What is it, darlin’?” +</p> +<p> +Harriet whispered in Jane’s ear. Crazy Jane +uttered a loud laugh. +</p> +<p> +“Sh-h-h!” warned the guardian. “You will +betray our hiding place to those boys.” +</p> +<p> +“I must get word to Sybarina. I wish she +would come over here,” mused Harriet. +</p> +<p> +As though in answer to her wish, Sybarina +rose and hobbled toward the wagon. She halted +at the step without looking up. +</p> +<p> +“The friends of the pretty ladies are here. +What do the pretty ladies wish to do?” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, Sybarina! I want to read the future +for that boy yonder on the right, the one with +the reddish hair. May I? Please let me.” +</p> +<p> +“It shall be as the Romany girl wishes, but +she must be grave, she must not make her real +self known to the laughing boy.” +</p> +<p> +“No, no, no! I promise not to betray my +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212'></a>212</span> +identity. But what shall I say? I don’t know +what to say,” begged Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“The words will come unbidden to the lips +of the Romany girl. Fear not. Come.” There +was a suspicion of a twinkle in the piercing +black eyes as Sybarina stretched forth her hand +to Harriet Burrell. Harriet’s heart thumped +violently as she stepped down from the wagon. +“If I get a chance to read George Baker’s palm +I will make him stand as near to the wagon as +possible, so you girls can hear what I say to +him, but don’t you dare make a sound.” +</p> +<p> +“Isn’t she the clever darlin’?” chuckled +Crazy Jane. +</p> +<p> +“Harriet is a very resourceful girl,” answered +Hazel admiringly. +</p> +<p> +“Yes; Harriet has added a good many honor +beads to her string during this hike,” replied +the guardian. “I think, too, that she is going +to pay those boys the debt that we owe them.” +</p> +<p> +“Listen!” commanded Jane. Sybarina was +speaking. +</p> +<p> +“Behold before you the Star of the East. +Behold one who has come out of the East to +read the future true. Cross her palm with +silver and the Oracle will speak, revealing the +past and foretelling the future.” +</p> +<p> +The Gipsy queen had not led Harriet into +the bright light. Instead the girl, in the fainter +light at the outer edge of the circle, stood with +downcast eyes, hands folded before her. +</p> +<div class='figcenter' style='padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='i005' id='i005'></a> +<img src="images/illus-213.jpg" alt="“Cross My Hand With Silver.”" title=""/><br /> +<span class='caption'>“Cross My Hand With Silver.”</span> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215'></a>215</span></div> +<p> +“Who shall be the first to hear the future +and the past from the Star of the East?” +</p> +<p> +“Say, fellows, now is the time to find out a +few things,” laughed Captain George Baker. +“Here’s where I consult the Star of the East. +Here, young woman, read my palm. I don’t +know anything about this fortune-telling business, +and I don’t believe in it, but I’m willing +to take a chance on it. How much does it cost +to consult the stars?” +</p> +<p> +“For a silver quarter I will reveal the past +only. Cross my hand with a silver dollar and +both the past and future shall be as an open +book,” answered Harriet, speaking in a low +tone, disguising her voice as much as possible. +</p> +<p> +George uttered a low whistle. +</p> +<p> +“A dollar! Whew! Isn’t that pretty high?” +</p> +<p> +“The stars are higher,” was the curt reply +of the Star of the East. +</p> +<p> +There was an audible giggle from the interior +of the nearby wagon. Harriet heard it, +but Captain Baker was too much interested in +the prospect of having his fortune told to give +heed to the sound. +</p> +<p> +“Isn’t she the clever darlin’?” reiterated +Crazy Jane, restraining herself from shouting +only by a great effort of will. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_216'></a>216</span> +</p> +<p> +“All right. Here’s your money. But, mind +you, I’ll expect a lot of information for a dollar.” +</p> +<p> +“The past and future are not measured by +silver,” retorted Harriet. “That which is past +the Oracle has revealed to me. That which is +to be, I alone can tell. I am but the mouthpiece +of the Oracle, but the Oracle cannot lie.” +</p> +<p> +“I’m glad to be assured of hearing the truth, +at any rate,” replied George flippantly. +</p> +<p> +“Be at rest. You shall hear the truth,” +promised the Star of the East dryly. Then +taking George’s hand in hers she gravely scrutinized +the lines of his palm. +</p> +<p> +“The lines of your hand tell me many +things,” she began. +</p> +<p> +“Then be sure that you tell me all about +them. I want my money’s worth,” urged the +captain. +</p> +<p> +“The past and future shall be fully revealed +to you,” promised the supposed Gipsy. Captain +George Baker of the Tramp Club then listened +to a fortune that, though it did not wholly +please, amazed him beyond measure. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_217'></a>217</span><a name='chXX' id='chXX'></a>CHAPTER XX—GETTING EVEN WITH GEORGE</h2> +<p> +“Your hand tells me that you travel not +alone,” continued Harriet. “Other +youths are with you. Together you +have journeyed for many days along the highway.” +</p> +<p> +“Well? That’s nothing. Anybody could +see that,” jeered George. +</p> +<p> +“If you would listen to the word of the +Oracle, be silent. On your journey, maidens +have crossed your path. They, too, are wayfarers +along the trail. You have held out the +hand of fellowship to them, but your friendship +is false and your hearts are full of guile.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s just where you’re wrong,” interrupted +George. “Those girls are all right and +we like them a lot. I’d like to know how you +know so much about them.” +</p> +<p> +“The Gipsy knows many things,” replied +Harriet enigmatically. “Your hand reveals to +her the grievous wrong you have done these +trusting maidens.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, that’s not so,” contradicted George. +</p> +<p> +“None can deceive the Oracle,” was the stern +answer. “I see here a camp. The campfire +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_218'></a>218</span> +burns brightly. About it sit the maidens. +Look! Six youths approach. With them they +bear a sack filled with the melons of the field. +The maidens welcome them with smiles and +pleasant words. They little know whence came +these melons. They little know that before +them lies the bitter fruit of lawless thievery.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, that’s putting it altogether too strong,” +expostulated George. “How can you tell anything +about where those melons came from by +the lines of my hand?” +</p> +<p> +“To the Prophet of the Oracle all things are +plain,” replied the Star of the East. “In the +early darkness of the night, ere the moon rose, +the evildoers stole forth, and robbed the farmer +of his melons.” +</p> +<p> +“This is becoming too personal,” gasped +George, mopping his forehead. +</p> +<p> +“Word was brought to the farmer of this +wicked deed and he hurried forth to catch the +thieves,” continued Harriet. “Long did he +search for them. Then seeing the camp of the +maidens he approached, and finding them innocently +eating his melons, he poured forth the +vials of his wrath upon their defenseless heads. +He branded them as thieves and demanded settlement. +They crossed the farmer’s palm with +much silver to pay for the stolen melons. They +were too noble to betray the real thieves.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_219'></a>219</span> +</p> +<p> +Captain George shifted uneasily. “That’s +really too bad. I’m sorry they got into such +a mess,” he muttered. “I wonder what they +think of us.” +</p> +<p> +“Their hearts are filled with shame and sorrow +at the deceitfulness of those whom they +supposed were their friends.” +</p> +<p> +“But—but the boys didn’t intend to make +trouble for the girls,” protested the captain. +“They thought it would be great fun to forage +for melons, and at the same time to give the +girls a treat.” +</p> +<p> +The supposed gipsy shook her head slowly. +</p> +<p> +“It makes no difference what they thought. +The deed is done. There is only one way in +which the wrong can be righted.” +</p> +<p> +“How can these boys square themselves with +the girls?” questioned George eagerly. +</p> +<p> +“I will consult the Oracle.” The Gipsy girl +stood with head bent as though in deep thought. +Then she said solemnly: “If the wicked boys +will go to those whom they have so cruelly +wronged and ask pardon for their unmanly behavior +perhaps forgiveness may be theirs.” +</p> +<p> +“I—I guess I’d better,” returned George earnestly. +At this juncture a smothered giggle +from the darkened Gipsy wagon came near +breaking up the seance. He glanced up suspiciously. +Harriet’s face was grave. