The Camp Fire Girls at Onoway House

Chapter 10

After Nyoda had fired the shots out of the window, nothing was heard or seen of the ghost and the footsteps in the attic ceased. Its just as I thought, said Nyoda, someone has been trying to frighten us with a possible view of robbing the house at some time, thinking that a houseful of women would be terror-stricken at the ghostly noises, but when he found we had a gun and could shoot he thought better of the plan. Gradually the girls lost their fright, and the odd corners of Onoway House regained their old charm. They were far too busy with the canning to think of much else, for the tomatoes were ripening in such large quantities that it was all they could do to dispose of them. The 4H brand found favor and the market gradually increased, and every week Migwan had a goodly sum to deposit in the bank after the cost of the tin cans had been deducted.

I have to laugh when I think of that honor in the book, said Migwan, can at least three cans of fruit, and she pointed to the cans stacked on the back porch ready to be packed into the automobile and taken to town. Why, hello, Calvin, she said, as Calvin Smalley appeared at the back door. Come in. Calvin came in and sat down. Whats the matter? asked Migwan, for his face had a frightened and distressed look.

Uncle Abner has turned me out! said Calvin.

Turned you out! echoed the girls. Why?

He showed me a will last night, said Calvin, a later one than that which was found when my grandfather died, which left the farm to him instead of to my father. He just found it last night when he was rummaging among grandfathers old papers. According to that I have been living on his charity all these years instead of on my own property as I supposed and now he says he cant afford to keep me any longer. He wanted me to sign a paper saying that I would work for him without pay until I was thirty years old to make up for what I have had all these years, and when I wouldnt do it he told me to get out.

How can any man be so mean and stingy! said Migwan, indignantly.

And what do you intend to do now? asked Mrs. Gardiner.

I dont know, said Calvin, looking utterly downcast and discouraged. I had expected to go through school and then to agricultural college and be a scientific farmer, but thats out of the question now. I havent a cent in the world. I could hire out to some of the farmers around here, I suppose, but you know what that meansthey wouldnt pay me much because Im a boy, but they would get a mans work out of me and its precious little time Id have for school. Ive always saved Uncle Abner the cost of one hired man in return for what he gave me, so I dont feel under any obligations to him. I think Ill give up farming for a while and go to the city and work. The trouble is I have no friends there and it might be hard for me to get into a good place. His honest eyes were clouded over with perplexity and trouble.

My father could probably get you a job in the city, said Gladys, if you can wait until he gets back. Hes out west now.

I tell you what to do, said kind-hearted Mrs. Gardiner to Calvin, you stay here with us until Mr. Evans comes back. You can help the girls in the garden, and we were wishing not long ago that we had another man in the house.

You are very kind, said Calvin, gratefully, but I dont want to put you to any trouble.

No trouble at all, Mrs. Gardiner assured him, you can sleep with Tom. The girls all expressed pleasure at the prospect of having Calvin stay at Onoway House and under the spell of their kindly hospitality his drooping spirits revived. He shook the dust of his uncles house from his feet, feeling no longer an outcast, since he had suddenly found such kind friends on the other side of the hedge.

Calvin lived in a perpetual state of wonder at the girls at Onoway House. They made a frolic out of everything they did and were continually thinking up new and amazing games to play. Calvin had never done anything at home all his life but work, and work was a serious business to him. He never knew before that work was fun. The long, weary hours of peeling were enlivened with songs made up on the spur of the moment. Sahwah would look up from the pan over which she was bending, and sing to the tune of The Pope:

Our Migwan leads a jolly life, jolly life,

She peels tomatoes with her knife, with her knife,

And puts the pieces in the can,

And leaves the peelings in the pan, (Oh, tra la la).

And then they would all start to sing at once,

The tomatoes went in one by one,

(Theres one more bushel to peel),

Hinpoha she did cut her thumb,

(Theres one more bushel to peel).

The tomatoes went in two by two,

And Gladys and Sahwah fell into the stew.

The tomatoes went in three by three,

And Migwan got drowned a-trying to see.

etc., etc., thus they made merry over the work until it was done.

Do you know, said Migwan, looking up from her peeling, that its Gladyss birthday next Friday? We ought to have a celebration.

