ing and see
for yourself."

"Wait!" exclaimed Miss Briggs. "I have a thought."

"Hold it," called Hippy. "We need real thought this very minute."

"Have you forgotten what Julie said to us?" asked Elfreda. "I believe
this is what she meant by her remark that we would find out for
ourselves soon enough."

"She knew, then!" exclaimed Nora.

"I believe she did, though how, I am at a loss to understand," answered
Elfreda.

"Girls, girls! Don't waste time talking," urged Grace. "We have work to
do, unless you folks prefer to sleep in the open to-night. I believe we
can mend enough of this canvas to use as a big blanket. We can then
sleep together and keep each other warm underneath it, I think.
Washington, please go out and gather up all of the stuff that you can
find. Some of our provisions have been destroyed, but there may be
enough for a few meals. Fetch everything here so we can look it over by
the campfire."

All hands set to work to make the best of their disaster, and as they
worked they discussed the problem uppermost in the mind of each. They
were busily engaged when a shout brought instant silence to the group.

"Miss Gray! Miss Gray!" some one called from the darkness.

"Yes," answered Grace.

A woman came floundering along the trail at the edge of the cornfield.

"It's Miss Thompson. Ah wants Miss Gray."

"She seems excited," observed Emma.

"What is it, Mrs. Thompson?" called Grace, stepping out to meet the
mountaineer's wife.

"The chilern has took a frenzy, an' Ah don't know what t' do," cried the
woman, wringing her hands.

Slipping an arm through hers, Grace led the woman up to the campfire.

"Compose yourself. Now what is the trouble? Are the children sick?" she
asked.

"Yes'm. An' Jed's gone away an' Ah don't know what t' do. Ah thought as
mebby ye'd come up to the house an' see."

"I surely will. Miss Briggs, who was a nurse in the war, will be of more
assistance to you than I could be, so I will take her with me."

Jed Thompson's wife heaved a deep sigh. A load already had been lifted
from her mind.

"Ah didn't think ye'd come, but Julie said as you'd come right smart."

"Julie was right," smiled Grace, "even though we are in rather bad shape
here. Some one nearly destroyed our camp while we were at the dance. I
will be back before long," she added, speaking to her companions. "Come,
Elfreda."

On the way to the Thompson cabin the two girls questioned Mrs. Thompson
as to wh