Morning dawned bright and beautiful after the storm.  It was not until then that the Camp Girls realized what a narrow escape Harriet Burrell and the three other girls had had.  There was nothing to be seen of the tent save here and there a white patch of canvas observable under the mass of limbs and foliage.  Jasper was at work stoically chopping away, both for the sake of clearing up the mess and providing some excellent wood for the campfire.  After dinner enough of the wreckage was cleared away so that the girls were able to catch a glimpse of the four cots drawn up close together, though they were now crushed down and lay in confusion on the floor of the tent.

Harriet had gotten up shortly after the usual hour.  Her eyes were bright, but her face showed the effect of the trial through which she had passed.  It still bore scratches.  The girl was so lame that every step she took gave her pain and her back was so stiff that she stooped considerably when walking.  Mrs. Livingston had tried to get the story of Harriet’s saving of their lives from the three girls.  Patricia and Cora were uncommunicative.  Tommy had no very clear idea of what had occurred, except that she “wath thmothered almotht to death.”  But Mrs. Livingston was not to be put off so easily.  She found an opportunity to speak with Harriet early in the afternoon.  The first question she asked was why the cots had been placed in the middle of the tent floor.

Harriet smiled as she told the Guardian that they had been dragged there so that their occupants might escape the rain.

“What followed?” urged Mrs. Livingston.

“Everything happened.  It seemed as if we were being slowly crushed to death.  Then Jane and Jasper came to the rescue.”

“How did you get such a lame back?” asked the Chief Guardian suddenly.

“I think it was trying to lift the cots,” answered Harriet, then she blushed.  “I mean when the cots——­”

“I understand,” smiled the Guardian.  “You held up the cots so that your companions might not be crushed.”

“I had to do so,” admitted Harriet.  “But it was no more than I should have done.  You see the branches suddenly began pressing down on the cots pinning the girls underneath them.  I knew they never could get out if the whole weight of the tree once settled down on them.  Jane was near at hand.  I knew she would reach us in a very few moments.  It was nothing, Mrs. Livingston.  I didn’t wish to speak of it.  Please don’t say anything to the girls about it unless you wish to embarrass me,” added Harriet, laughing.  “I have been more conspicuous already than I like.  You see they have not forgotten the soapy soup.”

“Nor have I,” answered the guardian with a quick compression of her lips.  “That affair is being investigated, though I have now little hope of fixing upon the guilty person.  Perhaps this interruption may bring out something however.  That makes two mysteries for us to clear up.  First the hazing, then the incident of the consomme.  There are one or more guilty girls in this camp who must be found and dismissed.  I am determined upon that.  Now about your sleeping quarters.”