How about a picnic? asked Nyoda. We havent had a real one yet. Have the rest of the Winnebagos come out from town and all of us sleep in the tepee as we had planned on the Fourth of July. Then well get a horse and wagon and drive along the roads until we come to a place beside the river where we want to stop and cook our dinner and just spend the day like gypsies. The girls entered into the plan with enthusiasm, both for the sake of celebrating Gladyss birthday and cheering up Calvin, who had been rather quiet and pensive of late. It was a great disappointment to him to have to give up his plans for going to college, and his uncles unfriendly treatment of him had cut him to the heart.

Medmangi and Chapa and Nakwisi arrived the day before the picnic and the house echoed with the sound of voices and laughter, as the Winnebagos bubbled over with joy at being all together. The morning of the picnic was as fine as they could wish, and it was not long before they were bumping over the road in one of Farmer Landsdownes wagons, behind the very two horses which the girls had ridden the week before. It was a wagon full. Sahwah sat up in front and drove like a veritable daughter of Jehu, with Farmer Landsdowne up beside her to come to the rescue in case the horses should run away, which was not at all likely, as it took constant persuasion to keep them going even at an easy jog trot. Mrs. Landsdowne, who, with her husband, had been invited to the picnic, sat beside Mrs. Gardiner, in the back of the wagon, while Calvin Smalley stayed next to Migwan, as he usually did. She was so quiet and gentle and kind that he felt more at ease with her than with the rest of the Winnebagos, who were such jokers. Ophelia, who was beginning to be inseparable from Sahwah, squeezed herself in between her and Mr. Landsdowne, and refused to move. Sahwah, of course, took her part and let her stay, although she was a bit crowded for space. Hinpoha and Gladys sat at the back of the wagon dangling their feet over the end, where they could watch the yellow road unwinding like a ribbon beneath them, while Nyoda sat between Betty and Tom to keep the peace.

Where are we going? asked Mrs. Gardiner, as they swung along the road.

Oh, replied Sahwah, somewhere, anywhere, everywhere, nowhere. Its lots more romantic to start out without any idea where youre going and stop wherever it suits you than to start out for a certain place and think you have to go there even if you pass nicer places on the road. Maybe, like Mrs. Wiggs, well end up at a first-class fire.

We undoubtedly will, said Nyoda, if we expect to cook any dinner. Do my eyes deceive me? she continued, or is this a fishing-rod under the straw? It is, it is, she cried, drawing it out. Now I know what has been the matter with me for the past few months, this feeling of sadness and longing that was not akin to rheumatism. I have been pining, languishing, wasting away with a desire to go fishing. My early life ran quiet beside a babbling brook, and there I sat and fished trout and fried them over an outdoor fire. This spirit will never know repose until it has gone fishing once more.

Take the rod and welcome, its mine, said Calvin, glad that something of his should give pleasure to one of his cherished friends.

In a shady grove of sycamores beside the river they dismounted from the wagon and scattered in search of firewood, for the fire must be started the first thing, as there were potatoes to roast. Nyoda took the fishing-rod and started for the river. Well never get anything to eat if we wait until you catch enough fish for dinner, said Sahwah.

Who said I was going to catch enough for dinner? said Nyoda. I wouldnt be cruel enough to keep you waiting all that time. But I do want to catch just one for old times sake. She strolled down to the waters edge and after a few minutes Mr. Landsdowne joined her. He liked Nyoda and enjoyed a talk with her.

Are you going to play all alone at the picnic? he asked, as he dropped down beside her.

Alone, but with unbaited zeal, she quoted, digging around in the ground with her stick. Come and help me find a worm.

Im afraid the Early Bird got them all, she said plaintively, after a few moments fruitless search. By dint of much digging they finally unearthed one and baited the hook. Nyoda cast her line and then settled down to a spell of silent waiting. I dont believe theres a fish in this old river, she said impatiently, after fifteen minutes of angling which brought no results. Not here, anyway. Lets go down beyond the bend where the river widens out into that broad pool. The water is deeper and quieter there. They moved on to the new location and Nyoda tried her luck again. This time success crowned her efforts and she landed a small fish almost immediately. What did I tell you? she exclaimed, triumphantly. Theres luck in changing places. Now for another one. In a few moments she felt a tug at the line. It must be a whale, she cried, enthusiastically, it pulls so hard.

It may be caught on a snag, said Farmer Landsdowne. Here, let me get it loose for you, Im afraid youll break that rod, he said, as the pole bent ominously in her hands.

Spare the rod and spoil the fish, said Nyoda.

