More than the prospect of a good time, was the hope, unexpressed, that they might see again that strange thing which Amy and Mollie had only glimpsed the time before.  Perhaps, they thought, if the mysterious thing were faced in the open and in broad daylight, it might prove to be no mystery at all but something ordinary and commonplace enough to do away with all their vague and weird imaginings.

But in this expectation they were most completely disappointed.  Nothing at all unusual occurred and although they enjoyed their swim in the warm back eddy of the pool, they came away disgruntled and with a curious feeling that they had been cheated out of something.

“I only wish the boys would come,” sighed Amy, as they turned in once more at the lodge.

After that the “Thing” became almost like an obsession with them.  They must find out definitely what it was that was spoiling all their fun.  They began to haunt the river, especially at the foot of the falls, in the hope of seeing something, anything that would put an end to their curiosity and uneasiness.

For a long time they had not got up courage enough to visit the place at night, but at last they became curious enough to brave even that.

“We have simply got to find out something,” Mollie whispered to Betty as on this particular night they stood on the porch and waited for Mrs. Irving to join them.  “We can’t go on this way any longer, Betty.  Why, I am getting so nervous I jump if you look at me.”

“I know,” said Betty soberly.  “It really is getting on our nerves too much.  Amy and Grace are feeling it even worse than we are.”

“Yes,” agreed Mollie grumpily.  “Last night was the third night in succession that Amy got us all out of bed to listen to some fool noise outside.  I’m just about sick of it.”

The other three came then and they had no further chance for conversation.  As a matter of fact, they talked surprisingly little on the walk to the river.

High above them a wonderful full moon sent its silvery light filtering down through leaves and branches, making of the woods a fairyland.  Somehow, the very beauty of it filled the girls with a strange dread.  To them the patches of moonlight were weird, unreal, the shadowy woods held a sinister menace.

By the time they had reached the river’s edge they were almost ready to turn and run, But they conquered the impulse and pressed on.  Then suddenly they saw what they had hoped, yet dreaded, to see.

On the opposite bank, staring down into the rapids with a terrible intentness, stood a man, or something that resembled a man.  In one awful, breath-taking minute they realized that here at last was the “Thing.”

As they watched, the hunched-up crouching figure on the opposite bank made a lumbering movement forward as though about to throw itself into the water at the foot of the falls.

“Oh!” screamed Betty, the words wrenched from her dry throat.  “Don’t do that!  You mustn’t do that!  Go back!  For goodness’ sake, go back!”