in five minutes if we run."

"Yes, that will be better," Betty agreed, seizing the suggestion
eagerly. "But do you think we can find the cave again?"

"Easily," said Allen. "You see, we are pretty near the water right here
and that bent old tree at the edge of the lake--see what I mean?--well,
that's right on the line with the mouth of the cave. I guess it will be
easy enough to find."

So it was settled, and they raced back hand in hand to the spot where
they had left their friends, eager to tell the news.

"So here you are," cried Mollie, at sight of the runaways. "We thought
you were never coming back."

Allen wasted no time, but told his story in the fewest words possible.
They were all tremendously excited, and followed the two adventurers
eagerly as they led the way along the shores of the lake.

"Are you sure you can find it again?" Grace was asking when Amy seized
her arm and pointed out over the water.

"Look!" she cried. "Gypsies!"

CHAPTER XX

DANGEROUS VISITORS

"Gypsies?" Betty echoed. "Where?"

"Can't you see?" returned Amy. "They are fording just as that old man
said they could. Oh, what are we going to do?"

The boys had been gazing with interest toward the little group of
wanderers, but at Amy's cry they were aroused to sudden action.

"Get to a place where we can see, and not be seen," said Frank. "I'd
like to watch this thing through."

"They are coming right this way, too," said Grace, delightfully afraid.
"Oh, what have they got on their backs?"

"Looks like loot of some sort," Will volunteered, peering forth from his
tree trunk. "Say, this promises to be a lark, fellows."

"We'd better get back a little farther, if we don't want them to run
right into us," Roy suggested. "They are headed this way."

The watchers retreated still farther into the woods until they came to
a dense overgrowth of foliage which effectually screened them from
prying eyes.

"This is just the thing," Roy exulted. "I tell you we are running in
luck to-day."

"I am glad you think so," said Amy. "If one of those gypsies discovered
us, I am afraid we wouldn't live long."

"Well, they are not going to," said Roy, overhearing the last remark.
"Don't be a wet blanket, Amy. Anyway, just because they are gypsies they
needn't be murderers."

"I'm not a----" Amy was beginning, when Allen hissed a sharp warning.
"Keep still, everybody," he said. "They are not a hundred yards away!"

After that silenc