Nora sighed.  She was very tired.  Miss Kate came forward and put her arm around her.

“My dear, you are an honor to the Camp Fires.  We owe a vote of thanks to this brave girl,” and taking Nora’s face between her hands she kissed her affectionately.

“I’ve done nothing wonderful,” replied Nora simply, taking her sweater from Patty Sands.  “Luckily I heard her moan and found her.  I couldn’t go away and leave her helpless and alone in a blinding storm, and two men waiting to seize her.”  Then she told Ethel’s story of the conversation that she had overheard.

“Nor could we stay in the woods over night alone.”

A buckboard appeared and Mrs. Hollister jumped out.  She had heard of the accident through Mr. Adams and had made him bring her up.

After seeing Ethel for a few moments she rushed out and threw her arms about Nora.

“You are a dear brave girl,” she sobbed, kissing her.  “You have saved Ethel’s life.  Never while I live shall I forget it.”

“Nor I,” broke in Uncle John, grasping the hands of the girl.  “Miss Nora, you’re a fine young woman and you’re father has cause to be proud of his daughter.”

“Miss Nora,” ejaculated Harvey, “allow me to congratulate you.  You’re a dead game sport,” and he wrung her hands heartily, after which Teddy Kip grasped her by the arm saying: 

“Why, Miss Casey, you’re a regular Scout—­you are, and no mistake.”

Nora smiled faintly.

“Thank you all,” she said.  “I am very tired.  I think I shall go to bed.  Good night.”

CHAPTER X

A HEROINE

So Nora Casey became the heroine of the Camp.  An account of her bravery was in all the papers and the entire Camp was written up.  The once neglected and disliked girl was now in a fair way to be spoiled.  But Nora could not be spoiled.  She was too sensible.

“I say, Miss Nora,” exclaimed Harvey the next day, “I don’t think I’d dare marry a woman with your strength.  You’d put me to shame.”

Nora laughed good naturedly.

“Quit yere blarney,” she said.

As for Ethel, she couldn’t bear to let Nora out of her sight, and Nora whose heart was tender and whose nature was forgiving devoted herself to the girl, reading aloud, relating funny stories of her father, and when tired of talking Patty, Mattie, she and Ethel would play bridge.

The men considered that Ethel had had a narrow escape.  Uncle John consulted with Judge Sands as to what was best to do about the kidnapers.  A few days later two suspicious looking creatures were arrested.  They had escaped from Joliet jail and admitted having been for days in the woods.  Ethel rode to the trial and identified their voices but she had not seen their faces.  They were returned to jail in Joliet and before they left they confessed that they had contemplated finding the girl and holding her for a ransom.  They were intending to sell the horse but they had not tied him securely and he had broken loose.  They were ugly looking customers.