ice, arrest,
and prison terms as alternatives. That he, "an older boy," should
condescend to champion her cause was a triumph for our heroine.

She scorned girls, she endured only the society of males from this time
on. She could scarcely be forced into any costume but her riding
clothes. She applied herself to sports until she played better than most
boys. By disguising this fact, and pretending to be a mere novice, she
was admitted to their games.

Herbert accepted her as Man Friday with considerable reluctance, but she
made him feel that her very gratitude gave her a sort of hold on him.
She was very useful, if you knew how to handle her; and sheer loss, if
you did not. She abhorred authority. If you told her she must do a
thing, she stubbornly refused. If you asked it as a favour, it was done
instantly. If you dared her to do a thing, nothing could stop her. She
was appallingly indifferent to danger. She terrified the more timid
souls in Herbert's crowd. But aside from the fact that she was good at
their games, her main contribution was the original things she thought
up for them to do.

She had, at fourteen, a fair acquaintance with American history, and she
devised rare amusements, based on the primitive life of our pioneer
forefathers. These games lasted for weeks. Bands of Indians preyed on
the settlers; the settlers sent messengers to the tribal chiefs. There
were periods of parleying, smoking of the peace pipe; there were war
dances and uprisings.

The scene might run like this. The ship which was bringing the pilgrims,
was wrecked off the beach, and the passengers took refuge in rowboats
and canoes, from which they landed upon the unfriendly shores. Red men
lay in wait for them, lurking behind sand forts. Occasionally when women
settlers were absolutely necessary, Margie Hunter and the other girls
were allowed to come along, but for the most part they were ruthlessly
shut out. Isabelle, as author and stage manager, was indispensable and,
therefore, safe.

It took much strategy on Isabelle's part to effect her freedom. She
assured Miss Watts that all the children went daily to play at the
Hunters', because there was a pool, and "You have the most fun there";
so when, of an afternoon, Miss Watts accompanied her to the Hunters',
and stayed chatting with the Hunter governess until it was time to go
home, her charge was always wonderfully behaved until she was out of
sight. Then she left the girls and sped o