What are you doing on my property? said a harsh voice behind them, dont you see that sign?

Nyoda and Farmer Landsdowne sprang to their feet in surprise and faced an irate farmer in blue shirt sleeves. Sure enough, on a tree not very far from them there was a sign reading,

NO FISHING IN THIS POND.

We didnt see the sign, said Nyoda, stammering in her embarrassment, and crimson to the roots of her hair.

We really didnt, confirmed Farmer Landsdowne.

Well, ye see it now, dont ye? pursued the proprietor of the fish-pond. Kindly move along.

We have one fish, said Nyoda, feeling unutterably foolish, but well pay you for that. I must have one to take back to the picnic or I dont dare show my face.

Ye say ye caught a fish? shouted the farmer, excitedly. Holy mackerel! That was the only one in the pondI put it in there this morningand Ive rented the fishing of it to a young feller from Cleveland at twenty-five cents an hour.

But it didnt take me an hour to catch him, said Nyoda. It only took five minutes. Thatll be about two cents. But the farmer held out for his twenty-five cents and Nyoda paid it, laughing to herself at the way the feller from Cleveland had been cheated out of his sport.

Dont ever tell the girls about this, pleaded Nyoda, as they moved shamefacedly away. Im supposed to be a pattern of conduct, and Im always scolding the girls because they dont use their eyes enough. Theyll never get over laughing at me if they find it out. Farmer Landsdowne promised solemnly that he would not divulge the secret.

Did you catch anything? called Sahwah, as Nyoda returned to the group under the trees.

We certainly did, replied Nyoda, with a sidelong glance at Farmer Landsdowne.

Listen to this part of fathers last letter, said Gladys, as they sat around on the grass eating their dinner. Juneau, Alaska.

We recently saw a group of Camp Fire girls holding a Ceremonial Meeting on a mountain near Juneau. It fairly made us homesick; it reminded us so much of the group we used to see in our house. We went up and spoke to them and they send you this three-petaled flower as a greeting.

To think we have friends all over the country, just because we know the meaning of the word Wohelo! said Migwan in an awed tone, as the Winnebagos crowded around Gladys to see the flower which had come from far off Alaska, a silent All Hail from kindred spirits.

Just at this point Ophelia, who was coming a long way with the coffee-pot in her hand, tripped over a root and sprawled on her face on the ground, showering everybody near her with coffee. We have your title now, said Nyoda, its Ophelia-Face-in-the-Mud. Youre always falling that way.

And I know what your name is, replied Ophelia.

What is it? asked Nyoda, guilelessly.

Its Nyoda-Chased-by-a-Farmer, said Ophelia.

Nyoda started and looked guilty. How did you know that? she asked, giving herself away completely.

Followed you, said Ophelia. I saw you fishin where the sign said to keep out and the man in the blue shirt sleeves chased you out.

Tell us about it, demanded all the girls, and Nyoda had to tell the whole story that she wanted to keep a secret.

Fishy, fishy in the brook,

But the fishers got the hook,

chanted Sahwah, teasingly. Nyoda and Farmer Landsdowne looked sheepish at the jokes that were thrown at them thick and fast, but they stood it good-naturedly.

A truce! cried Gladys, coming to the rescue of Nyoda. Lets play charades.

Good! said Migwan. You be leader of one side and let Nyoda take the other. Whichever side gives up first will have to get supper for the rest.

Gladys chose Sahwah, Mrs. Gardiner, Betty, Ophelia, Tom and Calvin. Nyoda chose Mr. and Mrs. Landsdowne, Hinpoha, Migwan, Chapa, Medmangi and Nakwisi. Gladyss side went out first and came in without her.

Word of three syllables, first syllable, said Sahwah, who acted as spokesman. The whole company sat down in a row, striking the most doleful attitude and groaning as if in pain, and shedding tears into their handkerchiefs.

Most woeful looking crowd I ever saw, remarked Mr. Landsdowne.

Woe! shouted Nyoda, triumphantly, and the guess was correct.

The weepers continued their weeping in the second syllable, and then Gladys appeared, felt of all their pulses and gave each a dose out of a bottle, whereupon they all straightened up, lost their symptoms of distress, and capered for joy.

Cure, said Migwan. The players shook their heads.

Heal, shouted Hinpoha, and Gladys acknowledged it.

In the last syllable Gladys went around and demanded payment for her services, but in each case was met with a promise to pay at some future time.

