girls this is simply great. I could just die on this bed."

"Please don't. I want to sleep on it to-night," answered Harriet
laughingly. "I didn't make it for you to pass your last moments on. I made
it to sleep on and I propose to have a real sleep there this very night."

However, as a matter of fact, Harriet Burrell was not destined to enjoy
her night's rest on the bed of pine boughs.

On the contrary she was destined to pass a most miserable night, in this
her first sleep in the open.

CHAPTER XXII

SLUMBERS RUDELY DISTURBED

"Miss Burrell, are you going to sleep outside to-night?" It was the first
time Patricia Scott had addressed Harriet in some days.

"Yes, if the weather remains clear," returned Harriet.

"I should like to occupy the other cot in your tent. I wish to be near my
friend."

It will be remembered that since the night of the storm, Harriet had been
sleeping in a small A tent, in which there were but two cots--one of them
occupied by Cora.

"You may occupy it as long as you wish, Miss Scott," replied Harriet
cordially. "I shall be out here for five nights at least and perhaps
longer unless a storm should come up. If it does storm I'll run in and
bunk on the floor."

"Thank you." Patricia turned away with a gleam of satisfaction in her
eyes that Harriet Burrell did not see. Harriet remained a few moments to
finish making her bed so that she need not return to her bunk until the
hour for "lights out" had arrived. Patricia had gone to the cook tent
before Harriet started for there. Harriet thrust her head into her tent to
see if Cora were there. She saw the girl lying on the cot wearing a
kimono.

"Aren't you coming to dinner?" inquired Harriet.

"No, I don't feel very well, thank you," answered Cora Kidder
indifferently.

"Shall I bring you something to eat!"

"No, thank you. You are very kind."

Harriet noted that the girl's cheeks were flushed and her eyes very bright
and her first thought was that Cora had a fever. At the dinner table
Patricia reported that Cora was not feeling well and that she would not be
in to dinner. Mrs. Livingston thoughtfully inquired whether the young
woman wished a tray of food carried to her tent.

"I offered to take her something, but she said she did not care for
anything to eat," spoke up Harriet.

Patricia shot a peculiar look at her, but Harriet chanced to be looking
toward Mrs. Livingston at the moment.

Immediately after dinner Mr