The strange girl was indeed light in weight.  Naturally slight, her sickness had also taken flesh from her, so that when Tavia put her arms about her, and the other threw her arms over Tavia’s shoulders, the two trudged along over the rough path, and soon were out on a roadway.

“There is a camp over there,” said Tavia, as they came in sight of something white, just showing through the sunset.  “We must go to that.”

“I can walk,” insisted Molly.  “It is too much——­”

“So can I carry you,” argued Tavia, “and if you have any bones broken you must not strain them further.”

It did seem a long way to the tent, but the road that led up to it showed travel, and was therefore more easily followed.

“Strange I am not afraid of anything,” murmured Molly.  “If we do have to stay in the woods all night, I shall not be afraid.”

“That is because you are stunned—­you had a very bad fall,” said Tavia.  “I feel that way myself—­I have gone through a great deal, lately, too.”

“Now, let me walk—­it is only a step,” begged Molly, at the same moment getting down from Tavia’s arms.  “Here we are right at the tent.”

Welcome shelter!  Never were two girls more in need of it.

“And the queer part of it is,” said Tavia, “I am supposed to be a joke—­to get and take everything funny.  This is certainly no joke.  How do you feel, dear?  I hope these people will let us in.  We may get some camping days after all.”

They timidly made their way to the tent.  It was closed!

“No lights,” remarked Molly.  “Oh, Tavia.  My head hurts again!”

“Mercy!” exclaimed Tavia, without showing why she was so alarmed.  “Do you suppose it is just a headache or——­”

Molly had sunk down on her knees.  Tavia sprang to the flap of the tent, and dragged the rope from the stake.

“Empty!” she cried.  “But we must get in.  Come, Molly, I can lift you, and whoever may be the owners of the camp, surely they will not turn us out to-night.”

“But if they are rough men——­”

“No, rough men do not furnish a tent like this.  See the pictures pinned up; and what is this?”

Tavia had lighted a candle that was placed conveniently near the flap, with matches at hand, showing that whoever lived in the tent intended to return at dark, and so had their light ready.  Beside this candle was a printed slip of paper.  Tavia read: 

     “A thousand dollars reward for information that will lead to
     the finding, dead or alive, of Dorothy Dale and Tavia
     Travers.”

“Dorothy gone too!” shrieked Tavia.  “Then they are scouring the woods for us, and that is why this camp is deserted!”

“If only I could walk!” breathed Molly.

“Never mind.  We will stay here—­until something else happens—­but who can tell what that may be!”

The shock of the news about Dorothy absolutely stunned Tavia.  With it went all her strength, all her courage, and she felt then like lying down to die!