t here on this bench last night. Naki and Ceally haven't seen it. Horrid thing! It has taken wings and flown away just when

r for her sudden dislike of Reginald Latham. It seemed to Mistress Barbara unreasonable that

f he were a villain in

ably be a villain, if he had the opportunity. I hope I shan't see him again. I don

Bab retorted indignantly. And

matter with Miss Mollie Thurston this morning? Don't you know Mr. Stuart sent us a rifle. He to

. Oh, I am not afraid, Grace Carter, so you needn't tease; b

Mollie's tantrums. "You don't know your way about these hills, yet, and

. "It is not such a charming color as your scarlet one, and it may be a t

Bab and the other girls, just to be laughed at; but again that morning she had heard a light noise outside their window. It didn't sound like an animal. Mollie wrinkled her pretty forehead, and a puzzled expres

appearing. She had no idea of going far from their cabin; another day she might persuade the girls to explore this mysterious hill, with its

long time, calling to the birds, and she delighted in having them steal near and shyly listen to the s

uld hear the pop, pop, pop, of a rifle. The girls were e

I wouldn't care to be too near those shooting experts. I k

of an airship. Mollie bit the end of her pencil-she was not in a writing mood. Why had she taken such a dislike to Reginald Latham? He had been polite enough, and was ra

tirred. In another minute there tumbled over her head a shower of leaves and acorns, that for an instant blinded

ne to the hilltop. Nothing was in sight; but further on through a thicket of trees, she caught the dista

stery possessed the gir

rbed her. Once she saw a bright object flash ahead of her, brown and scarlet, through t

a tangled thicket of bushes and trees. Suddenly she stopped. So far as she could

ushed on. Ducking her head through an opening in one place, turning and twisting wherever she found it possible to make her way, the child came a

e was enti

ing. It was just my imagination that led me on. Now, I hope," Mollie gave a rueful smile and sat down

half a dozen different directions

I have struck the famous 'Lost Man's Tra

trees was an open space, which might lead somewhere toward home. Mollie pushed

ld catch a glimpse of their familiar hillside. A sense of sinking warned her that l

had warned her. This hill was entirely de

oat. "No one except myself would be such a goose as to try to fin

as no answer. Once Mollie thought she heard a strange sound, half-wi

see the smoke curling out of the chimney of their little, brown cabin, but far and near, there was no familiar object. She had f

ing for me," she said, trying to revive her courage. "When

t her way in the morning. She was so tired, there was nothing to do but to sit down and rest, but she had not given up

cedar tree. It was growing cold, and the September day was closing. All morning and afternoon th

a tear had been shed in these miles of weary tramping; indeed she had often laughed at her own mistakes,

ted to have adventures in a forest; here is my opportunity. I wish, though, I knew how to make a fir

er! No sooner had she dropped on the soft leaves

carcely a leaf trembled. For a minute it paused and gazed down on the sleeping child. The little girl stirred in her

ed at the log c

ing her a close second, when the luncheon gong sounded. The girls had given no further thought to Mollie, supposing she had grown tired

ving room for their lunch Bab as

t she been shooting with you? Perhaps she is s

great bowl of vegetable soup that loo

," she explained. "Not since she starte

ened faces. They remembered Mollie had gone off for a walk earl

s Stuart hurriedly. "He will p

"Naki doesn't know. He has been tea

," she cried hastily, "may Naki and I go out to lo

e other girls must each eat a plate of this soup. You are not to start out to look for Mollie when

Sallie," she pleaded, "I can't eat. D

Barbara," was Mi

ile Ruth and Grace followed her exampl

she was less able to look after herself. Besides, Ceally had hinted strange tales of the haunted mountain back of them. At the time, Miss Sallie had refused to listen; it had seemed utter nonsense, that ta

of the ravine. But there she stopped and

nt Mollie's disappearance any too seriously. Once up the hill, he blew on a great horn which he carried. Once,

d pursued her will-o'-the-wisp, he turned in the opposite direction. It di

f ye know your way about up here. If we should separate, I should

ed and searched for the l

rbara shed plenty in the effort to find her. P

Bab sobbed, running on ahead of the others. "I told Mollie she was foolish to

ears. "You didn't quarrel with Mollie. I never saw two sis

, Miss," Naki explained to frightened Bab. "T

rom whence they had started. Looking down, they could see their log cabin, whe

ad better go back to your aunt. I must go down to the farm for help. It will take a number of people to mak

e. I'll just sit at the top of this ravine and call and call! Then, if Mollie comes anywhere near me, she will hear. You and

Bab, we are both delighted to go down and comfortably eat our supper! It is so pleasant to think o

and one of us must go to Aunt Sallie, who is terribly worried. See! she has already seen us, and is waving her hand. But if you will go tell her what has happened, I shall stay

ou," Grace protest

ned. Both girls nodded. Th