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_220'></a>220</span> +</p> +<p> +“You have chosen wisely. Will you obey the +command of the Oracle?” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, ye—es. I’ll apologize. I’ll do it. It’s +wonderful. I never thought there was so much +to fortune telling.” +</p> +<p> +“There is more to it than you dream,” answered +Harriet Burrell, and with much truth +on her side. There was indeed more to it than +Captain George Baker dreamed. In the Gipsy +wagon four girls and their guardian were making +desperate efforts to control their laughter +that the sounds of their merriment might not +be heard by the young man outside. +</p> +<p> +“Can you answer any question I ask you?” +queried George, after thinking deeply. +</p> +<p> +“The Oracle knows all things, if it will but +speak,” answered the Gipsy girl, leaving an +avenue of escape if he should ask her something +that she was unable to answer. +</p> +<p> +“Where are the girls now?” +</p> +<p> +“They are near at hand. Would you see +them?” +</p> +<p> +“No, no. Not to-night,” hastily interposed +Captain Baker. “What I wish to know is +where they are.” +</p> +<p> +“You would know if they have outwitted +you in the race?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, yes. But how do you know what I am +thinking about?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_221'></a>221</span> +</p> +<p> +“The mouthpiece of the Oracle knows all +things,” crooned the fortune teller. “No, they +have not yet won the race. You shall see them +on the morrow.” +</p> +<p> +“Where? Tell me where?” +</p> +<p> +“A short span of twelve miles hence there +is a spring. The spring is known as Granite +Spring.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, yes? Will they be there?” he asked +eagerly. +</p> +<p> +“No, not there,” replied the Gipsy. “But you +will find them near at hand. Seek and you shall +find, but go with humble spirit, else disaster +may overtake you.” +</p> +<p> +“Thank you, I’ll do as you say. This is wonderful. +I want my friends to have their fortunes +told by you. You are the right kind. I +wonder if you can tell me just what these girls +are going to do to get ahead of us in the race.” +</p> +<p> +“I will consult the Oracle once more,” replied +the fortune teller. +</p> +<p> +It was fully two minutes before Harriet +raised her head. George stood eagerly awaiting +her answer. +</p> +<p> +“The Oracle knows but will not say,” replied +Harriet coldly. “The Oracle is ever fair and +just. It will not reveal the plans of the maidens +to their enemies. The Star of the East is weary. +She cannot read the palms of your friends. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_222'></a>222</span> +Your way lies yonder. Your companions await +you.” +</p> +<p> +Captain George, very red of face, a sheepish +expression in his eyes, got up hastily and +walked over to his companions who were sitting +on the ground awaiting him. +</p> +<p> +“Come on, fellows. Let’s get out of here. +This place gives me the creeps.” +</p> +<p> +“You seemed mighty interested in what that +Gipsy girl had to say. Did she tell you anything +remarkable?” asked Dill laughingly. +</p> +<p> +“Did she? I should say she did.” +</p> +<p> +“Then you did better than the rest of us. +That other young Gipsy woman didn’t tell me +a single thing.” +</p> +<p> +“The old Gipsy woman gave it to me red +hot!” exclaimed Sam. “She told me some +things I’d just as soon not have heard. She +said I was started on the road to thievery. Now +what do you think of that?” +</p> +<p> +“That’s nothing,” replied George. “The +young one told me all about it.” +</p> +<p> +“About what?” questioned Davy. +</p> +<p> +“That melon business.” +</p> +<p> +“You don’t mean it?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, I do. She told me about the whole +affair.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, what do you think of that?” wondered +Fred. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_223'></a>223</span> +</p> +<p> +“I didn’t think much of it.” +</p> +<p> +“How do you suppose she found out about +it?” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t ask me,” replied George gloomily. +“She said that the Oracle told her.” +</p> +<p> +“You don’t believe such nonsense as that, +do you?” asked Davy. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t know what to think about it. Gipsies +are queer folks. They’re too mysterious to suit +me. I’ve got all I want of them. They know +too much,” declared the captain. “Why, they +can read one’s thoughts.” +</p> +<p> +In the meantime, Harriet gleefully watched +the departure of the boys from the camp. +There was laughter in her eyes. She turned +to the wagon where her companions were now +giving expression to uncontrolled merriment. +Few visitors remained in the camp, and these +were some distance away. +</p> +<p> +“Well, I think I have evened up matters with +that young man,” declared Harriet. “What +do you say, girls?” she asked, thrusting a laughing +face into the wagon. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, Harriet!” gasped Miss Elting. “It +was the funniest thing I ever heard. And he +believed every word of it.” +</p> +<p> +“Why shouldn’t he? It was the truth. By +the way, Miss Elting—I have collected one dollar +of that four dollars and eighty cents that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_224'></a>224</span> +you paid for the melons,” said Harriet, extending +a hand in the palm of which lay Captain +Baker’s silver dollar. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, no, no,” protested the guardian, drawing +back. “I could not think of accepting the +money.” +</p> +<p> +“Why not? I can collect the whole amount in +a very short time at this rate,” laughed Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, darlin’! What a girl, what a girl!” +laughed Crazy Jane. +</p> +<p> +“No. You must not keep it. It does not +rightfully belong to you.” +</p> +<p> +“Then if you refuse to accept the money I +shall give it to Sybarina. She’ll take it. Trust +a Gipsy to take everything that is offered.” +</p> +<p> +Sybarina graciously accepted the money. Her +eyes shone as she hobbled over to Harriet Burrell +and exclaimed earnestly: “I said you were +the true Romany. Now I know it. Did I not +tell you the power to foretell both the past and +future would come to you unbidden?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” laughed Harriet, “but I happened to +know considerable about the Tramp Club’s affairs +particularly since they visited a certain +melon patch. Is there any danger of those boys +returning to-night?” +</p> +<p> +Sybarina shook her head. “They have returned +to their camp.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_225'></a>225</span> +</p> +<p> +“Where are they camping?” +</p> +<p> +“On yonder hillside. Even now you can catch +the glow of their campfire. But you shall see +them again and you shall make them red of face +for the trick which they played on you and your +friends, my Romany girls. You would outwit +them?” +</p> +<p> +“We are trying to get home ahead of them.” +</p> +<p> +The old woman nodded. +</p> +<p> +“The way shall be made clear to you. Sybarina +will tell the Romany girl how to defeat +her rivals, to show them that the Romany tribes +know the secret bypaths as the birds know the +trail to the sunny land when the frost is in the +air. Come, child. Come, sit by the fire, while +Sybarina tells you that which shall make the +way clear.” +</p> +<h2><a name='chXXI' id='chXXI'></a>CHAPTER XXI—HARRIET PLANS TO OUTWIT THE TRAMP CLUB</h2> +<p> +A long conversation was held between +Harriet and the Gipsy queen, the latter +drawing a map on the ground with a +willow wand to show the girl the route that she +was to travel after the Meadow-Brook Girls had +gone on for another day. +</p> +<p> +Harriet’s eyes were sparkling. She thought +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_226'></a>226</span> +she saw a way to outwit the Tramp Club. Harriet +was chuckling gleefully when she joined +her companions. She declined to tell them that +night, however, just what the Gipsy had communicated +to her. +</p> +<p> +“Where shall we sleep to-night?” asked Miss +Elting. +</p> +<p> +“Sybarina says we may have the wagon to +sleep in,” answered Harriet. “Shall we use +it?” +</p> +<p> +“No. I think I prefer to sleep in the open,” +answered the guardian. “It is not a cool night. +Suppose we roll up in our blankets and sleep +by the campfire? What do you say, girls?” +</p> +<p> +“I thay yeth,” spoke up Tommy. “I’ll put +my feet againtht the fire; then I won’t have cold +feet any more.” +</p> +<p> +They were sound asleep in a few moments +after turning in. Even the Gipsy dogs that had +been barking most of the evening, and the crying +babies, to whom none of the tribe had given +the slightest heed, were now quietly asleep. +Sybarina watched