“Miss Elting, something serious must have occurred to Mr. Grubb,” declared Harriet.

“Oh, goodness, more mystery!” exclaimed Jane.

“Please, let Jane and myself go out to look for him.  He may have been shot, he may be suffering, or——­”

“No!  Not a girl may leave this camp,” replied the guardian firmly.

“But what if Mr. Grubb is in trouble?” protested Harriet.

“Would it better the situation were any of you girls to get into the same difficulty?  No, I could not think of it.  Besides, I believe Mr. Grubb will return in good time.  We do not know but he may be hiding, hoping to catch the one he went out after.  If so, you would be interfering with, perhaps defeating, the very plan he has in mind.  No, girls; you will stay here.”

There was no more to be said.  Miss Elting’s word was law with her charges.  Harriet and Jane submitted without further protest, but this did not lessen their concern over the continued absence of the guide.  Of course, there was no more sleep in the camp that night.  The party sat down, always keeping out of the firelight, Harriet and Jane doing guard duty, walking about the camp some little distance back.  Harriet had the rifle.  The possession of this gave them a feeling of greater security than otherwise would have been the case.  She kept the rifle in her hands during all the rest of the night.

Dawn found the girls pale after their long vigil following the exciting incidents of the evening.  But daylight served to bring back their failing courage.  Harriet put down the rifle at the first suggestion of morning light.  Jane gathered fresh fuel for the fire and a roaring blaze warmed them up, for the morning on the mountain was very chill.

“Come, girls, get breakfast,” directed Miss Elting.  “We must eat.  Afterward we shall consider what is to be done.  The situation demands careful thought, then action.  We cannot go far without our guide.”

They knew that.  Breakfast was prepared in some haste that morning.  While eating they discussed their predicament, finally coming to a decision.  It was decided that they should try to follow the guide’s trail, spreading out so as to cover the ground thoroughly.  In this formation they would continue until they either found him or failed.  There seemed no other course to take.  The guide’s pack was distributed among the girls.  It made quite a load for them, but Harriet and Jane carried more than the others, in addition to which Harriet carried the captured rifle.  An examination of the magazine showed that there were ten cartridges in it, quite sufficient for any likely needs of theirs.

Before starting out Harriet raised the rifle with the muzzle pointing skyward.

“Don’t be frightened, I’m going to fire a signal,” she announced.  Margery screamed, despite the warning, when a crash woke the echoes.  After an interval of a few seconds Harriet fired two more shots in quick succession.  This was a signal.  All listened, but no answering shot was heard, nor any shout to indicate that the signal had been heard.