lp him start them fires on
Razor Back? The two is always together, 'ceptin' now when he's a-hidin'
and she's put on fine clothes to drive around with her rich friends."

Phoebe turned her startled gaze on the man. Her lips parted.

"Don't answer them," whispered Billie, and with a grand flourish she
swept the "Comet" around in a circle and turned his nose up the street.

"Do they accuse my father of setting Razor Back on fire?" asked Phoebe,
tremulously.

"They tried to, but they couldn't prove it," answered Billie.

"My father loves the mountains," protested poor Phoebe. "He loves the
forests. He wouldn't harm even one tree. How cruel these people are!
Always they have hated us and we have never injured any of them. Oh,
Billie, I feel that I must go to my father. I know he needs me."

"You remember the doctor's message," answered Billie; "that it would be
dangerous for you to leave camp. I am certain he knew what he was
saying. Besides, didn't you say the old herb woman was a friend? She
would not have deceived you, would she?"

"No," answered Phoebe, half smiling. "Once I pulled a thorn out of old
Granny's foot and washed and bound it, and she has been good to me ever
since. The time she nursed me, she never left me day or night until I
was well."

"So you see," said Billie, "it would be foolish for you to start out to
hunt your father when you know old Granny can be depended upon and Dr.
Hume, too."

Phoebe was not the only one who felt restless in camp that afternoon.
All of them had the sensation of waiting for something. Only Alberdina
seemed placidly content. Having been forgiven the pink clothes and
having had her stolen money refunded, she went about her work, singing
and yodelling in a melodious voice, and for lunch surprised them with a
German cinnamon cake she had made during their absence in the village.

"Why, you can cook, Alberdina?" exclaimed Billie, on whom cooking was
beginning to pall.

"I can a leedle coog."

"Then you shall cook the dinner," announced Billie firmly, and
Alberdina, who had not mentioned cooking in the bond, quailed before her
stern gray eye and consented.

The afternoon dragged slowly along. It was very hot and the women
members of the camp lay on their cots in kimonos reading and napping.
Percy, underneath, snored lustily, and Ben chopped wood and piled up the
logs scientifically for a fire that evening.

Alberdina's supper was distinctly German in flavor, but it w