r, during which
time everybody walked nervously about the camp.

"Miss Elting, something serious must have occurred to Mr. Grubb,"
declared Harriet.

"Oh, goodness, more mystery!" exclaimed Jane.

"Please, let Jane and myself go out to look for him. He may have been
shot, he may be suffering, or----"

"No! Not a girl may leave this camp," replied the guardian firmly.

"But what if Mr. Grubb is in trouble?" protested Harriet.

"Would it better the situation were any of you girls to get into the
same difficulty? No, I could not think of it. Besides, I believe Mr.
Grubb will return in good time. We do not know but he may be hiding,
hoping to catch the one he went out after. If so, you would be
interfering with, perhaps defeating, the very plan he has in mind. No,
girls; you will stay here."

There was no more to be said. Miss Elting's word was law with her
charges. Harriet and Jane submitted without further protest, but this
did not lessen their concern over the continued absence of the guide.
Of course, there was no more sleep in the camp that night. The party
sat down, always keeping out of the firelight, Harriet and Jane doing
guard duty, walking about the camp some little distance back. Harriet
had the rifle. The possession of this gave them a feeling of greater
security than otherwise would have been the case. She kept the rifle
in her hands during all the rest of the night.

Dawn found the girls pale after their long vigil following the exciting
incidents of the evening. But daylight served to bring back their
failing courage. Harriet put down the rifle at the first suggestion of
morning light. Jane gathered fresh fuel for the fire and a roaring
blaze warmed them up, for the morning on the mountain was very chill.

"Come, girls, get breakfast," directed Miss Elting. "We must eat.
Afterward we shall consider what is to be done. The situation demands
careful thought, then action. We cannot go far without our guide."

They knew that. Breakfast was prepared in some haste that morning.
While eating they discussed their predicament, finally coming to a
decision. It was decided that they should try to follow the guide's
trail, spreading out so as to cover the ground thoroughly. In this
formation they would continue until they either found him or failed.
There seemed no other course to take. The guide's pack was distributed
among the girls. It made quite a load for them, but Harriet and Jan