incredible!" excl

ng Mollie's adventure the

the whole thing, the more in

with Mollie?" Mis

ravine, when suddenly a shower of leaves fell over her head, and she heard the noise of feet running along the bank above her. Determined to discover what had startled her, Mollie climbed up the

ere did it come from?" a

ht the end of the conversation. She looked about her cautiously. Naki, her husband, was s

e been a ghost that led Miss Mollie on that lost trail. Once you strike that trail, there ain't no

breath she confessed to herself: "If anything in this world could b

w in at

e down and spend the afternoon with him. He says he will send for us in a carriage that can come almos

l of a task, child, to go down this hill, exc

ther. I have been to Lenox twice myself and to Pittsfield once. I won't give you and Bab these lette

s reading Mr.

d have afternoon tea with us. We are to have no other guests, except a few young people whom I am sure your girls will like to meet. Later on, wh

, dancing first on one foot and then on the other. "Here are

tion. Life on the hill was growing a bit dull for Miss Sallie. She dreaded the

acceptance. "Who is out there?" she inquired languidly. The lit

ham place this afternoon,

, Miss Sallie?

eclared. "It is a dreadfully long journey, but Ruth

ient niece in the world. You know you liked Mr. Latham. And he has a marvelous place, with a wonderful fish pond on

promptly after an early lu

house for the next twenty-four hours. I broke all camp regulations b

ened to establish military discipline in my camp. Besides, if you were disobe

a little tired and I would rather stay quietly up here. You can count on my promise this time.

" spoke up Bab. "I prefer

he one original lady rescuer of an airship yet on record! I was only the legs of the rescue, as I ran after Naki and Ceally. You were the brains of the whole business

clared. "Naki and Ceally will look after Mollie, and an afternoon's re

to the little cabin and stretched herself out on her cot, with the eider down comfort drawn up to her head. The child, who was not so vigorous as Bab,

ground. The little girl had read that a swan sings a wonderful song just as he is about to die. She walked out on the porch with an o

iful, golden maple leaf, that was fluttering in the air. "See, there is a leaf! It is singing its good-bye song t

glanced up the hill. Surely she saw a figure moving there. It was a slight young creature, no larger than

y. Now it looked this way, then that. Hardly touching the earth, it flew from one hig

er veranda, but through her brain fl

p of surprise, then was silent. A thin, brown creature moved softly toward her on velvet f

xion was too dark to be olive, yet it was neither brown nor red. She was dressed in a thin, soft garment that fitted her closely from her b

wn, she turned to flee. But Mollie was too wise to spea

you afraid of me?" she asked gently

afraid," she insisted. "I am never afraid. But is it well with you?" She s

e well with me?" ask

e answered, "you were los

know?" Moll

udly. "I know all things that take place in th

voice: "You know for other reasons, as well. You

d her head proudly. "I led you nowhere!" she declared. "You would

ou?" Molli

llie she spoke sadly. But she dropped down on the step

girl's brown fingers in her own. The hands were slender a

as it quite fair of you to come each morning to our windows, and then fly away again before anyone

a deeper crimson an

smilingly. "But, if you didn't lead me away into the woods, there is o

l you have seen me, nor that I ever came here to you." The girl dropped on her knees at Mollie's feet. "I am an Indian girl," she explained. "I live on Lost Man's Mountai

live alone," M

e implored, "will you promise me by the stars never to betray me? Pro

wered thoughtles

ealized for the first time what her promise meant. She was already dying to tell Bab and the

ut is far back in the hills. All day I have watched and waited by your cabin, until the others went a

and see all of us? We are only other girls like you. My sister

t not speak the name to me!" she cried fiercely. "My gran

you for leading my sister to me? You must have been the will-o'-the-wisp with the dark lantern. You must have ma

uttered, "I took the red cloak away. My grandmother says that I stole it, and Indians of royal

" She touched the crimson leaves in her hair. "When I found that I had stolen I meant to bring the cloak back. Then I saw you aslee

d Indian? You do not look like one. Your eyes are as big and brown as my sister Bab's, only a little darker. And your f

er with the snows. My teacher is part Indian and part white. My grandmother says that an Indian princess must know, these days, all that the white race knows,

e their cabin. She came out with a lovely red silk scarf in

Indian princess does not

r, "you are a proud little goose! I am sure it is a small enough gi

rl was gone. Mollie sat on the veranda steps rubbing her eyes. Had h