with one upraised hand.

In answer to her signal the other riders, a group of Camp Fire girls,
also stopped their horses. Across many miles sounded faintly the
deep-toned voices of old mission bells.

"I believe the mission is ringing a farewell to us," one of the girls
remarked to the companion whose western pony had stopped nearest her
own. "To me, of all the Spanish missions we have seen so far, Carmel was
the loveliest. '_Carmelo_'--why, the very name has an enchanting sound!

"Bells of the Past, whose long-forgotten music
Still fills the wide expanse,
Tingeing the sober twilight of the Present
With colors of romance!

"I hear you call, and see the sun descending
On rock and wave and sand,
As down the coast the mission voices, blending,
Girdle the heathen land!

"Borne on the swell 'of your long waves receding,
I touch the farther Past--
I see the dying glow of Spanish glory,
The sunset dream and last!"

The girl who had been reciting possessed an odd, charming voice with a
slightly hoarse note. She was small and had bright, almost
copper-colored hair. Her slender nose, which had a queer little twist
at the end, destroyed any claim she might otherwise have had to
conventional beauty and yet curiously enough added to the fascination of
her expression.

The other girl shook her head.

"I don't agree with you, Marta. You seem to me in as great a state of
enthusiasm over everything we have seen in California as if you were a
native. I confess to you I am a little weary of visiting old Spanish
missions. Personally I shall be glad when we are in our summer camp. The
missions are so empty and so sleepy these days with their queer, dreamy
old gardens and no one to be seen except an occasional tourist and a few
old monks. Nevertheless I liked your recitation. Sometimes I wonder,
Marta, if you intend imitating our Camp Fire guardian's career?"

Gerry Williams spoke in a voice of amused superiority she often employed
in talking with other girls.

Marta Clark's eyes, which had the strange characteristic of appearing to
change in color according to her moods, now darkened slightly as she
turned to gaze steadily at her companion.

"Do you know, Gerry, I have an idea the old missions would never have
bored you, if you had any thought that a prince might come and discover
you in one of them!"

"Certainly not," Gerry laughed.

Gerry was alluring. Her ha