The Meadow-Brook Girls Under Canvas; Or, Fun and Frolic in the Summer Camp

no matter what the cost to herself, and her gown. Clinging desperately to the rein she was jerked violentl

udden the animal swung about in a half circle. He literally cracked the whip with Harriet Burrell. The rein slapped the side of a big tree. Harriet was lifted from her

e that was dragging Harriet away. She cried out in her alarm as she saw the girl land in the brush heap. But b

, my dear! A

answered Harriet with a brave s

lend a hand to Harriet. The gowns of both women were considerably dama

l!" exclaimed

orse for wear," smil

me, tha

d the familiar words they turned

th a fit,"

go. Harriet was limping a little. They found Jasper sitting at the base of the tree,

matter with him?" qu

per. "That three-year old cost me jest a

him back," s

ver trust me to take out another passel of girls behind

" advised Miss Elting. "Just now w

y did my

e had parted company with the animal, that she had lost all sense of d

to the burg and find

e uth here in the woodth

he guardian. "Jasper, ho

to fifte

e about five mile

nod

do with us in the meanti

till I git another

e until you return, which will not be until so

hoss or another hos

Miss Elting firmly. "You shall not go to Jamesburg for a horse until you have

ok his

e walk it?"

ing that suggestion. Do you

cool and fragrant. I should prefer wal

greed Miss Eltin

hoss," repeated

on them. The forest wou

able to carry. Jasper will also take a bundle. I would suggest that w

es are in the trunk

be able to fit us out until we get our own clothes. This is most unfortunate. I am

mmy. She was very frank about it. There was

n't want to walk, but I am willing to for the sake of seeing you do something you

e mi

es

l thtay right here till Jat

-morrow morning. Jasper, when the young women have their bags ready you will take two of

r glancing at the determi

belongings here. I suppose they will

grunted

ecially did she eye Miss Elting, but the expression on the face of the latter told Grace nothing. Ja

to kick the horthe t

man finally picked up the bags and stood sullenly waiting. Miss Elting and Harriet also carried suit

rm should come up during the night." Harriet, Hazel and Margery suppressed their giggles. Tommy h

't to do it,"

an instant that Grace will remain behind, do you? This is one

them. All at once they heard a plaintive little wail be

ed Tommy, darting up beside Miss

lung closely to the guardian. About this time a halt had to be made while Harriet attended to the skirt of her gown that had been badly torn by the brush. Her companions assisted her

wer ca

g!" exclaimed

ay and left us,

ck to Jamesburg?" questioned Harrie

e from this road. Then again we must not get off the road or we are sure to lose our way. All keep close together. We will continue to walk on. We will

d fluttering from a tree near at hand, would send Margery and Tommy into a sudden panic. There are many weird sounds to be heard in the forest at night. It seemed as though the travelers heard them all. Had their guardian not been with them,

ad and slightly in advance of Miss Elting, ut

!" cried Marge

r something that moved and tried to push her aside. Harriet thrust out

he girl, tugging with all

rightened Tommy still clinging to her skirts. Then

rn ye!" it shouted. "Legg

e landed on his back, shouting angrily. Harriet sat down in the road overcome by a sudden weakness, then she laughed. The other g

ner?" demanded Miss Elting severely. "First, you run aw

itin' for ye to come up seein' as I'd got ahead. Then one of 'em had to come blundering along and fall over me. Before I knowd wh

stepping carefully over to the place where the

er," she said. "I am so sorry. But-but I tho

s were lost in a shout of

rriet felt so humiliated that she was

o keep just ahead of us within sound of our voices even though

" answered th

y gr

giving out,"

placing an arm about her little compa

forget the pain in my neck but the

hen we will have something to eat and you will go to bed and sle

fine you can't thee it,"

s and he was very irritable, which perhaps was not surprising in view of the fact that he had lost his horse and wrecked a wagon for which

ring their destination. Tommy was being fairly lifted along by Harriet The latter did no

mp, dear," enco

g a groan from Margery and Grace. "That's the fire the

hen upon reaching the low fire she observed that all leaves and combustible matter had been raked away to a safe distance from the fir

even in daylight, Margery puffing, Tommy uttering little moans now and then so that her companions might know of her misery. That last stretch along the narrow path s

rty minutes later as a second glow off to the left at

g's direction. It was the only tent with a light to be seen. The other tents were lost i

hey approached the Chief Guardian's tent, rapping gently on the tent pole. Th

begun. Its activities and excitement were to begi