y gasoline buggy never stirred up so much trouble
for a poor girl. Where is he?" she asked.

"Lost in the woods," answered Harriet, laughing as she swam toward her
companion. "Get out of the water."

"I'm going to. Is it over my head?"

"I guess not unless you lie down flat in it. Oh, Jasper! Please lend a
hand to Miss McCarthy. The bank is steep."

"Girls! are you crazy!" It was the voice of the Chief Guardian that
greeted the two as they emerged from the water.

"No, Mrs. Livingston, but the bear is," chuckled Jane.

"That b'ar never'll show up around these parts again," averred Jasper.

"Come to my quarters, girls," commanded Miss Partridge, suddenly
discovering that both girls were wet and shivering. After dry wrappers
had been furnished them, they returned to their own tents, Harriet to
resume her outdoor nap which had been interrupted by the visiting bear.
Harriet first entered her tent to get another blanket. She struck a match
to assist her in finding it Patricia lay in bed wide awake. She was
regarding Harriet angrily.

"Hasn't Miss Kidder come in yet?" asked Harriet, observing that Cora's cot
was unoccupied.

"You don't see her, do you?"

"No."

"Then she hasn't."

"Thank you," answered Harriet sweetly, blowing out the light and going
out. She was smiling an amused smile at the snappiness of Patricia Scott.
She puzzled a little over the fact that Cora had not yet come in. However,
the camp had been so upset that many of the girls were still talking in
their darkened tents, unable to go to sleep. It was possible that Cora
might still be visiting somewhere on the grounds. Harriet did at that
moment recall the conversation that she had recently overheard between
Patricia and Cora. She was exhausted after her bear hunt and dropped off
to sleep quickly after getting into bed.

In the morning Harriet ran into the tent to wash and dress. Patricia
yawned, then turned over without opening her eyes. Harriet glanced quickly
at Cora Kidder's cot. The clothes had been tumbled about and the pillow
patted down, but Harriet saw instantly that the bed had not been slept in
that night. Then all at once a thought came to Harriet. Cora had gone to
the dance at "The Pines" with Mr. Collier. She had not returned, though it
was now broad daylight. The thought made Harriet Burrell gasp. If the
Chief Guardian were to know of this, the girl would be dismissed in
disgrace for flagrant disobedience of camp regulations. A