while Jack decided that he wouldn't mind in the least sitting down on
the floor beside Cora, who had the folding chair.

Ed and Walter took their places outside "on the box," and when the
three other cars were lined up close the dark, dreary night under the
trees, with the prospect of a man crawling around with malice
aforethought, brightened up some. Even the moon peeked through the
trees to make things look more pleasant, and to Belle company had never
been so delightful before. She actually laughed at everything Jack
said, and agreed that it would be fun to live in a motor houseboat.

Cora alone was silent. She pleaded fatigue, but Jack knew that his
sister did not give in to fatigue so easily; he also knew that she had
seen the gypsy's hat!

She lay with her head pillowed on her brother's shoulder and closed her
eyes, feigning sleep.

It was the same little sister Jack often told stories to, and the same
black head that now was so glad to rest where many other evenings it
had rested, when the mother was out and the sister did not like to "go
to bed all alone, please, Jackie dear!"

"It's a great thing to have a brother," blurted out Bess, in her
ridiculous way, until Jack declared that he had another shoulder, and
she might appropriate it if she wished to be a "sister" to him.

"I guess I am too nervous to motor at night," admitted Belle. "I
think, after this trip, I will plan mine by daylight."

"But this was so planned," said Cora. "Whoever thought we would be
stalled, that we would lose Miss Robbins, and that we would have to
camp out all night in the _Whirlwind_?"

"Of course, whoever thought it?" agreed Jack, stroking the head on his
shoulder.

"Do you suppose Walter and Ed are dead?" asked Cora.

"Not that, but sleeping," returned Jack. "If they die they will never
forget it as long as they live. There is a sacred duty in standing
picket duty."

"Oh, a light!" suddenly screamed Bess. "It's coming this way!"

"Steady, there," shouted Ed, in his clear, deep voice. "Pass to the
left!" and he tooted the horn of the _Whirlwind_.

"A machine!" announced Jack, as he jumped up and peered through the
wind shield.

"Oh! isn't that lovely?" gasped Belle, willing at once to abandon her
company for the prospect of getting out of the woods.

By this time a big motor car had slowed up at the side of the other
cars. The chauffeur alighted and, with all the chivalry of the road,
asked what the tr