Miss Elting and Harriet ran back to the scene of the accident as fast as they could go.  Harriet was limping a little.  They found Jasper sitting at the base of the tree, holding his head and groaning.  Hazel and Margery stood pale-faced gazing down at him.

“What seems to be the matter with him?” questioned Miss Elting.

“It ain’t me.  It’s the hoss,” groaned Jasper.  “That three-year old cost me jest a hundred and fifty dollars two weeks ago.”

“You will get him back,” soothed Harriet

“Yes, but he’s spiled.  D’ ye think Mis’ Livingston’ll ever trust me to take out another passel of girls behind that critter?  And the rig!  It’s smashed.  It’s busted.”

“I shouldn’t worry until I had to,” advised Miss Elting.  “Just now we have other things to concern us.”

“Which way did my hoss go?”

Harriet did not know.  Her head had been in such a whirl at the time she had parted company with the animal, that she had lost all sense of direction.  Miss Elting said the animal had started back toward Jamesburg.

“Then I must git back to the burg and find him,” declared Jasper.

“He ithn’t going to leave uth here in the woodth, ith he?” wailed Grace.

“Don’t worry,” replied the guardian.  “Jasper, how far are we from town?”

“Nigh onto fifteen mile.”

“Then we should be about five miles from the camp?”

He nodded.

“What do you propose to do with us in the meantime?” demanded Miss Elting.

“You kin wait here till I git another hoss and come back.”

“No, thank you.  We do not care to sit down here until you return, which will not be until some time to-morrow morning, even if you hurry.”

“I got to git that hoss or another hoss,” persisted Jasper.

“You will do nothing of the kind.  You will remain right here with us,” declared Miss Elting firmly.  “You shall not go to Jamesburg for a horse until you have seen us safely in camp.  Is there any chance of any one else driving past here?”

He shook his head.

“Why can’t we walk it?” asked Harriet.

“I had been thinking of making that suggestion.  Do you feel equal to it, Harriet?”

“Oh, yes.  And the woods are so nice and cool and fragrant.  I should prefer walking to riding behind that horse again.”

“So should I,” agreed Miss Elting with emphasis.

“I got to git a hoss,” repeated Jasper stubbornly.

Twilight already was upon them.  The forest would soon be in darkness.

“Girls, get together such of your belongings as you think yourselves able to carry.  Jasper will also take a bundle.  I would suggest that we put our changes of clothing into two bags and have him carry them.”

“But our camp dresses are in the trunks,” answered Hazel.

“We shall have to get along without them, that’s all.  Perhaps Mrs. Livingston may be able to fit us out until we get our own clothes.  This is most unfortunate.  I am awfully sorry, girls.  I am afraid you will wish you hadn’t accepted my invitation.”