Owe, said Chapa, which was pronounced right. O heal woe, whats that? she asked.

Youre twisted, said Nyoda, its Wohelo. That really was too easy. Lets not divide them into syllables after this, she suggested, its no contest of wits that way. Lets act out the word all at once. The alteration was accepted with enthusiasm.

Hinpoha came out alone for her side. Word of two syllables, she said. Taking a blanket she spread it over a bushy weed and tucked the corners under until it looked not unlike a large stone. Then she retired from the scene. Soon Nyoda came along and paused in front of the blanket, which looked like an inviting seat.

What a lovely rock to rest on! she exclaimed, and seated herself upon it. Of course, it flattened down under her weight and she was borne down to the ground.

A moment of silence followed this performance as the guessers racked their brains for the meaning. Is it Landsdowne? asked Gladys.

It might be, but it isnt, said Nyoda, laughing.

I know, said Sahwah, starting up, its shamrock.

You are sharper than I thought, said Nyoda, rising from her seat. Nobody down yet. Now, fire your broadside at us. No word under three syllables. Anything less would be unworthy of our giant intellects.

Third round! cried Calvin.

Sahwah walked down to the waters edge, holding in her hand a large key. Leaning over, she moved the key as if it were walking in the water. This proved a puzzler, and cries of Milwaukee, Nebrasky, and turnkey were all met with a triumphant shake of the head.

It looks as if we would have to give up, said Hinpoha.

Just then Nyoda sprang up with a shout. Why didnt I think of it before? she cried. Its Keewaydin, key-wade-in. What else could you expect from Sahwah?

Thats it, said Sahwah. You must be a mind reader.

Heres where we finish you off, said Nyoda, as her side came out again. Weve taken a word of four syllables this time. The whole team advanced in single file, Indian fashion, keeping closely in step. Round and round they marched, back and forth, never slackening their speed, until one by one they tumbled to the ground from sheer exhaustion and stiffened out lifelessly. The guessers looked at each other, puzzled.

Do it again, said Sahwah. The strenuous march was repeated, and the marchers succumbed as before. Still no light came to the onlookers. Sahwah whispered something to Gladys.

Would you just as soon do it again? asked Gladys. Again the file wound round the trees and tumbled to the turf. Nyoda made a triumphant grimace as no guess was forthcoming. Sahwahs eyes began to sparkle.

Would you please do it once more? she pleaded.

Have mercy on the performers, groaned Nyoda, but they went through it again, and this time they were too spent to rise from the ground when the acting was done. Do you give up? called Nyoda.

No, answered Gladys.

You have five seconds to produce the answer, then, said Nyoda.

Its diapason, said Gladys, die-a-pacin.

Really! said Nyoda, falling back in astonishment.

We knew it all the while! cried Sahwah and Gladys. We just kept you doing it over and over again because we liked to see you work.

The laugh was on Nyoda and her team all the way around. We do this to each other! called Sahwah, using the Indian form of taunt when one has played a successful trick on another.

Tie the villains to a tree, and let them perish of mosquito bites, Nyoda commanded in an awful tone. Ill get even with you for that, Miss Sahwah, she said, darkly, as the other side trooped off to cook up a new poser.

Hadnt you better stop playing now? inquired Mrs. Gardiner. You know we wanted to get home before dark.

Oh, lets do one more, pleaded Migwan. If they had only stopped playing when Mrs. Gardiner suggested it and gone home early they might have been in time to prevent the thing which occurred, but they were bent on seeing one side or the other go down, and Gladyss side prepared another charade.

Weve played up to your own game, said Gladys, who was introducing the new charade, and have increased the number to five syllables. The actors were Mrs. Gardiner, Betty and Tom Gardiner. Mrs. Gardiner was scolding the children and emphasized her remarks by a sharp pinch on Toms arm. Betty, seeing the maternal hand also extended in her direction, promptly climbed a tree and sat in safety, while her mother shook her finger at her and cried warningly, Ill attend to you after awhile.

What on earth? said Nyoda, scratching her head in perplexity. But scratch as she might, no answer came, and the rest of her team had nothing to offer either. After holding out for fully fifteen minutes they were compelled to give it up.