her guests roll up in their +blankets and nodded approvingly. +</p> +<p> +“The true Romany,” she muttered. For a +long time the old woman sat by the fire, sat until +the embers fell together and the sticks began to +blacken, when she rose and peered into each +sleeping face of the Meadow-Brook Girls. Sybarina +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_227'></a>227</span> +then hobbled to her own wagon and disappeared +within. +</p> +<p> +The Meadow-Brook Girls awakened next +morning with the sun in their eyes. Miss Elting +sat up and called softly to Harriet. The +guardian and Harriet rubbed their eyes and +blinked dazedly about them. There was something +strange about their surroundings, but just +what that strangeness was they for the moment +did not know. All at once they discovered what +had happened. They were absolutely alone, +save for their sleeping companions. +</p> +<p> +“Why, they’ve gone!” cried Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“Gone and we never woke up,” laughed Miss +Elting. “How strange.” +</p> +<p> +“Who hath gone?” mumbled Tommy, sitting +up. +</p> +<p> +“The Gipsies,” answered Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“They must have left in a great hurry, for +some reason,” suggested the guardian. “I +don’t understand it. Nor do I understand how +they managed to slip away so quietly.” +</p> +<p> +The wagon tracks were plainly outlined in the +soft earth and the remnants of the campfire +were there, but that was all. Yet it was not all. +As Harriet sought to draw on her shoe she felt +something hard in the toe. Groping in the shoe +with her fingers she drew forth a tightly +wrapped paper. Opening this she found a tiny +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_228'></a>228</span> +brass triangle. On it were crudely cut several +strange characters. +</p> +<p> +“How curious,” breathed Harriet. “But how +did it get in my shoe?” she wondered. +</p> +<p> +“Look on the wrapping paper,” suggested +Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +Harriet did so. As she looked the puzzled +expression on her face gave place to a smile. +</p> +<p> +“It is from Sybarina,” she exclaimed. “This +is what she writes: ‘A charm for the Romany +girl. No harm shall come to her who wears it. +Happiness and prosperity shall be hers forever +and always. It is the Gipsy good luck charm. +Who knows but that, some day, you may wear +it as a queen? Farewell until we meet again.’” +</p> +<p> +“How strange!” murmured Harriet, holding +up the trinket that her companions might see. +</p> +<p> +“I wonder if it ith a charm againtht bullth?” +piped Tommy. +</p> +<p> +“I would suggest, girls, that we return to our +own camp. It may not be there by this time.” +</p> +<p> +Upon reaching their own camp they were +much relieved to find everything as it should +be. Nothing had been disturbed. But, ere they +had finished their breakfast, three farmers came +striding in to know if anything had been seen +of the Gipsies. +</p> +<p> +“They left early this morning,” answered +Miss Elting. “Why?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_229'></a>229</span> +</p> +<p> +“Wal, nothing only one of them traded off +on me a ring-boned, spavined old hoss, which +he said was sound. I’ll catch them when they +come this way again.” +</p> +<p> +“I think I understand why the Gipsies took +such an early departure,” said Harriet after +the men had gone. “But I do not believe Sybarina +had anything to do with such dishonest +dealing.” +</p> +<p> +The day’s route was laid out after breakfast. +The boys undoubtedly had gone on, for nothing +was to be seen of their campfire. Miss Elting +rather thought they would see no more of the +Tramp Club after the fortune-telling that Harriet +had given the chief the night before. But +with the route that Sybarina had laid out for the +girls, the guardian believed they could make +some time and gain the advantage over the boys. +</p> +<p> +Camp was hurriedly struck after breakfast. +Their route that day lay across lots and their +camping place was to be on the edge of a forest +easily accessible to Jane with her motor car. +Using government maps, as they were doing, +they were able to locate every little rise of +ground, every hollow and almost every clump +of bushes along their way. These government +maps Miss Elting had purchased at a comparatively +small cost, as any one may do. They are +very useful to one who is taking a tramp +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_230'></a>230</span> +through the country, and the Meadow-Brook +Girls found them so. +</p> +<p> +Jane accompanied her companions out to the +highway and followed along behind them in her +car for the first mile. Then their ways parted, +the tramping girls to climb a hill, Crazy Jane +to follow the highway on to the point where she +too was to leave the road and make camp for +them. But there was always a long wait for +Jane, so the girl occupied the time in driving +to the nearest village to make a number of purchases +at the stores. +</p> +<h2><a name='chXXII' id='chXXII'></a>CHAPTER XXII—A COMBIETTA CONCERT</h2> +<p> +Her shopping done Jane lost no time in +cranking up her car, hopped in and +with a wave of her hand swung down +the road and went honking through the village +on the way to the place chosen for the Meadow-Brook +Girls’ camp for that night. Jane had +avoided all questions about herself and her +party, except to say that they were camping. +The girl did not propose to leave a trail for the +Tramp Club if she could avoid it. As the girls +were nearing the end of their journey it behooved +them to cloak their movements with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_231'></a>231</span> +secrecy if they hoped to outwit their young rivals +and win the race, which they were determined +to do. +</p> +<p> +Jane had pitched the tent just within the edge +of the woods and had started a small cook-fire +when the welcome “hoo-e-e-e” of the Meadow-Brook +Girls first reached her ears. She ran out +into the open waving her apron and shouting a +welcome. +</p> +<p> +“There she is,” cried Margery. +</p> +<p> +“Dear old Jane!” exclaimed Hazel. “She has +gotten everything ready for us and started a +fire.” +</p> +<p> +“I propose three cheers for Jane McCarthy,” +cried Harriet. The cheers were given in the +shrillest tones of the Meadow-Brook Girls. Jane +bowed in exaggerated fashion at this ovation. +</p> +<p> +“Have you seen the boys to-day, Jane?” was +Harriet’s first question. +</p> +<p> +“Not a sign of them, the rascals,” replied +Jane. +</p> +<p> +“I imagine that they are at Granite Spring, +half a dozen miles back,” laughed Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“What makes you think so?” asked Hazel. +</p> +<p> +“Because, when I read Captain Baker’s fortune, +I told him that our next camping place +was to be not far from that place. He will make +straight for Granite Spring, you see if he +doesn’t.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_232'></a>232</span> +</p> +<p> +“Then I don’t think we’ll see the lads again +this trip,” concluded Jane. “But, girls, +you’ve got to get busy if you hope to win this +contest. Three more days of hiking will bring +you to Meadow-Brook. If the boys once get +ahead of you, you can’t expect to catch up with +them and win in that length of time.” +</p> +<p> +“We simply must win, Jane,” returned Harriet +determinedly. +</p> +<p> +“Then you’d better begin to think about how +you’re going to do it,” advised Jane dryly. +</p> +<p> +“Jane is right,” agreed the guardian. “We +must plan to-night. And I think we shall have +to put in one big day’s walk, perhaps more than +that. I should first like to know where the boys +are. Jane, will you make an effort to locate +them to-morrow?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, indeed, Miss Elting.” +</p> +<p> +“When we have definite information on that +point we ought to be able to map out a plan of +campaign that will win the contest for us. I +believe we have gotten ahead of them now and +that we shall be able to keep our lead.” +</p> +<p> +“Of course we are going to win,” reiterated +Harriet Burrell. +</p> +<p> +“If it is all settled that we are to win the race, +I propose that we celebrate to-night,” suggested +Jane. +</p> +<p> +“How?” asked Margery. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_233'></a>233</span> +</p> +<p> +“I’ve got a bag of fruit in the car. We’ll +make fruit lemonade, then we’ll have a combietta +concert.” +</p> +<p> +“What ith a combietta conthert?” interrupted +Tommy curiously. +</p> +<p> +“Wait and see,” teased Jane. +</p> +<p> +“Now, Jane, be good and tell us about this +combietta affair?” coaxed Hazel. “What is +it?” +</p> +<p> +“An instrumental concert,” giggled Jane. +“I got the musical instruments when I was in +town doing some shopping. Oh, don’t worry, +darlin’s. You all know to play them. The +first thing to do is to decide upon the tune. +How about the ‘Marching Through Georgia’ +for a starter?” +</p> +<p> +Jane spread out six squares of thin white +paper. She then produced the same number of +small packages. