as good and
Billie and Nancy enjoyed freedom from the bondage of cooking the evening
meal. After supper the wind freshened and it grew much cooler.

"It's going to be a dark night. There's no moon," remarked Ben,
wistfully. "Shall I light the camp fire? And then we can sit around and
tell stories and sing songs," and because no one either assented or
objected, owing to the peculiar restlessness that possessed them, he put
a match to the pile of logs and presently the clearing was illuminated.
The camp house stood out in bold relief against the background of the
mountains. Little clouds were scurrying across the sky like schools of
fish, and an occasional flash of heat lightning lit up the mountains and
valley with strange distinctness. Elinor had brought out her guitar and
they had just begun one of the old familiar songs, when a ragged boy
appeared in their midst so suddenly that he might have sprung up full
grown from the earth.

He faced Ben without looking at the others.

"The doctor wants both gem'man to come. I show the way. Quick."

Phoebe sat up very straight and looked at the boy.

"I don't know you," she said. "Who are you?"

"I come from that away," answered the boy, pointing with his thumb
toward Indian Head. "The doctor said you would know it was all right by
this here," he added, unbuttoning his coat and taking out the doctor's
well remembered cane. "An' he don't want none of the ladies to come.
Jes' the men."

"But I will go," exclaimed Phoebe. "My father----"

"Is your father Frenchy?"

"Yes," answered the girl, lowering her eyes.

"The doctor says Frenchy's gal was not to be skeered. Frenchy is safe
and well."

"Are you sure?" demanded Phoebe.

"So help me," answered the boy, raising his hand to heaven.

"But what does it mean?" broke in Miss Campbell. "I don't like the sound
of it at all. Why has the doctor sent for both of you boys? Why should
we be left alone? It's not like the doctor at all."

"They ain't got to go no distance much, lady," the boy assured her.
"They'll be back inside of fifteen minutes," and being the prince of
liars and an actor of precocious ability, he succeeded in persuading
them that Ben and Percy must follow him without delay.

The girls were still gathering up the rugs and cushions preparatory to
going into the house, when there came another interruption that
frightened Miss Campbell so much that she gave a little cry and seized
Billie's arm.

"It's only