outs--what if in her sudden panic she
wounded either of his chums? There could be no telling what a
fear-crazed, ignorant woman, strong as an ox, and almost as
irresponsible, might do in an emergency like this.

Of course he would have only been too well pleased could he have shown
the woman that it was all a mistake, and that they meant her no ill.

But with her brandishing that wicked-looking knife and leaping for the
door, there was certainly no opportunity for argument.

Elmer sprang forward.

His main idea was to try and knock that blade from her grasp by striking
sharply on her arm or her knuckles.

At the same time he thought to warn the other scouts, so that they might
take due precautions when suddenly brought face to face with the Italian
woman who was running amuck.

Perhaps when they heard him shout they would just naturally believe he
was being hard pressed. And in that case, instead of deterring them, his
cries would only further spur the others on.

Nevertheless Elmer lifted his voice in warning:

"Look out, boys! She's got a knife, and is coming out at you! Take care
there!"

Just then something happened.

The woman had not turned her head as Elmer thus gave tongue, as might a
hound on the warm trail of the fox.

She kept straight on. The door was before her, and while she had drawn
it shut after entering, it has been mentioned before that she made no
attempt to fasten the same.

So now, when she hurled her whole weight against the barrier it flew
outward with a jump.

As luck would have it, the two scouts had managed to reach the door at
exactly the same time. And that second chanced to be the identical one
when the frightened foreigner crashed into the door.

There could only be one result, and that filled with bitterness and woe
to both Lil Artha and Mark. As the uncouth door was thrown suddenly
outward, as if forced by a battering ram from within, it struck the
scouts a tremendous blow.

They crumpled up and went over. A couple of ten-pins struck by a swiftly
hurled ball could hardly have collapsed more ingloriously than did Lil
Artha and his mate.

Indeed, the long-legged scout seemed to perform a complete revolution in
the air, landing on his knees among the bushes.

Two seconds later, when Elmer dashed out of the shack, this was the
astonishing spectacle he saw--the woman running away as best her bulk
allowed, casting glances that were half frightened, half triumphant,
behin