GIRLS IN THE HILLS."

It was there that they met with a series of mishaps which they laid at
the door of an ill-favored man who had vainly tried to become their
guide. The disappearance of Janus Grubb, the guide who had been
engaged by Miss Elting during their mountain hike, and the surprising
events that followed made the story of their mountain trip well worth
reading.

And now, once more, we find the Meadow-Brook Girls ready to take the
trail again wherever that trail might lead. At the present moment,
however, it did not look as though Harriet Burrell and her friends
would reach their destination in the immediate future unless it were
nearer at hand than they thought.

Not once during the night did the moon show her face, though about two
o'clock in the morning the clouds thinned, the landscape showing with
more distinctness. The girls, when they walked down to the shore, saw
a sheet of water covering several acres. Leading down to the water was
a pier that extended far out into the little lake or pond, whatever it
might be. Harriet, Jane and Miss Elting walked out to the far end of
the pier.

Harriet pointed to the end of the pier as she stood above it. "It has
broken down," she said.

"No; I think not," answered the guardian. "I think, too, that I
understand what this is. It is an ice pier. Ice is harvested from this
pond and carried up over that sloping platform and so on to the shore
or to conveyances waiting here. But how narrow it is. How ever did you
manage to keep on the pier until you reached the end, Jane, dear?"

"I really don't know, Miss Elting," replied Jane, evidently impressed
with the feat she had accomplished. She leaned over and peered into
the water to see if she could find her car. It was not to be seen.
Dark objects, floating here and there about the surface, showed the
girls where part of their equipment had gone. Harriet was regarding
the dark objects with inquiring eyes.

"I wish we had a boat," said Miss Elting. "We could gather up our
stuff. We can't afford to lose it."

"We don't need a boat. Jane and I will get it out. What do you say,
Jane?" answered Harriet.

"I don't know what you have in mind, darlin', but I'm with you,
whatever it is."

"You and I will go in after the things."

"You don't mean it!" exclaimed Jane. "And in this cold water.
Br-rr-r!"

"No; you must not do that," objected the guardian. "At least not now."

"What is it you folks are planning?" question