the left. Follow the trail of the paper I shall drop as we
walk."

Like a flash she pulled off her white petticoat, and tied it to a bush
near the place where she and Bab had been sitting. The skirt fluttered
and swung in the breeze. Beneath it, under a small stone, Ruth placed her
note.

"Come on, Bab!" she cried. "Let's be off!"

Barbara bounded ahead; Ruth closely followed, leaving behind her a trail
of white paper which she tore into bits as she ran.

The light ahead of the two girls beckoned them deeper and deeper into the
forests. They must have followed it for more than a mile. Ruth's paper
was giving out. Suddenly the light dipped to the ground and was gone!

At the same moment, Ruth and Barbara heard a sizzling crackling noise. A
tongue of flame darted up between two distant trees, and a warm glow like
that of a camp fire lit up the shadows of the forest.

Ruth and Bab rushed to the spot. In the center of a small open space some
one had lighted a fire. Sitting on a bank of autumn leaves, slowly
rubbing her eyes was a girl. A scarlet coat caught Bab's eyes; then a
tangle of yellow curls.

"It's my Mollie!" she cried, springing toward her and gathering her in
her arms.

"Why, Bab," asked Mollie sleepily, "when did you and Ruth find me? I must
have been dreaming. I did not hear you make the fire. How did you happen
to light a fire before you awakened me?"

The girls stared at Mollie. "Build a fire?" they queried in amazement.
"Surely, Mollie, you made the fire yourself."

Mollie shook her head. "How could I possibly light a fire?" she inquired.
"I haven't a match." Then she smiled faintly. "I am not enough of an
'early settler' to know how to make a light by striking two flints
together. But please take me home." The little girl was too tired to care
about anything beyond the blessed fact that she had been found.

It was Bab and Ruth who were overcome with the mystery of the dancing
light that led them through the forest straight to Mollie. And who could
have started the fire, that now roared and blazed, lighting the woods
with its many tongues of flame. What did it all mean? The mystery of it
all gave them long, creepy thrills.

Barbara helped Mollie to her feet. The child was so stiff she could
hardly move, but as she arose something red dropped to the ground. Ruth
picked it up. "Why, it is Grace's sweater!" she exclaimed. "I am so glad
you found it, Mollie, before you went for your walk. What a b