sperings followed her startled query.

"No, where?"

"What was it?"

"Was it a voice?"

"You mean on the river?"

"_Shh_, listen," said Minerva; "_look_, do you see a light--right there
among the bushes? _Shh_. Don't run."

There was indeed a light shining through the dark foliage alongshore
and presently a voice was to be heard, a voice speaking words to strike
terror to the stoutest Camp-fire Girl heart.

"I watched for the cops," it said, "and as soon as I saw them I beat it
across the field and told the gang and every one got away but it was a
narrow escape. One detective had me by the collar. _This is going to
be easy though_."

"Bandits!" whispered Minerva.

"They're going to rob the house while we're on the lawn," breathed
Margaret Timerson.

"They're crouching on the shore just behind those bushes," said another
girl.

"Leave it to me," said the mysterious voice. "I'll handle them."

CHAPTER XVIII

EVERY WHICH WAY

We left Merry-go-round Island revolving gracefully upon a tiny reef
whence it was borne by the rising tide. We are now to take up our
narrative at the point where the island ceased spinning and was carried
slowly on upstream by the incoming waters. When the tide reached
flood, the island hesitated upon the still water, then like some
obedient and clumsy ox, moved slowly downstream again upon the ebb.
And meanwhile, the day departed and darkness fell upon the winding
river and the hardy adventurers lit their lanterns.

"I was hoping we might stick in some pleasant spot," said Townsend,
"where the fishing is good. I forgot how a floating island might act
in a tidal river. I wish this island would make up its mind to
something. Just when I want to explore the western coast I find it's
the eastern coast. I don't know where I'm at----"

"You don't have to know where you're at to have fun," said Pee-wee.

"I know it," said Townsend; "but when I hike fifteen or twenty feet to
the north coast of the island and then the island swings around and I
find I'm on the south coast, I've got to hike all the way across the
island again to get to the north coast and when I get there I find I'm
on the west coast. Then I cross to the east coast and in about a
minute I find I'm on the southern shore.

"No matter where I go I'm somewhere else; it's discouraging. I've
walked forty-eleven miles since supper trying to keep on the western
coast and here I am on the north--wait a minut