he chooses."

"Well, I would rather be independent than rich," protested Bab. "Oh, I
beg your pardon," she said blushing. "I am sure I don't know you well
enough to say a thing like that to you. But do let's hurry back to camp."

On their way back they met Gwendolin Morton and the young German
secretary, Franz Heller. Gwendolin had sprained her ankle in getting over
a log, and had given up her part in the hunt.

By midnight nearly all the coon hunters had returned to the log cabin for
repairs before making their way down the hill again. Reginald Latham sat
before the fire drying his wet clothes.

"What is the matter with you, Reginald?" asked his uncle, sharply. "We've
bagged three coons, Miss Stuart, but I am afraid we have had more
disasters than good luck. Now, we must be off home again. Look here,
young ladies," said Mr. Latham, turning to Ruth and Mollie, who were
saying good-bye to their guests, "is there a wood nymph, who lives
anywhere about in these woods? Several times to-night I thought I spied a
little figure flying between the trees."

"Nonsense, Mr. Latham," laughed Ruth. "Our woods are not haunted."

But Mollie answered never a word.

"Miss Thurston," called Reginald Latham, as Barbara, who had gone out to
change her wet clothes came into the room to say good night to her
guests, "may I come up and see you and your friends in the morning?"

Barbara hesitated. She did not object to Reginald Latham as the other
girls did; she even thought Ruth, Grace and Mollie were prejudiced
against him, but she had an idea that something disagreeable might grow
out of a further intimacy.

"I am sorry, Mr. Latham," she exclaimed politely, "but we have planned to
do some target practice in the morning? We are going to stay but a short
time up here in the woods, and Mr. Stuart, Ruth's father, is anxious that
we should learn to shoot."

"But I am a fairly good shot myself," protested Reginald Latham. "Why
can't I come up and help with the teaching? May I, Miss Stuart?" he
asked, turning to Ruth, who much against her will, was obliged to
consent.

"Never again shall I allow you to engage in such an unladylike and cruel
sport as a coon hunt!" announced Miss Sallie, when the last guest had
gone. The girls agreed with her, as the baying of the hounds and the
noise from the hunters' horns at last died away in the distance.

CHAPTER XII

THE WOUNDED BIRD

"Good-bye Ralph!" said Barbara, extending her hand