Some time elapsed before the camp of the Meadow-Brook Girls settled down.  They felt even more secure, knowing that Harriet had captured the intruder’s rifle.  It was not believed that the man possessed another, so there was little danger of further shooting that night.  At the suggestion of the guide, and the further orders of their guardian, the girls rolled in their blankets and soon were asleep.  They were awakened, shortly after twelve, by a shout from the guide.  Then followed a volley of quick shots and a warning cry from Janus Grubb.

CHAPTER XXIII

A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE

“Quick, girls!” shouted Miss Elting.

“Thave me!” screamed Tommy Thompson.

Harriet opened her eyes in time to see Janus running rapidly from the camp, firing his revolver at every jump.  After his second shout of warning he was not heard to speak again.  For a moment or so they could hear him crashing through the hushes, now and then firing his revolver, probably when he caught sight of the man he was pursuing, the intruder having no doubt returned, perhaps hoping to be able to catch the camp asleep, thus giving him an opportunity to recover his rifle.

The girls unrolled themselves from their blankets as quickly as possible.  Harriet started to follow Janus.

“Come back!” commanded Miss Elting.

Harriet halted abruptly.  “Please let me go,” she pleaded.

“By no means!  How could you ask such a thing?  Let Janus attend to matters of this sort.  We must look after ourselves here.  The man may return.”

Harriet Burrell still stood where she had halted.  Her head was bent slightly forward.  She was listening.  Not a sound could be heard now from the pursuing guide.

“Hoo-e-e-e-e!” called Harriet.  But no answering call came back to her.  She still kept her position until the guardian called to her.  Harriet then walked slowly back to her trembling companions.  Jane and Miss Elting were no more frightened than Harriet.  They did not know, however, what had occurred to disturb Janus, and could only surmise.  Harriet stirred the fire, throwing on more dry boughs and brush until a crackling blaze had sprung up.  She was more disturbed than her expression indicated.  In the meantime Miss Elting had satisfied herself that nothing had been taken from the camp, which knowledge served in a way to relieve her.

However, as the moments passed, and nothing further was heard from the guide, the others of the Meadow-Brook party began to feel a vague alarm.  They could not believe that anything had happened to Janus, nor could they understand why he should remain away from the camp so long.  Jane and Harriet “Hoo-e-e-ed!” until they were hoarse, but no reply followed their calls.  Half an hour passed; then an hour, during which time everybody walked nervously about the camp.