Its manipulator, cried the winning side, in chorus. Ma-nip-you-later! And they stood around to condole while Nyodas side prepared supper. Then it was that Calvin, basely deserting the team he had helped so far, went over to the side of the enemy and helped Migwan fetch wood for the fire. Both sides stopped often to jeer at each other, so it took them twice as long to get the meal ready as it would have ordinarily. They loitered and sang along the way home, letting the horses take their time, and it was quite late when they reached Onoway House.

The first thing that greeted them was the sight of Mr. Bob, the cocker spaniel, rolling on the front lawn in great distress, and giving every sign of being poisoned. They hastily administered an antidote and, after a time of suspense were confident that the effect of the poison had been counteracted. So far they had only been in the kitchen, but when the excitement about the dog was over they moved toward the sitting-room to rest awhile and drink lemonade before going to bed. When the light was lit they all stopped in astonishment. In the sitting-room there was an old-fashioned combination desk and bookcase, the bookcase part set on top of the desk and reaching nearly to the ceiling. It belonged to the house, and the desk was closed and locked. Now, however, it stood open, and all the drawers were pulled out, while the top of the desk and the floor before it were strewn with papers in great disorder.

Burglars! cried Migwan. The house has been robbed! They immediately looked through the house to see what had been taken. Up-stairs in the room occupied by the two boys there was a desk similar to the one in the sitting-room. This had also been broken open and the drawers searched through, although the disorder of papers was not so great as it was down-stairs. Half afraid of what they should find, the whole family went from room to room, but nothing else seemed to have been disturbed, and as far as they could see nothing had been stolen. The silver in the sideboard drawer was untouched, but then, this was only plate, and worn at that. But in full view on the dining-room table lay Sahwahs Firemaker Bracelet, which she had laid there a few moments before starting for the picnic, and then, with her customary forgetfulness, neglected to pick up again. This was solid silver and worth stealing. Further than that, she had also forgotten to wear her watch, and it was still safe in her top bureau drawer. It was a riddle, and as they talked it over they could only come to one conclusion, and that was that the burglar had thought there were large sums of money hidden in the two desks and had passed over the small articles in the hope of getting a bigger harvest, or else was leaving those other things to the last. He ransacked the up-stairs desk, having broken the lock, and then went through the one down-stairs. While looking through the papers in the sitting-room he had evidently been frightened away by something, for there was one drawer that had not been disturbed. This also accounted for the fact that nothing else had been taken. What had frightened him was probably the barking of the dog, who, although he was on the outside, had become aware of the presence of someone in the house. He had fed the dog poison, probably poisoned meat, for they had found a small piece of meat on the porch. Evidently the poison had begun to act before Mr. Bob had it all eaten, and he left that piece. But before the dog was dead the burglar had heard the family returning along the road, singing, and made his escape. The whole thing must have happened not long before, for the dog had not had the poison long enough to take deadly effect. It was then that they regretted having lingered so long over the game of charades and delayed their homecoming.

If we had only been half an hour sooner, we might have found out who it was, said Mrs. Gardiner.

Thank Heaven we werent half an hour later, said Hinpoha, or Mr. Bob would have been dead. She would have felt worse about losing Mr. Bob than about having all her possessions stolen.

How about sleeping in the tepee to-night? asked Gladys. There was not enough room in the house for so many people and the eight Winnebagos had made their beds in the tepee while the three girls from town were there, both to solve the question of sleeping quarters and for the fun of the thing. It was just like camping out to sleep on the ground, all the eight girls in a circle around the little watch fire in the middle of the tepee.

Oh, Ill be afraid to, said Hinpoha.

I dont know but what it would be just as safe as sleeping in the house, said Nyoda. I doubt if anyone would think of people sleeping out in that thing. Its a rather novel idea in this neighborhood. And at any rate theres nothing out there to steal and consequently nothing to tempt a thief.

So, their fears having vanished, the Winnebagos went to bed in the tepee just as they had planned. Nyoda took the precaution of putting her pistol under her pillow. The girls really enjoyed the air of suppressed excitement. When did youth and high spirits ever fail to respond to the thrill of danger, either real or fancied? This attempted burglary was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to most of the girls and they were getting as much thrill out of it as possible. It amused them to see Tom and Calvin parading the front lawn armed with bird guns, swelled up with importance at having to guard a houseful of women. Instead of hoping that the burglar had been scared away for good they wished fervently that he would return and give them a chance to shoot. They would have stayed there all night if Mrs. Gardiner had not ordered them to bed.

