el whipped the smoke
out of the cabin and then announced that supper was ready. Margery's
eyes were red and she had little to say, but her appetite was unaffected
by her late bitter disappointment.

"Now tell us of your latest scheme, Harriet," urged the guardian after
they had settled down to their supper.

"My scheme? Which scheme?"

There was a laugh at Harriet's expense.

"There, girls! You see. Harriet has so many schemes and plans in her
head that she doesn't know which is which. I mean your second scheme for
fooling the Tramp Club, Harriet."

"Oh, yes. I know. I am not going to put it into operation until
to-morrow. You may not approve of it, but I hope you will."

"I don't think you have reason to complain of my opposing your plans,
Harriet. To tell the truth, I enjoy them as much as you. But before we
go any further with our discussion, do you not think it would be an
excellent idea to hang a blanket over that rear door. The light might
attract attention from the lake and bring undesirable persons here."

"Thank you. I never thought of it." Harriet rose at once. Selecting a
long blanket, she fastened it over the doorway, after which she drew
down the shades. The door at the other end of the boat opened on to a
solid wall of rock, so that no light could escape from that end. Harriet
was about to resume her seat at the table, when she paused sharply,
raising her hand as a signal for silence.

"What is it, dear?" asked Miss Elting in a low voice.

"I heard a shout. There is it again. Did you hear?"

The guardian and the other girls nodded.

"It isn't far from here. May I go down to the end of the creek and find
out what it means?"

"Wait a moment." The guardian turned down the light, then stepped out to
the after deck, followed by the girls. From the deck they could hear the
shouts much more plainly, but the shouters were too far away to make it
possible to distinguish what they were saying.

"Yes, you may go, but do nothing imprudent," added Miss Elting.

"I will try not to do so."

"May I go with you, Harriet?" asked Jane.

"Perhaps it would be better for me to go alone." Miss Elting agreed with
this, fearing that the girls might begin to laugh or talk and thus
attract attention to themselves. Harriet quickly got the rowboat and
began pushing her way down through the overhanging foliage that smote
her in the face with every move of the oar.

The night was very dark. She had to feel her way a