ost there," answered the guardian.

"But--we have only to go down. We can't possibly get lost if we do
that. Going down will lead us to the foot of the mountain, and out
into the open once more," urged Harriet. The guardian smiled.

"How silly of me not to have thought of that. I am beginning to think
that my pupil knows more about outdoor life and woodcraft than I ever
dreamed. If you think best, Harriet, we will look down there. In the
meantime I would suggest that one of us remain in this vicinity to make
a more thorough search."

Harriet offered to do this, so it was agreed that the rest of the party
should head obliquely down the mountain while she worked back and
forth, like a switchback railway, until she, too, had reached the
objective point where the others would be waiting for her. This
programme was carried out, beginning immediately. Not a trace,
however, did she find of the lost trail. While awaiting her arrival
the others of the party walked back and forth along the edge of the
thick growth, but with no better results than had attended the search
made by Harriet Burrell.

At noon they stopped for luncheon, then followed the same method as had
Harriet, moving east and west, ever enlarging their field as the growth
increased in area. Night found them far up on the mountainside still
facing the mystery of the disappearance of the guide, whom the girls
earlier had named "The Pilot of the White Mountains."

He was no longer a pilot, but in need of one.

It was not a particularly cheerful party of girls that sat down to a
supper of rice, corn cakes and coffee that evening. It was arranged
that Harriet should take the early part of the night watch, Jane
McCarthy the last half, for they dared not leave their camp unguarded.
A huge fire was built that sent a glow high above the foliage of bushes
and second-growth trees, visible for a long distance. This was done
with a purpose. The girls hoped that, were Janus within sight, he
might see the light and be guided to them. The blaze did serve to
attract the attention of others whom the girls were to see before the
night was ended.

Harriet's vigil was not a lonely one to her. She always found comfort
in Nature, no matter how dark or silent Dame Nature's mood might be.
She drew back a short distance from camp so that her moving about might
not disturb her companions, remaining quiet until they had finally gone
to sleep, after which she began strol