One by one the girls in the tepee dropped off to slumber, worn out with the varied events of the day. But Nyoda could not sleep. She had a throbbing headache from the glare of the sun on the water while she sat fishing. The little fire, in the center of the bare circle of earth which prevented it from spreading, died down and subsided to glowing embers, then one by one these turned black and left the tepee in darkness. There was not a spark left. Nyoda was sure of this, for she sat up several times in an effort to make herself comfortable, and when she took a drink from the pail of well water which stood nearby she emptied the dipper over the spot where the fire had been, to make doubly sure. Still sleep would not come. She stared out of the doorway of the tepee into the darkness. A group of beech trees with their light grey bark loomed up ghostlike before the door. She began to think of the ghost which had appeared to her that other night in that very doorway, and tried to connect the incidents which had taken place afterwards with that. One thing was suresomeone was getting into Onoway House every few days. Why nothing was taken was a mystery to her. It seemed to her now that it was not so much an attempt at burglary as an effort to annoy and frighten the family. Possibly it was someone who had a grudge against themshe could not imagine whyand was indulging in these pranks to satisfy a spite. She thought she saw a glimmer of light on the subject.

Farmer Landsdowne had once told her that when it became known that Mr. Mitchell was going to give up the care of the place, several farmers of the Centerville Road district had applied for the position of caretaker, but wishing to assist Migwan, the Bartletts had refused their offers and given the place over to the Winnebagos. That must be it. Someone wanted that job badly and was wreaking his disappointment on the people who had kept him from getting it. The more she thought of it the more probable it seemed. Possibly more than one were involved in the plot.

Then another thought struck her. Could it be the crazy man who lived alone in the little house among the trees? Calvin had stated that he never left the house, but who could account for the inspirations of an unbalanced mind? That nothing had been taken from the house seemed to indicate a want of fixed purpose in the mind of the housebreakerto go to all that trouble for nothing. This idea also seemed worth considering.

As she lay turning these things over in her mind she thought she heard a stealthy footstep in the grass outside of the tepee. Thinking that the ghost was coming to pay another visit, she drew the pistol from under her pillow and turning over, face downward, lay with it pointed toward the doorway. There would be no outcry when he appeared in the doorway. The first intimation the ghost would have that he was observed would be a shot in the leg that would prevent him from running away and would solve the mystery. In tense silence she waited, one; two; three minutes, but nothing appeared. Then suddenly she smelled smoke, and turning around swiftly saw that the side of the tepee toward which she had had her back was in flames.

Fire! she called at the top of her voice. Sahwah! Hinpoha! Gladys! Migwan! Wake up! And seizing the pail of water she dashed it against the side of the tepee. The water sizzled as it fell, but the canvas covering was burning like tinder. Thus rudely awakened the girls sprang up in alarm. The place was filling with dense smoke, and through it they groped their way to the opening, dragging out their blankets. Hardly had the last girl got out when the whole thing was one roaring blaze, which lit up the scenery a long way around.

Nyoda, paying no attention to the flames that were mounting skyward from the burning canvas, looked intently for a lurking figure among the trees, for she thought it hardly possible that whoever had set the tepee afire could have gotten outside of the range of light in that short time. It was possible to see as far as the road on the one side and across the river on the other. But nowhere was there a man or the shadow of a man. The folks came running out of Onoway House half dressed and in terror that the girls had not escaped from the burning tent in time, and the farmers all the way down the road, seeing the glare, rushed to offer their assistance, for a fire in the country is a serious thing where there is no water pressure. Farmer Landsdowne came on a dead run, carrying a water bucket. Even Abner Smalley appeared in the midst of the crowd. He gave a scowling look at Calvin, but said nothing, and soon took his departure when the danger was over, as it was directly, for it did not take long to reduce that canvas covering to a black mass, and buckets of water thrown all around on the ground and the trees kept the fire from spreading.

For the second time that night the family gathered in the sitting-room and faced each other over an exciting happening. I told you if you built a fire in that tepee you would burn it down, said Mrs. Gardiner. I never felt easy when you had one.

But it didnt catch fire from our little fire, declared Nyoda, and told the events of the night, from the going out of the fire to the footsteps outside the tepee when the canvas had suddenly blazed up when she was lying in wait for the ghost with a pistol. The circle of faces paled with fear as she told her tale. Who could this mysterious visitor be, who seemed determined to do them some harm? The girls finished the night in the house, three in a bed, but none of them closed their eyes to sleep.