“Nor do I, but I propose to find out.  Is there such a thing as a lantern here, Mr. Grubb?”

He shook his head.  “Better leave off everything else till we get some food.  There’s the coffee pot on the steps outside, where I put it, but the cream is all gone.  We’ll have to drink our coffee black.”

“Yeth, and thtay awake all night,” averred Tommy.  “But we don’t care.  We are used to thtaying awake all night, aren’t we, Jane?”

“Yes, darlin’, we are,” agreed Jane brightly.  “But I’m wishing I might lay violent hands on the rogue who took our belongings.  Where is that Mr. Sheriff for whom you sent to come and catch our friend of the green goggles and the black whiskers, Mr. Grubb?”

“He’ll be along in good time,” replied the guide, stroking his own whiskers while regarding with squinting eyes the progress of the supper under the deft fingers of the Meadow-Brook Girls.  “Here!  Let me do that.  I reckon I can be finishing the supper while you young ladies get ready.  There’s a barrel of rain water just back of the hut where you can wash.  You look as though you needed it—­no offense intended.”

A merry laugh greeted the words of Janus Grubb.  The girls agreed that they did need it.  Their clothing was not in very good condition, either, but nothing could be done with the garments until they reached a spot where they could change them for fresh apparel.  The girls ran out laughing, and a moment later were heard splashing in the rain barrel.  They came in with dripping faces to get their towels, then, running out again, rubbed their faces until their cheeks glowed underneath their tan.  Tommy’s freckles were now more pronounced than ever, but her usually pale face wore a healthy look and her eyes were bright and sparkling.

Supper was late that evening, nor was it a heavy supper when at last they sat down on the benches in the “Shelter” with their cups and their corn cakes beside them, but they were as happy a party of girls as if sitting at a table laden with good things and sparkling with cut glass and silver.  There were health and good-fellowship here; and there also was the pride of achievement, for these young girls had accomplished a great deal during the time they had been living their out-of-door life.  They made merry over their scanty supper and finished with satisfied appetites.

After supper Harriet asked the guide to prepare some torches, saying she wished to look about to see if she could find anything.  Janus said there was no wood at hand fit for torches.  No wood, no lantern—­nothing save the smoky old lamp in the “Shelter,” and very little oil in that.  Janus said there had been a can of oil there a week before that, but that some one must have carried it off, can and all.

“I’ll hold the light for you if you want to dig,” he offered.

“Yes, please do that,” urged Harriet.  “I know where I wish to look.  If you will hold the light out there on the edge of that bank of rocks I will go below.  It is such a convenient place to throw things.  Tommy, look out that you don’t throw your dishes over when you go out.  I think I will just wash that chimney before we go any further.”