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, we’ll wake the squirrels and the chipmunks +and the weasles,” promised Jane, with +a grin of anticipation. +</p> +<p> +Tommy picked at the wrapping on the end +of one of the small packages and uttered an exclamation +of disappointment. +</p> +<p> +“It ithn’t a musical inthrument at all,” she +declared indignantly. “It ith nothing but a common +old black comb.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s just where you’re wrong,” answered +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_234'></a>234</span> +Jane. “These combs are new. I bought them +in the village store this very day. Listen, +dears. This is the combietta. It makes music +through its teeth, and plays any tune you call +for.” +</p> +<p> +“Wonderful,” laughed Miss Elting. “There +is something very familiar about this marvelous +musical instrument. Combietta, do you call it, +Jane?” +</p> +<p> +“Sure I do. But the name is my own invention. +The music is as old as the combs themselves +and I don’t know how old they are.” +</p> +<p> +“I remember having made music with combs +when I was a girl in short frocks,” nodded the +guardian. “Play, Jane, and show the girls how +to make music.” +</p> +<p> +Crazy Jane folded one of the square slips of +paper over the teeth of one of the combs, then +placed the comb’s teeth between her own. +</p> +<p> +“Zu—zu—zu-zee-zee-zah,” she breathed +through paper and comb, which strange sounds +were instantly interpreted by Jane’s companions, +as “Come Back to Erin.” +</p> +<p> +Each girl with a cry of delight, now snatched +up a comb, wrapped it in the thin paper and +joined enthusiastically in the chorus of “Come +Back to Erin.” Tommy Thompson, fully as +delighted as her companions, leaned against a +tree making hideous noises on her comb; Miss +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_235'></a>235</span> +Elting, sitting on a stump, eyes fixed on the +foliage far above her, was an enthusiastic +performer in the combietta concert. +</p> +<p> +“Now, ‘Marching Through Georgia,’” she +cried. +</p> +<p> +“I can’t play fast enough to play that,” complained +Buster. +</p> +<p> +“Then play anything you like,” answered +Harriet, with a merry laugh. +</p> +<p> +“Yes. Make a noise. You don’t all have to +play the same tune. This is a celebration,” +shouted Jane. “What we want is noise and lots +of it to celebrate the victory we are going to +win.” +</p> +<p> +And noise there was, a perfect pandemonium +of sounds, principally inharmonious. +</p> +<p> +A sudden, startling chorus of yells and a +burst of music from the forest, brought the +girls’ concert to a sudden stop. Lights flashed +from the bushes near at hand, whirling about +them in giddy circles like great pinwheels. The +Meadow-Brook Girls were surrounded by wildly +yelling figures, strange flaring lights—and +music. +</p> +<p> +“Indianth!” screamed Tommy. “We’ll all +be thcalped. Oh, thave me!” Then the little +lisping girl ran like a frightened deer, for the +protection of the Meadow-Brook Girls’ tent. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_236'></a>236</span><a name='chXXIII' id='chXXIII'></a>CHAPTER XXIII—THE HARMONICA SERENADE</h2> +<p> +“Oh, what is it?” wailed Margery. +</p> +<p> +No one was able to answer the question +for the moment. It was a startling +interruption. Even Harriet, though unafraid, +could not make up her mind what was +the meaning of the outbreak. +</p> +<p> +Now she saw what the lights were. They +were flaring torches made from cat-tails. Then +all at once she recalled that the Tramp Club +boys played harmonicas. She had heard them +play once before. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t be afraid, girls. It is the boys,” said +Harriet in a relieved tone. +</p> +<p> +“The boys?” questioned Miss Elting. Then +her face lighted up understandingly. “Oh the +rascals!” she exclaimed. +</p> +<p> +The girls now that they knew no danger +threatened them stood perfectly still, waiting +for the concert to come to an end. +</p> +<p> +“You may come in, boys, when you have finished +your concert,” called the guardian. “We +have enjoyed the serenade very much.” +</p> +<p> +The music and shouting ceased abruptly. A +moment later Captain Baker stepped into the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_237'></a>237</span> +camp. His face was flushed, but there was a +certain sheepishness about him that made Harriet +Burrell’s eyes twinkle. +</p> +<p> +“Why, Captain! We did not look for you +this evening,” greeted Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +“Thought you had given us the slip, did +you?” grinned George. “You’ll have to get up +earlier in the morning, to do that.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, won’t you though!” chorused his companions +trooping in after their captain. +</p> +<p> +“But how did you find us?” questioned Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“Easiest thing in the world. We followed +Miss McCarthy’s car tracks.” +</p> +<p> +“Where to?” twinkled Jane. +</p> +<p> +“All over the country. You surely led us a +fine chase. But we found you, just the same.” +</p> +<p> +Tommy now ventured from the tent. +</p> +<p> +“Thay, you nearly thcared me to death,” she +chided. “What do you boyth want?” +</p> +<p> +“Why, Tommy, they came to serenade us,” +reproved Miss Elting. “We enjoyed the music +very much,” she said, turning toward the boys. +“If you will sit down and play another selection, +we will serve refreshments afterwards. Jane! +Will you get the things ready?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes. But the boys don’t deserve it. However, +so long as we are going to win the race +we can afford to treat them well,” teased Jane. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_238'></a>238</span> +</p> +<p> +The captain smiled a superior smile. +</p> +<p> +“We could have gone right on to the end of +the route to-day without stopping, if we had +wished to do so. But we didn’t want to take +an unfair advantage of you.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, no. You boys never do take an unfair +advantage, do you?” chuckled Crazy Jane. +Miss Elting gave her a warning glance. The +captain did not observe it. +</p> +<p> +“Give them another tune, boys,” George ordered. +</p> +<p> +“First please extinguish those cat-tail +torches,” requested Harriet. “You will set the +woods on fire, if you are not careful. Everything +is so dry now that a fire would start very +easily.” +</p> +<p> +The torches were ground out under foot, after +which the Tramp Club played “Home Sweet +Home” on the harmonicas. At a nod from the +guardian the girls got out their combs and +joined in the tune. The woodland inhabitants +probably never had heard a concert like this. +It sent the birds hopping from limb to limb in +great alarm. Fortunately there were no neighbors +near at hand, so only the inhabitants of the +forest were disturbed. +</p> +<p> +Jane that day had purchased a large chocolate +cake at a baker shop in the village. She +brought this out then disappeared into the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_239'></a>239</span> +tent, emerging a few minutes later with a pail +of fruit lemonade, while Hazel, who had accompanied +Jane, followed her, bearing cups and +glasses. Miss Elting busied herself with cutting +the cake and Harriet served the lemonade. +</p> +<p> +“Well, boys, here’s to the candy we’re going +to have when we get to our journey’s end,” +teased Jane McCarthy, raising her glass of +lemonade. +</p> +<p> +“And here,” returned the captain, raising his +glass with a flourish, “is to those beautiful +handkerchiefs that we’re going to wear next to +our hearts for years and years to come.” +</p> +<p> +“To the stars that hold our future,” teased +Harriet. +</p> +<p> +The captain paused with the glass of lemonade +in his hand. He glanced quickly at Harriet +Burrell, but the innocent expression on her face +told him nothing. Miss Elting saw that George +had something on his mind. She suspected +what it was. An amused smile played about +the corners of the guardian’s mouth. There +was a smile in Harriet’s eyes, too, as she caught +and read the thought in the mind of Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +After the cake and lemonade had been disposed +of, the party of young people chatted for +the better part of an hour. Captain Baker, +however, appeared uneasy. Twice he essayed +to speak then checked himself abruptly. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240'></a>240</span> +</p> +<p> +“It’s coming now,” whispered Harriet. +“He’s trying to think of a way to begin.” +</p> +<p> +Miss Elting nodded. +</p> +<p> +“I have a confession to make,” began the +captain, in an embarrassed manner. +</p> +<p> +“A confession!” exclaimed Harriet in a surprised +tone. