t he had left two unprotected maidens asleep in a
traveling van on a ledge half a mile below.

Percy and Ben offered to go back for him, but he would not consent, and
Billie, solicitous and full of contrition for her reckless shooting, had
the "Comet" out in a jiffy although Richard had asked to be allowed to
walk. They found the van dark and quiet. Evidently the girls had heard
nothing of the rumpus on the mountain and had felt no uneasiness about
Richard, who was accustomed to taking strolls at untimely hours.

It did not take long to bring the motor car back to camp and before
midnight a peaceful calm had settled over the log hut.

Phoebe, stretched on her cot in the living room, lay staring up into the
darkness of the unceiled roof. She tried to think of her father
somewhere out on the mountain, but always her thoughts reverted to the
new young man with the kind, smiling eyes. Once she chanted in a low
voice:

"'How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth
good tidings!'"

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE MORNING AFTER.

Miss Campbell felt no ill effects from the visit of the mountaineers.
She had not even thought of ill effects, in fact. Somehow, the presence
of Phoebe, unruffled and calm through all the danger, had had its
influence on all of them. Even Alberdina's emotions had been hushed by
contact with that peaceful nature.

It was well past six o'clock before the exhausted household awakened
next morning at Percy's trumpet call. Hurrying down before the others,
Billie was amazed to see the traveling van drawn up in a clearing at the
edge of the grove. Old Dobbin, tethered to a rope, stood nearby
peaceably munching his breakfast from a wooden pail. Amy Swinnerton was
seated in front of an easel sketching the log cabin and from inside of
the van came the crisp voice of Maggie Hook, singing:

"'I loved a lass, a fair one,
As fair as e'er was seen;
She was indeed a rare one,
Another Sheba Queen:
But, fool as then I was,
I thought she loved me, too:
But, now alas! she's left me,
Falero, lero, loo!'"

"Good morning!" cried Billie, running over to the van. "You must have
muffled old Dobbin's feet to have crept in so quietly. How is Ri--Mr.
Hook?" she added, all in one breath.

Maggie popped her head out of the front of the van. She reminded Billie
of a little bird peeping from a bird house.

"Not 'Mister,'" she called, smiling brightly. "Remember, Bi