t, except that it will be a treat to watch
the mountain folk at play."

All except Miss Briggs were enthusiastic for the dance.

"With my damaged countenance, I shan't be able to dance," she
complained.

"You don't intend to dance on your face, do you!" wondered Emma.

"If I perform the way I did with the bear, I undoubtedly shall. There is
no telling what I might do."

"You ought to have a net to perform over, like the circus people do,"
declared Emma. "Do we go?"

"Yes, let's go," urged Nora.

The others being of the same mind, Grace gave a rather reluctant consent
and the matter was settled then and there, greatly adding to the
happiness of Emma Dean.

That afternoon Grace made an inspection of the cornfield and discovered
the imprints of heavy boots in the soft dirt near the camp. There had
been, she believed, four men in the party, and all four evidently had
been spying on the Overland camp. She followed their trail until she
came to the edge of the cornfield, facing the Thompson cabin. Grace
shrugged her shoulders and retraced her steps.

"I have a feeling that our affairs must come to a head soon," she
murmured. "The footprints, after leaving the cornfield, appear to lead
directly towards the Thompson home. However, we shall see. The night may
bring something in the way of a development. I am getting tired of the
waiting policy. Girls," called Grace, as she entered the camp. "What do
you say if we break camp and get out to-morrow?"

"You forget the dance," reminded Emma, who did not propose to miss such
an opportunity as this.

"Day after to-morrow, then?" questioned Grace.

"In spite of warnings and the suggestion of our unseen friend?" asked
Anne.

"Yes. We can't stay here forever. Besides, the days are passing and we
have some little distance to go before reaching the rendezvous where we
are to meet Tom. What we need is action."

"Did I not start something for you last night? What more do you want?"
demanded Miss Briggs.

"To keep moving. You started the wrong way. You were headed towards
home when you set out behind your bear," laughed Grace. "What do you
say, girls?"

"Yes. Let's go," nodded Elfreda. "Nothing much matters after last night,
so far as I am concerned." The rest left the decision entirely in Grace
Harlowe's hands, and she decided to move as suggested, provided nothing
intervened to prevent their doing so.

Bear meat, coffee with real cream and fresh vegetables, procured fr