destination on this occasion.

Twilight was upon them again before they reached the main tourist
trail. It was now late in the season. Not a human being had they seen
since starting out to climb Mt. Chocorua except for Hazel's discovery
of the strange man whom she had caught spying on their camp at the
"Slide." The memory of that face still lingered in mind, nor had the
incident been forgotten by any member of the party. They wondered what
the next surprise would be. They were destined to know within a very
short time.

Walking was good by this time and the remaining distance to the
"Shelter" was covered at a greater rate of speed. Janus swung to the
right, then to the left, and behold, the little hut stood darkly before
them!

"Here we are," called the guide cheerily, striding over and throwing
open the door.

CHAPTER XIX

THE STORY THE LIGHT TOLD

"Strike a light, if you please," requested the guardian, as Janus stood
holding the door of the hut open for his charges to enter.

"You'll have a light directly," returned the guide, applying a lighted
match to the hanging lamp with its smoke-dimmed chimney.

"Oh, isn't it nice and cosy in here?" sighed Margery contentedly,
dropping down on a bench. Unslinging her heavy pack, she let it fall
to the floor.

"What about supper?" was Janus's first question.

"Yeth, that ith what I thay," approved Tommy. "Buthter would thay tho,
too, only thhe is afraid I'll teathe her about eating."

"Afraid of you!" exclaimed Margery disgustedly. "Well, I guess not."

During this passage at arms Janus was making an industrious hunt for a
frying-pan. He opened one of the packs that had been left behind,
thrust one hand inside, then paused, a look of astonishment on his
honest face, underneath the frown that wrinkled his weather-beaten
forehead. For a few seconds the bewildered guide stared stupidly at
the object he had taken from the pack. The girls were busy undoing
their tote-packs, so they failed to heed what he was doing until his
peculiar attitude finally attracted their attention.

Janus thrust his hand in again, but the result was no less discouraging.

"Well, I swum!" he grumbled. "I swum!"

"So you've said before," smiled Hazel.

"Anything wrong?" asked the guardian, glancing up from her own pack,
the contents of which were spread out on the floor before her.

The guide "swum" again. Miss Elting paused in her work, turning to him.

"Mr. Janut