he would put them down at the foot
of the mountain or make camp there until the following morning, when he
would continue the journey up the mountain to the shelter.

Janus consulted with Miss Elting. He said they could walk to the
Shelter in a couple of hours, provided the girls were hard enough to
stand the climb. The guardian assured him that they were equal to
anything in the walking line. It was, therefore, settled that the
driver should take them to the foot of the mountain, whence they would
make their way on foot to the stopping place for the night, thus
beginning their tramp at the base of the mountain.

"How much farther have we to go?" questioned Harriet.

"A mile farther on we pass over a long, covered bridge. The road takes
a sharp bend beyond that. The foot of the mountain lies less than a
mile from the end of the bridge. We shall soon be there," answered
Janus. The girls burst forth into song. Janus had to shout to make
himself heard when he spoke to the driver. The horses were traveling
at a lively pace. They did not enjoy the disturbance behind them, and
their driver, having wrapped the reins about his arms to give him
greater purchase, was pulling sturdily, his feet braced against the
dashboard of the carry-all.

"Here's the bridge," cried the guide.

A lantern had been lighted and hung from the rear axle of the
carry-all. But this did little more than cast weird, flickering
shadows ahead. It certainly did not light up the road ahead of there.
In the dense darkness the bridge was not visible to the eyes of the
Meadow-Brook Girls.

"The bridge ith coming. Low bridge!" piped Tommy.

"Be quiet; I fear we are making the driver's work difficult," warned
Miss Elting.

"Oh, but isn't this the fine ride?" cried Crazy Jane. "It's almost
like being in my own darlin' automobile with the landscape slipping
past on a greased track. Now, what if one of the horses should fall
down? Wouldn't we be tumbled into a goose pile!" chuckled Jane.

"Oh, thave me!" cried Tommy.

"Don't suggest anything so awful," begged Margery.

"Oh! What's that!" exclaimed Harriet.

The others did not know to what she referred, but they felt a sudden
jolt as the vehicle lurched to the side of the road, then back again.

"What is it?" demanded Hazel.

"The horses have taken fright," answered the guardian calmly. "Be
careful that you do not excite them further."

"Are--are the hortheth running away?" stamm