"I tell you what we'll do!" Mollie snapped her fingers decisively. "It's
a long chance and it may not work at all but--are you game to try it?"
She paused and regarded the expectant girls eagerly.

"Maybe," said Betty, noncommittally. "You might tell us the idea first."

"Listen," cried Mollie. "My idea is that if we take the hermit by
surprise, call him by his name of Paul Loup. Why--" She paused, and the
light of inspiration filled her eyes. "I could even speak to him in
French----"

As the girls caught her full meaning they looked at her admiringly.

"I shouldn't wonder if that plan would work," said Betty swiftly. "Why
can't we go now? Dinner won't be ready for a couple of hours."

"Right you are," cried Mollie, taking the four steps at one jump and
springing upon her astonished horse. "Come on, girls, are you with us?"

"We'll have to lead 'em a merry pace," said Betty to Mollie a moment
later as they galloped abreast up the road. "If we don't get them there
in a hurry they're apt to get cold feet and think we're crazy."

"Maybe we are," chuckled Mollie, urging Old Nick on to even greater
speed. "I've had a suspicion that way several times before."

It was Betty's turn to chuckle.

"So have I!" she said, adding with a sigh of resignation: "But oh, it is
so much fun. Look behind, Mollie. Are they still coming?"

"Strong," reported Mollie, with a glance over her shoulder. Then, as
they reached the trail that led through the woods, she reined in a
little, motioning for Betty to take the lead. "You know the trail
better," she said.

Over the rough woodland trail their progress necessarily became slower,
a fact which the girls did not relish at all. It gave them time to
reflect on what a really rash adventure they had embarked, and any but
the Outdoor Girls might have turned back even at this last minute.

However, curiosity, together with some vague hope that they might become
of service to this strange sad fellow, urged them on. If Paul Loup and
the Hermit of Gold Run were really one and the same person, then surely
there was a real mystery which they might in some way help to unravel.

They did not linger any longer on the way than was absolutely necessary,
for the terrible experience they had had with the timber wolves soon
after their arrival had made them suspicious of the forest, and try as
they would they could not suppress an uncomfortable desire to search
every shadow for some sinister, lurkin