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, I have. Oh, it isn’t for myself alone, +but for my friends as well,” continued the captain +doggedly. The other boys exhibited signs +of uneasiness. +</p> +<p> +“What about, Mr. Baker?” asked the guardian +sweetly. +</p> +<p> +“It is about those melons.” +</p> +<p> +“But, my dear boy, you need not apologize +for them. They were simply delicious. I can’t +tell you how much we enjoyed them.” Miss +Elting was making it as hard for George as +possible. +</p> +<p> +“It—it isn’t that. Oh, what’s the use? I +don’t know how to say it. We hadn’t any right +to give you those melons, Miss Elting.” +</p> +<p> +“No right? Please explain yourself, Mr. +Baker.” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll tell you all about it. We took those melons +from the farmer’s field without leave. We +didn’t mean to play a mean trick on you, but we +did. We didn’t think the farmer would accuse +you girls of stealing the melons. We’re awfully sorry +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_241'></a>241</span> +he made such a fuss about it and +that you had to pay for them. Will you please +let us return to you the money that you paid +him. It was our treat, you know.” +</p> +<p> +“Hm-m-m! This is a serious matter,” replied +the guardian slowly. The girls sat with +lowered heads so that the boys might not discover +the laughter in their eyes. “I cannot accept +the money for the melons. We had better +consider the incident closed. It is very manly +of you, however, to come and tell us about it. +But what induced you to do so?” +</p> +<p> +“I gueth hith conthcience troubled him,” suggested +Tommy wisely. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, I think so. But there was something +else,” admitted the boy. “It wasn’t wholly +conscience. We didn’t realize how very wrong +it was until——” +</p> +<p> +“Until the Oracle told you,” nodded Tommy. +</p> +<p> +“What!” exclaimed George. The eyes of the +Tramp Club were fixed on Tommy. “What do +you mean by that?” +</p> +<p> +Harriet got up and with crossed hands before +her, chin lowered, eyelids half veiling her eyes, +moved demurely toward the captain. +</p> +<p> +“Cross my palm with silver and the past and +future shall be revealed to you,” she mumbled. +</p> +<p> +George Baker gazed at her, with suspicious, +puzzled eyes. All at once he sprang up. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_242'></a>242</span> +</p> +<p> +“I know you now! I knew I had seen you before, +but I couldn’t place you. You were the +Star of the East!” +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” admitted Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“And thhe told your fortune,” chuckled +Tommy. +</p> +<p> +Margery and Hazel giggled. Crazy Jane exclaimed +derisively: +</p> +<p> +“Oh, boys, boys! That’s the time you got your +desserts! We paid you back with interest!” +</p> +<p> +“It was a mean trick,” flared George. “We +never would have thought it of you. It was the +meanest trick I ever heard of. I’m sorry I +made a fool of myself by coming here and +apologizing to you.” +</p> +<p> +“Mr. Baker, don’t lose your temper,” begged +Miss Elting, scarcely able to control her voice +for laughter. “We have evened our score so +let’s shake hands and be friends.” +</p> +<p> +“No, thank you. I’m sorry to refuse, but you +have made fools of us,” retorted George angrily. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, no. That ith not pothible,” piped +Tommy. +</p> +<p> +“Come on, fellows. We will get out of here +before they make us angry,” urged Captain +Baker, snatching up his hat and starting away. +</p> +<p> +“Please wait,” begged Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +George shook his head. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_243'></a>243</span> +</p> +<p> +“What about our compact?” called Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“We’re going on and win the race. We’ll +show you that you aren’t such athletes as you +think. At least you shan’t make fools of us +at that. Good night.” +</p> +<p> +Captain Baker and his friends strode angrily +from the camp. They did not so much as look +back. Perhaps the boys were really not so angry +as they pretended to be. +</p> +<p> +“It’s too bad. I didn’t think they would +take it that way,” cried Harriet. “I surely +thought they would be able to take a joke. Well, +what’s done can’t be undone. There’s nothing +more to be done except to go on and try to win +the race.” +</p> +<p> +Jane had disappeared. Where she had gone +the girls did not know. It was some time before +she returned and when she did she was +excited. Her hair was awry and her face +flushed. +</p> +<p> +“Jane, where have you been?” demanded the +guardian. +</p> +<p> +“I’ve been scouting. Girls, those miserable +boys are planning to play another trick on you. +They’re going to start to-night and go on without +stopping until they get home. What shall +we do?” +</p> +<p> +The girls gazed solemnly into each other’s +eyes. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_244'></a>244</span> +</p> +<p> +“That seems to settle it,” spoke up Margery +finally. “Well, let them have the race. Who +cares?” +</p> +<p> +“We all care,” answered Harriet, springing +to her feet. “We simply must win that race +now. Everybody will laugh at us if we don’t, +and I just couldn’t stand it to see those boys +grinning triumphantly at us afterwards. I don’t +care so much about the others.” +</p> +<p> +“What would you suggest, Harriet?” inquired +Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +“Suggest? Why, there is only one thing to +suggest. Checkmate them at their own game. +We’ll start for Meadow-Brook this very night +and we’ll keep going until we get there. Are +you with me, girls?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes!” shouted the girls. +</p> +<h2><a name='chXXIV' id='chXXIV'></a>CHAPTER XXIV—CONCLUSION</h2> +<p> +“Not quite so fast, girls,” warned Miss +Elting. +</p> +<p> +They turned toward her questioningly. +Their eyes were sparkling, their faces +flushed. +</p> +<p> +“What would you suggest, Miss Elting?” +asked Harriet. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_245'></a>245</span> +</p> +<p> +“Remember, that, if we take the route suggested +by the Gipsy, we shall have to travel +some of the roughest country in the state. Are +you equal to the hike?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes!” +</p> +<p> +“We shall have to walk all night and a good +part of the day to-morrow, and even then the +boys may win the contest. Are you willing to +try it?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes!” +</p> +<p> +“Then we will make our plans and get +started. According to my calculations, it will +be a twenty mile hike to Meadow-Brook by the +way we propose to go. The boys will have a +good ten miles further to travel if they go by +way of the road. But having better going they +will naturally travel much faster than we. Listen! +We must travel light, with nothing in our +packs except just sufficient food to carry us +through. Jane, you will have to spend the night +at the nearest farm house and come back for +the tent and supplies in the morning. I hardly +believe any one will disturb them over night. +You must go at once or the people of the house +will have retired. Go quietly.” +</p> +<p> +Ten minutes later Jane was on her way to +the farm house in her car, undetected by the +members of the Tramp Club. +</p> +<p> +“Now we will get ready at once. Let us be +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_246'></a>246</span> +certain that none of the boys are watching. I +would suggest that you girls lie down for an +hour or so, while Harriet and myself get the +packs together.” +</p> +<p> +Hazel obediently led the way into the tent, +Margery and Tommy following. +</p> +<p> +“I can’t thleep. I’m too exthited,” protested +Tommy. She and her companions did sleep +however. They were allowed to rest for two +hours. When they awakened Harriet informed +them that the Tramp Club already had started. +Half an hour later the girls themselves had +taken the trail to Meadow-Brook. +</p> +<p> +The Pathfinders made straight for a blue +range of mountains that stood out dark and forbidding +in the bright moonlight. The girls were +full of enthusiasm, and would have walked +much faster had not their guardian insisted on +their saving their strength for the more difficult +traveling after they reached the hills. +</p> +<p> +It was three o’clock in the morning when +finally they dropped down a sharp incline into +the gloomy depths of a rocky canyon. A trickling +stream flowed through the canyon and the +walls stood high on either side, rising sheer for +a hundred feet. +</p> +<p> +“You will have to wade, girls. But I think +we are all