ng, but personally she had not been much impressed by it
then, nor was she frightened now. She was only indignant that Helen
and she should be treated so--and by these very girls for whom her chum
had conceived such a fancy.

Helen was still trembling. They let her sit down upon her bed, and
Ruth wanted to go to her more than ever, and comfort her. But the girl
on the table brought her up short.

"Now, Miss!" she exclaimed. "You are the next. The first Infant has
left the Golden Goblet at the fountain--you _did_ leave it there;
didn't you, you 'fraid-cat?" she demanded sharply, of Helen. Helen
bobbed her head and sobbed. "Then," said the leader of the hazing
party, "you go and bring it here."

Ruth stared at her in surprise. She did not move.

"Take out her gag. Lead her to the door. If she does not come back
with the Golden Goblet, lock her out and let her cool her temper till
morning on the grass," said the girl on the table, cruelly. "And if
she stirs up trouble, she'll wish she had never come to Briarwood!"

CHAPTER XI

THE VOICE OF THE HARP

"Among two hundred girls there are bound to be girls of a good many
different kinds." So had said Mrs. Tellingham when Ruth Fielding and
her chum presented themselves before the Preceptress not many hours
before. And Ruth saw plainly that some of these shrouded and masked
figures, at least, were of the kind against whom Mrs. Tellingham had
quietly warned them. These were not alone careless and thoughtless,
however; but the girl whom Ruth believed to be Mary Cox, their whilom
friend and guide, was cruel likewise.

Ruth Fielding was no coward. She believed these girls had arranged to
terrify their victims by some manifestation at the fountain--why,
otherwise, had they sent Helen there and now were determined to make
Ruth repeat the experience? Nor was it necessary for the leader of the
crew of hazers to remind the girl from the Red Mill how unpleasant they
could make it for her if the dared report them to the teachers.

"Now, First Neophyte!" exclaimed the leader of their visitors. "Where
did you leave the Golden Goblet?"

"On the pedestal, right between the feet of the figure," sobbed Helen.

"You hear?" repeated the other, turning her shrouded face to Ruth.
"Then go, drink likewise of the fountain, and bring back the goblet.
Failure to perform this task will be punished not only in the present,
but in the future. Take her away--and remember