. If that man has followed us into the mountains we shall
hear more of him. Do you find anything up there, Harriet?"

"We find where he has broken down some bushes, but that is all. No
footprints. I might possibly pick up his trail, but over the rocks
there would be slight chance of running it down."

"I couldn't permit it," was Miss Elting's decisive reply. "Come down.
Jane, will you please start the fire? We will have breakfast."

"Oh, yeth, we haven't had breakfatht yet," piped Tommy.

"Nor have you dried your clothes. Every one of you except Hazel is wet
to the skin."

Jane had brought some dry sticks by the time the guide and Harriet
returned. Janus got more, realizing the condition of his party, and
wishing to build up a fire that would dry their wet clothing. The
girls had no changes of clothing with them. They would be obliged to
continue to wear their wet dresses until these had dried.

A hot fire proved a welcome relief. The girls gathered about it,
turning frequently in order to give their clothing an opportunity to
dry. It was not long before the steam rose from their rapidly drying
garments. They laughed and joked over their condition. Miss Elting
was more serious. She held a low-voiced conversation with Janus while
he was getting the breakfast. Janus insisted that he had not the
faintest idea that he had an enemy. At least he knew of no one who
would commit the acts that had been committed since the party started
out from Compton on their journey through the White Mountains.

The girls' wet clothing was almost dry when they were called to
breakfast. This meal was late on this particular morning, for good and
sufficient reason, but the girls did not complain about this. What
they did complain of was their bedraggled condition. They laid their
trouble on this occasion directly at the door of Tommy Thompson. Tommy
was undisturbed. She expressed her pleasure, however, that her
companions had also received a wetting, and uncharitably hoped they
would fall in every time she did.

During breakfast they discussed their situation, finally deciding to
push on as soon after the meal as possible. The guide said they would
feel dry and warm soon after starting on their way. He thought they
would be better off on the move than sitting about the fire. Hazel had
now fully recovered from the effects of her fall. Harriet's side still
gave her pain, but she, too, felt that the best thing for