sufficiently hardened so that we shall +not suffer more than temporary discomfort +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_247'></a>247</span> +from getting our feet wet,” said the guardian, +with an encouraging smile. +</p> +<p> +The girls plunged into the brook without +hesitation. The water was only ankle deep, but +the stones on the bottom of the creek were moss-covered +and slippery. Still, they made good +progress, really traveling faster than before +they had entered the canyon. +</p> +<p> +At daylight Miss Elting called a halt. She +had chosen a place where a dry shelf of rock +offered a resting place. The girls threw themselves +down flat on their backs. There was no +wood with which to build a fire, but Miss Elting +produced a small alcohol stove from her pack +and made coffee. This with biscuits they had +brought proved very refreshing. The guardian +did not permit them to remain on the shelf of +rock for a long time, fearing that their muscles +might become stiffened. Then the journey was +taken up again. So full of enthusiasm and determination +were the Meadow-Brook Girls that +not one of them offered a word of complaint; +but when at two o’clock that afternoon, they +emerged from the canyon into the open country, +Tommy and Margery were limping a little. +</p> +<p> +Beyond in the haze of a distant valley lay +Meadow-Brook. The girls eager to get to their +journey’s end pushed on again. After half an +hour’s walking, Miss Elting called a halt. She +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_248'></a>248</span> +shaded her eyes and gazed off to the west. A +thin brown line was crawling slowly along the +road. +</p> +<p> +“It’s the boys!” cried Harriet. +</p> +<p> +“They’re going to win,” groaned Margery. +</p> +<p> +“They are not. We must run for it.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” agreed Miss Elting. “But don’t get +excited. Keep your lips tightly closed. Breathe +through your nostrils and keep your shoulders +well back. Don’t keep yourselves rigid, but +just trudge along with every muscle relaxed. +They don’t see us. Ready! Go!” +</p> +<p> +The girls crossed the field at a trot. It was +a good two miles to the village. They ran +slowly, but steadily. At the end of a mile the +guardian again ordered a halt, directing the +girls to lie down in the field flat on their backs. +A few moments later they were up and off again. +They saw the boys a long distance to the rear, +still trudging doggedly along. And half an +hour later the girls stepped from the field out +into the road. They heard the chug of a motor +car. It swept on and overtook them. It was +Jane. She was howling like a wild Indian. +</p> +<p> +“They’re coming! They’re coming. Run for +it!” she yelled. +</p> +<p> +By this time the boys had discovered the +girls. They, too, began to run. The race was +on in earnest. Never had those girls run and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_249'></a>249</span> +stumbled and lurched along as they did that +afternoon. The boys gained slowly. The girls +were nearing home. Jane was leading the procession, +standing up in her car, steering as she +stood, setting the pace for the Meadow-Brook +Girls. She was shouting and yelling to keep up +their courage, but it was an almost killing pace +that she was making for them. +</p> +<p> +The girls staggered over the line that marked +the village limits. +</p> +<p> +“Home!” cried Miss Elting. +</p> +<p> +“We’ve won!” screamed Jane almost beside +herself with joy. +</p> +<p> +The girls walked unsteadily to one side of +the road and sat down gasping. They had won +the race, but by a slender margin. The boys +were still forging ahead, running at top speed. +They had thrown away their packs and were +racing into the village in light order. Five minutes +later a crowd of weary, humiliated boys +came hurrying up to where the girls sat. They +were much more fatigued than were their opponents, +besides which, they were chagrined beyond +words. +</p> +<p> +“Did we win?” jeered Jane triumphantly. +</p> +<p> +“Yes. You won,” admitted Captain Baker +sourly. “I take off my hat to you.” He suited +the action to the word. “You beat us at our +own game. I don’t know how you did it, but +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_250'></a>250</span> +you did and that’s all there is about it, and we +aren’t going to whine. We’ll take our medicine. +We’re going to stay in town the rest of the day, +and we’ll see you later on. Good-bye until +to-night.” +</p> +<p> +The girls’ weariness left them almost magically. +They hopped into Jane’s car and were +swiftly whirled home. Later in the afternoon +a box of marshmallows for each of the girls was +delivered to Miss Elting. But the fun was not +yet ended. +</p> +<p> +That night the Tramp Club and the Meadow-Brook +Girls were the guests of Tommy Thompson’s +father and mother at dinner. Tommy’s +parents, as well as the parents of the other +girls, were delighted with the splendid physical +condition of their daughters. Before each +girl’s plate at the table that stretched the length +of the big dining room, was a box of marshmallows, +before each boy’s plate a handkerchief. +</p> +<p> +The marshmallow boxes were tied with pink +ribbon, the color chosen by the Meadow-Brook +Girls for their organization. +</p> +<p> +“On Hallowe’en,” declared Dill Dodd +solemnly, “you shall hear from the tramps +again, and the message will have a bearing on +the question of melons.” +</p> +<p> +Nor did Baker’s Tramp Club forget. Surely +enough, on Hallowe’en +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_251'></a>251</span> +Harriet received for herself and her friends two great, ripe, luscious +watermelons with a most cordially worded note +from the boys. +</p> +<p> +“We must see to it that the Tramp Club +never do anything like this again,” said Miss +Elting, as she and the Meadow-Brook Girls cut +up and enjoyed the watermelons. “At this season +of the year fruit of this kind comes only +from hot houses and is very expensive. The +boys, to show their contrition, have mortgaged +their pocket money, I fear.” +</p> +<p> +Soon after their return the Meadow-Brook +Girls entered upon the duties and pleasures +of the new school year. We may be assured +also that at the proper time, Miss Elting would +see to it that the beads which the girls had won +by their deeds of daring and other achievements +during their recent trip, would be +awarded. But we shall hear from them again. +</p> +<p> +They had ahead of them many happy days of +outdoor life and adventure, as will be learned +in the next volume of this series, which is published +under the title, “<span class='sc'>The Meadow-Brook +Girls Afloat</span>; Or, The Stormy Cruise of the +Red Rover.” +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p> </p> +<p>THE END</p> +</div> +<hr style='margin:30px auto; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; width:80%' /> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:smaller;'>HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY’S CATALOGUE OF</span></p> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;font-weight:bold;'>The Best and Least Expensive</span></p> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;font-weight:bold;'>Books for Real Boys and Girls</span></p> +</div> +<p> +Really good and new stories for boys and girls are not +plentiful. Many stories, too, are so highly improbable as +to bring a grin of derision to the young reader’s face before +he has gone far. The name of ALTEMUS is a distinctive +brand on the cover of a book, always ensuring +the buyer of having a book that is up-to-date and fine +throughout. No buyer of an ALTEMUS book is ever +disappointed. +</p> +<p> +Many are the claims made as to the inexpensiveness +of books. Go into any bookstore and ask for an Altemus +book. Compare the price charged you for Altemus +books with the price demanded for other juvenile books. +You will at once discover that a given outlay of money +will buy more of the ALTEMUS books than of those +published by other houses. +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p>Every dealer in books carries the ALTEMUS books.</p> +<p> </p> +<p>Sold by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of price</p> +<p> </p> +<p>Henry Altemus Company</p> +<p>507-513 Cherry Street, Philadelphia</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;font-weight:bold;'>The Motor Boat Club Series</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</p> +</div> +<p> +The keynote of these books is manliness. The stories are wonderfully +entertaining, and they are at the same time sound and wholesome. +No boy will willingly lay down an unfinished book in this +series. +</p> +<p> + 1 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB OF THE KENNEBEC; Or,<br /> + The Secret of Smugglers’ Island.<br /> + 2 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB AT NANTUCKET; Or,<br /> + The Mystery of the Dunstan Heir.