We won't keep you waiting."

Then the girls went in to relieve Mrs. Irving's anxiety and to tell her
the wonders they had witnessed that afternoon.

CHAPTER XXI

THE LOST TRAIL

Before the cheerful glow of the fire, the young people talked long that
night, while Mrs. Irving listened with interest. Her eyes sparkled at
the description of the cave and the gypsy troupe and once she broke in
with:

"You needn't think you are going to leave me behind when such exciting
things are happening. After this, I am going to be on the spot with the
rest of you."

"I wish you would," Mollie answered. "We thought you didn't care to go
along."

"Ask me in the morning," she said.

And now the morning had come at last. Betty had lain awake most of the
night, too excited to sleep and impatiently awaiting the first streak of
dawn.

Now it had come after a wait that had seemed interminable and she
slipped silently out of bed, determined not to awaken the sleeping
girls. But before she had time to move half way across the room, Grace
hailed her.

"Hello, Betty!" she called, "I'm glad you are up--I haven't been able to
sleep for the longest while. What are you going to do?"

"Get dressed, I suppose," Betty answered. "I simply couldn't lie in bed
any longer."

"Guess I will, too," said Grace; and that being the first time she had
ever agreed with Betty on that subject, the latter looked at her in
surprise.

"You must be all worked up, Gracy," she commented, "to be willing to get
up at this time in the morning. I don't think it can be six o'clock, at
the very latest."

"Well, anything is better than lying in bed awake," yawned Grace,
sitting up in bed and curving her arms behind her head with that slow,
instinctive grace that was part of her. "Look at Mollie staring at us
for all the world like a little night-owl," she added.

"Thanks," said Mollie dryly. "I feel highly complimented, I'm sure. I'd
hate to tell you what you look like."

"Don't," said Grace. "What I don't know won't hurt me."

"Let's all agree that you both look as bad as you can," said Betty
crossly, for the strain of a sleepless night was beginning to tell. "It
would be a relief to know the worst, anyway."

"Oh, for goodness' sake, Betty, don't you begin to disturb the peace,
too," Amy broke in sleepily. "It was bad enough before with Grace and
Mollie always at swords' points, but if you begin it, I don't know what
I shall do."

Amy's despair