quick succession.

Ceally had taken the precaution, earlier in the evening, to close and
bolt all the doors and windows except one. The shutters of this were open
on the outside.

"Sh-sh!" whispered Bab, creeping on tiptoes to the window. Before their
front door, she could dimly outline the figures of two men, who were
evidently arguing and protesting about something.

"Open! Open!" cried the voices again. "We are friends, and will do you no
harm."

"Then go away at once!" Miss Sallie commanded.

There was a muffled sound outside the door. Could it be laughter? Then a
voice called more roughly. "How long must we wait?"

Ruth and Bab looked at each other blankly. Miss Stuart had gone back into
her own room. "What on earth shall we do? Shall we open the door?" Ruth
inquired.

Mollie and Grace both shook their heads.

"Ruth," whispered Barbara resourcefully, "your rifle is behind that door,
and Naki's big shotgun is next to it. Of course, we don't know how to
shoot either one of the guns very well at present, but, if you will hold
your rifle pointed toward the door, I shall try to shoulder this heavy
shotgun. Oh, I have a splendid idea!"

"Out with it, child!" ordered Ruth. "I believe the knocking on the door
will keep up all night, unless we open it."

"Who's there?" inquired Grace, timidly, before Bab could answer.

"Friends!" responded the men on the outside.

Barbara motioned silence. "Listen to me," she said. "We have no way of
knowing if those men on the outside are friends, whatever they may say.
Here is my scheme! Remember the story of the women in a town near here,
who once defended their fort against an attack by the Indians, when the
men were all away at work in the cornfields? The women dressed up in
their husbands' clothes and frightened the Indians away. Ruth, let's
disguise ourselves as men and then let Ceally open the door."

"Bab, you and Ruth are both crazy!" protested Mollie, half-laughing, and
half-frightened.

Bang! Bang! The blows on the door were tremendous. "If you don't let us
in, you'll be sorry!" called one of the men.

Bab had already found an old hat of Naki's conveniently near. Ceally, who
was giggling nervously, produced a hunting jacket of her husband's, which
had seen much service. It was not clean, but Bab slipped into it,
determined to see her plan through.

Nor was Barbara the only hero. While she was making her extraordinary
costume, Ruth had torn down a squirrel ski