<br /> + 3 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB OFF LONG ISLAND; Or,<br /> + A Daring Marine Game at Racing Speed.<br /> + 4 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB AND THE WIRELESS; Or,<br /> + The Dot, Dash and Dare Cruise.<br /> + 5 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB IN FLORIDA; Or,<br /> + Laying the Ghost of Alligator Swamp.<br /> + 6 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB AT THE GOLDEN GATE; Or,<br /> + A Thrilling Capture in the Great Fog.<br /> + 7 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB ON THE GREAT LAKES; Or,<br /> + The Flying Dutchman of the Big Fresh Water.<br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p>Cloth, Illustrated—Price, per Volume, 50c.</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;font-weight:bold;'>The Range and Grange Hustlers</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>By FRANK GEE PATCHIN</p> +</div> +<p> +Have you any idea of the excitements, the glories of life on great +ranches in the West? Any bright boy will “devour” the books of +this series, once he has made a start with the first volume. +</p> +<p> + 1 THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH; Or,<br /> + The Boy Shepherds of the Great Divide.<br /> + 2 THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS’ GREATEST ROUND-UP; Or,<br /> + Pitting Their Wits Against a Packers’ Combine.<br /> + 3 THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS ON THE PLAINS; Or,<br /> + Following the Steam Plows Across the Prairie.<br /> + 4 THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS AT CHICAGO; Or,<br /> + The Conspiracy of the Wheat Pit.<br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p>Cloth, Illustrated—Price, per Volume, 50c.</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;font-weight:bold;'>Submarine Boys Series</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>By VICTOR G. DURHAM</p> +</div> +<p> +These splendid books for boys and girls deal with life aboard submarine +torpedo boats, and with the adventures of the young crew, +and possess, in addition to the author’s surpassing knack of storytelling, +a great educational value for all young readers. +</p> +<p> + 1 THE SUBMARINE BOYS ON DUTY; Or,<br /> + Life on a Diving Torpedo Boat.<br /> + 2 THE SUBMARINE BOYS’ TRIAL TRIP; Or,<br /> + “Making Good” as Young Experts.<br /> + 3 THE SUBMARINE BOYS AND THE MIDDIES; Or,<br /> + The Prize Detail at Annapolis.<br /> + 4 THE SUBMARINE BOYS AND THE SPIES; Or,<br /> + Dodging the Sharks of the Deep.<br /> + 5 THE SUBMARINE BOYS’ LIGHTNING CRUISE; Or,<br /> + The Young Kings of the Deep.<br /> + 6 THE SUBMARINE BOYS FOR THE FLAG; Or,<br /> + Deeding Their Lives to Uncle Sam.<br /> + 7 THE SUBMARINE BOYS AND THE SMUGGLERS; Or,<br /> + Breaking Up the New Jersey Customs Frauds.<br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p>Cloth, Illustrated—Price, per Volume, 50c.</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;font-weight:bold;'>The Square Dollar Boys Series</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</p> +</div> +<p> +The reading boy will be a voter within a few years; these books +are bound to make him think, and when he casts his vote he will +do it more intelligently for having read these volumes. +</p> +<p> + 1 THE SQUARE DOLLAR BOYS WAKE UP; Or,<br /> + Fighting the Trolley Franchise Steal.<br /> + 2 THE SQUARE DOLLAR BOYS SMASH THE RING; Or,<br /> + In the Lists Against the Crooked Land Deal.<br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p>Cloth, Illustrated—Price, per Volume, 50c.</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;font-weight:bold;'>Ben Lightbody Series</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>By WALTER BENHAM</p> +</div> +<p> + 1 BEN LIGHTBODY, SPECIAL; Or,<br /> + Seizing His First Chance to Make Good.<br /> + 2 BEN LIGHTBODY’S BIGGEST PUZZLE; Or,<br /> + Running the Double Ghost to Earth.<br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p>Cloth, Illustrated—Price, per Volume, 50c.</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;font-weight:bold;'>Pony Rider Boys Series</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>By FRANK GEE PATCHIN</p> +</div> +<p> +These tales may be aptly described as those of a new Cooper. In +every sense they belong to the best class of books for boys and girls. +</p> +<p> + 1 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE ROCKIES; Or,<br /> + The Secret of the Lost Claim.<br /> + 2 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN TEXAS; Or,<br /> + The Veiled Riddle of the Plains.<br /> + 3 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN MONTANA; Or,<br /> + The Mystery of the Old Custer Trail.<br /> + 4 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE OZARKS; Or,<br /> + The Secret of Ruby Mountain.<br /> + 5 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE ALKALI; Or,<br /> + Finding a Key to the Desert Maze.<br /> + 6 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN NEW MEXICO; Or,<br /> + The End of the Silver Trail.<br /> + 7 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE GRAND CANYON; Or,<br /> + The Mystery of Bright Angel Gulch.<br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p>Cloth, Illustrated—Price, per Volume, 50c.</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;font-weight:bold;'>The Boys of Steel Series</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>By JAMES R. MEARS</p> +</div> +<p> +The author has made of these volumes a series of romances with +scenes laid in the iron and steel world. Each book presents a vivid +picture of some phase of this great industry. The information given +is exact and truthful; above all, each story is full of adventure and +fascination. +</p> +<p> + 1 THE IRON BOYS IN THE MINES; Or,<br /> + Starting at the Bottom of the Shaft.<br /> + 2 THE IRON BOYS AS FOREMEN; Or,<br /> + Heading the Diamond Drill Shift.<br /> + 3 THE IRON BOYS ON THE ORE BOATS; Or,<br /> + Roughing It on the Great Lakes.<br /> + 4 THE IRON BOYS IN THE STEEL MILLS; Or,<br /> + Beginning Anew in the Cinder Pits.<br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p>Cloth, Illustrated—Price, per Volume, 50c.</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;font-weight:bold;'>West Point Series</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</p> +</div> +<p> +The principal characters in these narratives are manly, young +Americans whose doings will inspire all boy readers. +</p> +<p> + 1 DICK PRESCOTT’S FIRST YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or,<br /> + Two Chums in the Cadet Gray.<br /> + 2 DICK PRESCOTT’S SECOND YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or,<br /> + Finding the Glory of the Soldier’s Life.<br /> + 3 DICK PRESCOTT’S THIRD YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or,<br /> + Standing Firm for Flag and Honor.<br /> + 4 DICK PRESCOTT’S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or,<br /> + Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps.<br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p>Cloth, Illustrated—Price, per Volume, 50c.</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;font-weight:bold;'>Annapolis Series</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</p> +</div> +<p> +The Spirit of the new Navy is delightfully and truthfully depicted +in these volumes. +</p> +<p> + 1 DAVE DARRIN’S FIRST YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or,<br /> + Two Plebe Midshipmen at the U. S. Naval Academy.<br /> + 2 DAVE DARRIN’S SECOND YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or,<br /> + Two Midshipmen as Naval Academy “Youngsters.”<br /> + 3 DAVE DARRIN’S THIRD YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or,<br /> + Leaders of the Second Class Midshipmen.<br /> + 4 DAVE DARRIN’S FOURTH YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or,<br /> + Headed for Graduation and the Big Cruise.<br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p>Cloth, Illustrated—Price, per Volume, 50c.</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;font-weight:bold;'>The Young Engineers Series</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</p> +</div> +<p> +The heroes of these stories are known to readers of the High +School Boys Series. In this new series Tom Reade and Harry +Hazelton prove worthy of all the traditions of Dick & Co. +</p> +<p> + 1 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN COLORADO; Or,<br /> + At Railroad Building in Earnest.<br /> + 2 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN ARIZONA; Or,<br /> + Laying Tracks on the “Man-Killer” Quicksand.<br /> + 3 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN NEVADA; Or,<br /> + Seeking Fortune on the Turn of a Pick.<br /> + 4 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN MEXICO; Or,<br /> + Fighting the Mine Swindlers.