as they did and perhaps more."
"Please continue," urged the Chief Guardian gently.
"They led me out into the forest where some sort of a ceremony followed,
after which I was told to jump into a deep pool. I jumped." Harriet smiled
faintly at the memory of that jump in the dark. "The water was not deep
and I was in no danger of drowning. I can truly say, Mrs. Livingston, that
the girls who hazed me were very considerate. They did nothing that could
possibly be considered dangerous."
"Did you see any of the girls who took you from your tent, or any of the
others who were with them!"
"I saw them, yes, but I did not see their faces, Mrs. Livingston."
"Did you recognize any of them?"
"No. You see their faces were covered."
"But surely you must have recognized the voices of some of them."
"I think they must have disguised their voices," Harriet replied. "Pardon
me, but do not the young women whom you say have confessed to hazing me,
know who their companions were?" asked Harriet, gazing steadily into the
face of the Chief Guardian.
"Those who have confessed to the hazing know each other. In fact some of
them talked the matter over among themselves before joining in the
escapade. Like yourself they were unable to identify the ringleaders of
the party. Then again they were excited, probably more so than were you
yourself," answered the examiner with a faint smile. "How many would you
say were involved in the hazing?"
"I cannot say definitely, but my recollection is that there were eight
girls."
"This narrows it down to two girls. These no doubt were the instigators.
How did you come to be in the tree with Miss Thompson when we reached the
scene?"
"I had gone there to help her. She seemed to be in trouble," smiled
Harriet.
"Now, Miss Burrell, you say you do not know who these girls were; you
could not identify them. Is that what I am to understand?"
"No, I do not know them," replied Harriet, gazing straight into the face
of the Guardian.
The young girl felt that every eye in the camp was fixed upon her.
"I will ask you one other question," continued Mrs. Livingston. "Have you
any suspicion as to who they are? Think well before you answer."
Harriet hesitated a moment, studying the Council Fire gravely. Then she
raised her clear eyes to the face of Mrs. Livingston.
"I have no suspicion that I should care to voice," she answered.
"That will be all. You may resume your place with your compan
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