The midnight intruders found Tommy, however, a most belligerent captive.  She struggled violently and made frantic efforts to scream out, until, fearful of discovery, one of the mysterious visitors hastily seized Tommy’s clothing from her locker, another took charge of her bathrobe while four of them marched the indignant little girl out of the tent and away from the camp where she was forced into her clothes despite her strenuous resistance.

“They are hazing us,” thought Harriet as she was led away.

That was the plan.  The hazers, now divided themselves into two parties.  One division took charge of Grace, while the other division proceeded in the opposite direction with Harriet and after walking a short distance came to a halt.  The bath towel that was nearly suffocating Harriet was partly removed from her head.  A voice, plainly disguised spoke to her.

“Art thou prepared for initiation into the mysteries of the tribe of Wau-Wau, my sister?” asked the voice.

“That depends upon what the initiation into those mysteries is.  I don’t know whether I am prepared or not,” answered the girl lightly.

“My sisters, is the fire extinguished and the hearth left in order?” asked the first speaker.

“Even so.”

“Then having been tried by fire, by the flame that thou wilt one day wear upon thine arm it is meet that thou shouldst learn the touch of the enemy of those flames.  My sisters what is the enemy that defeats the flame?”

“Water,” answered a muffled chorus of voices.

“Then, my sister, thou, having been tried by the fire, the fire that burned at our feet this evening it is meet that thou shouldst now submit to the final test.  Below thee is a pool, a pool deep and dark wherein lurk the water sprite and the wood nymph, waiting there to welcome thee.”

Harriet now heard the ripple of water somewhere near at hand.  She smiled.  Water, no matter how deep, held no terrors for her.  She was an expert swimmer.  However, the night was cool and she knew that the water of a forest stream would be a great deal colder.

“Hast thou yet earned the swimming honor?” asked the voice at her side.

“I can swim, if that is what you mean.”

“It is well.  The water sprites and the wood nymphs will lend wings to thee in thy efforts to please them.  But beware.  The way is far and dark.  A bottomless pool lies far below thee.  Art thou prepared?”

“Oh, yes, I think so.  At least I shall be no better prepared in——­”

Harriet Burrell did not complete the sentence.  Her bathrobe was suddenly snatched from her shoulders.  Some one gave her a violent push from behind.  She leaped to save herself from falling, just what they had looked for her to do.  It seemed to Harriet that she must have fallen many, many feet before she reached the water, which in reality was not more than three feet below the spot from which she leaped.  She struck the water with a little gasp, then stood still for a second in bewilderment, as the water rippled over her feet and ankles.  The bottomless pool was not more than a foot deep.