<br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p>Cloth, Illustrated—Price, per Volume, 50c.</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;font-weight:bold;'>Boys of the Army Series</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</p> +</div> +<p> +These books breathe the life and spirit of the United States Army +of to-day, and the life, just as it is, is described by a master pen. +</p> +<p> + 1 UNCLE SAM’S BOYS IN THE RANKS; Or,<br /> + Two Recruits in the United States Army.<br /> + 2 UNCLE SAM’S BOYS ON FIELD DUTY; Or,<br /> + Winning Corporal’s Chevrons.<br /> + 3 UNCLE SAM’S BOYS AS SERGEANTS; Or,<br /> + Handling Their First Real Commands.<br /> + 4 UNCLE SAM’S BOYS IN THE PHILIPPINES; Or,<br /> + Following the Flag Against the Moros.<br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p>(<i>Other volumes to follow rapidly.</i>)</p> +<p>Cloth, Illustrated—Price, per Volume, 50c.</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;font-weight:bold;'>Battleship Boys Series</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>By FRANK GEE PATCHIN</p> +</div> +<p> +These stories throb with the life of young Americans on to-day’s +huge drab Dreadnaughts. +</p> +<p> + 1 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS AT SEA; Or,<br /> + Two Apprentices in Uncle Sam’s Navy.<br /> + 2 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS FIRST STEP UPWARD; Or,<br /> + Winning Their Grades as Petty Officers.<br /> + 3 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS IN FOREIGN SERVICE; Or,<br /> + Earning New Ratings in European Seas.<br /> + 4 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS IN THE TROPICS; Or,<br /> + Upholding the American Flag in a Honduras Revolution.<br /> +</p> +<p> +(<i>Other volumes to follow rapidly.</i>) +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p>Cloth, Illustrated—Price, per Volume, 50c.</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;font-weight:bold;'>The Meadow-Brook Girls Series</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>By JANET ALDRIDGE</p> +</div> +<p> +Real live stories pulsing with the vibrant atmosphere of outdoor +life. +</p> +<p> + 1 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS UNDER CANVAS; Or,<br /> + Fun and Frolic in the Summer Camp.<br /> + 2 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS ACROSS COUNTRY; Or,<br /> + The Young Pathfinders on a Summer Hike.<br /> + 3 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS AFLOAT; Or,<br /> + The Stormy Cruise of the Red Rover.<br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p>Cloth, Illustrated—Price, per Volume, 50c.</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;font-weight:bold;'>High School Boys Series</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</p> +</div> +<p> +In this series of bright, crisp books a new note has been struck. +</p> +<p> +Boys of every age under sixty will be interested in these fascinating +volumes. +</p> +<p> + 1 THE HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMEN; Or,<br /> + Dick & Co.’s First Year Pranks and Sports.<br /> + 2 THE HIGH SCHOOL PITCHER; Or,<br /> + Dick & Co. on the Gridley Diamond.<br /> + 3 THE HIGH SCHOOL LEFT END; Or,<br /> + Dick & Co. Grilling on the Football Gridiron.<br /> + 4 THE HIGH SCHOOL CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM; Or,<br /> + Dick & Co. Leading the Athletic Vanguard.<br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p>Cloth, Illustrated—Price, per Volume, 50c.</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;font-weight:bold;'>Grammar School Boys Series</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</p> +</div> +<p> +This series of stories, based on the actual doings of grammar +school boys, comes near to the heart of the average American boy. +</p> +<p> + 1 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS OF GRIDLEY; Or,<br /> + Dick & Co. Start Things Moving.<br /> + 2 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS SNOWBOUND; Or,<br /> + Dick & Co. at Winter Sports.<br /> + 3 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS IN THE WOODS; Or,<br /> + Dick & Co. Trail Fun and Knowledge.<br /> + 4 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS IN SUMMER ATHLETICS; Or,<br /> + Dick & Co. Make Their Fame Secure.<br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p>Cloth, Illustrated—Price, per Volume, 50c.</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;font-weight:bold;'>High School Boys’ Vacation Series</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</p> +</div> +<p> +“Give us more Dick Prescott books!” +</p> +<p> +This has been the burden of the cry from young readers of the +country over. Almost numberless letters have been received by the +publishers, making this eager demand; for Dick Prescott, Dave Darrin, +Tom Reade, and the other members of Dick & Co. are the most +popular high school boys in the land. Boys will alternately thrill +and chuckle when reading these splendid narratives. +</p> +<p> + 1 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS’ CANOE CLUB; Or,<br /> + Dick & Co.‘s Rivals on Lake Pleasant.<br /> + 2 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS IN SUMMER CAMP; Or,<br /> + The Dick Prescott Six Training for the Gridley Eleven.<br /> + 3 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS’ FISHING TRIP; Or,<br /> + Dick & Co. in the Wilderness.<br /> + 4 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS’ TRAINING HIKE; Or,<br /> + Dick & Co. Making Themselves “Hard as Nails.”<br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p>Cloth, Illustrated—Price, per Volume, 50c.</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;font-weight:bold;'>The Circus Boys Series</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>By EDGAR B. P. DARLINGTON</p> +</div> +<p> +Mr. Darlington’s books breathe forth every phase of an intensely +interesting and exciting life. +</p> +<p> + 1 THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE FLYING RINGS; Or,<br /> + Making the Start in the Sawdust Life.<br /> + 2 THE CIRCUS BOYS ACROSS THE CONTINENT; Or,<br /> + Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark.<br /> + 3 THE CIRCUS BOYS IN DIXIE LAND; Or,<br /> + Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South.<br /> + 4 THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI; Or,<br /> + Afloat with the Big Show on the Big River.<br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p>Cloth, Illustrated—Price, per Volume, 50c.</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;font-weight:bold;'>The High School Girls Series</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>By JESSIE GRAHAM FLOWER, A. M.</p> +</div> +<p> +These breezy stories of the American High School Girl take the +reader fairly by storm. +</p> +<p> + 1 GRACE HARLOWE’S PLEBE YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or,<br /> + The Merry Doings of the Oakdale Freshman Girls.<br /> + 2 GRACE HARLOWE’S SOPHOMORE YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or,<br /> + The Record of the Girl Chums in Work and Athletics.<br /> + 3 GRACE HARLOWE’S JUNIOR YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or,<br /> + Fast Friends in the Sororities.<br /> + 4 GRACE HARLOWE’S SENIOR YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or,<br /> + The Parting of the Ways.<br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p>Cloth, Illustrated—Price, per Volume, 50c.</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;font-weight:bold;'>The Automobile Girls Series</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>By LAURA DENT CRANE</p> +</div> +<p> +No girl’s library—no family book-case can be considered at all +complete unless it contains these sparkling twentieth-century books. +</p> +<p> + 1 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT NEWPORT; Or,<br /> + Watching the Summer Parade.<br /> + 2 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS IN THE BERKSHIRES; Or,<br /> + The Ghost of Lost Man’s Trail.<br /> + 3 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS ALONG THE HUDSON; Or,<br /> + Fighting Fire in Sleepy Hollow.<br /> + 4 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT CHICAGO; Or,<br /> + Winning Out Against Heavy Odds.<br /> + 5 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT PALM BEACH; Or,<br /> + Proving Their Mettle Under Southern Skies.<br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p>Cloth, Illustrated—Price, per Volume, 50c.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Meadow-Brook Girls Across Country, by +Janet Aldridge + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS ACROSS COUNTRY *** + +***** This file should be named 36391-h.htm or 36391-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/3/9/36391/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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