, both Sally and Gerry became
aware that the musicians were growing bolder and were drawing nearer.

Both girls would have liked to turn round and deliberately look back.
Yet they had scarcely the courage for this breach of taste, in spite of
the fact that it was night and the redeeming grace of the moonlight
rested over them.

Sally was carrying a little beaded Indian bag which she managed to drop
without any one, aside from Gerry, noticing.

After going on a little further, unexpectedly they turned back to pick
up the lost possession.

The two young men were thus within only a few feet of them.

There was but little satisfaction in the adventure, nevertheless, for
although one of the musicians stepped forward and gravely presented
Sally with the Indian bag he had observed on the ground between them;
yet neither he nor his companion spoke and it was impossible, with
their broad Mexican hats, to obtain a satisfactory view of their faces
without revealing too great curiosity.

As a matter of fact, the entire Camp Fire party was unaware of the
interest their appearance in the little town of Capistrano during the
afternoon had excited. There were always tourists visiting the old
mission, especially at this season of the year. But the number and
appearance of the girls, their picturesque, half Indian costumes, which
always puzzled people unacquainted with the Camp Fire uniform, and the
big wagon carrying their large camping outfit, gave them a unique
distinction.

CHAPTER III

The Call to Service

On a ledge of rock with the Pacific Ocean as a background a girl was
standing, holding a bugle to her lips and with it sounding a clear,
musical call.

Not far off a number of persons were seated about a smouldering camp
fire. All day the sun had been hot, almost as a tropic sun, but now with
the coming of the late afternoon a cool breeze was blowing in from the
sea.

The feminine members of the little circle were knitting and sewing.

One of the two young men was holding a hank of wool, which a
brown-haired, brown-eyed girl was winding slowly and carefully into a
great ball. The other was lying full length on the ground looking toward
the water.

"Why is my Sister Peggy sounding taps or a reveille, since at present
it is neither morning nor night?" he questioned. "It seems impossible
these days to get away from the sights and sounds which suggest war. I
had hoped that when we were in camp out here in thi