"
"I hope he did not hypnotize Mabel," replied Cora.
"Or Jack," added Hazel.
"No fear of the latter," declared the sister. "Jack is too
level-headed to take any cue in that direction."
"That's just the way I feel about Paul," spoke Hazel. "Isn't it
lovely to have such splendid brothers?"
"Nothing could be more satisfactory," declared Cora, "unless it
would be having a sister besides. I have often wondered what I
should have done if I had not had such splendid girl friends. Do
you feel as if a sister would have made your life more complete?"
"I have never thought of it," said Hazel.
"But Cora! Look at that woman!"
Almost creeping through the tall grass the form of a woman could be
distinguished. She had evidently come from a boat that was lying
along shore--a rowboat. Seeing the girls, the woman stood up.
"It's Kate Simpson!" exclaimed Cora, "and she seems to be looking
for our camp!"
"Miss!" called the woman, her voice shaking. "Wait, wait for poor
Kate! Oh! I'm droppin' down!"
"What is it, Kate?" asked Cora kindly. "You seem exhausted."
"Oh, indeed I am that," replied the woman, brushing the straggling
hair from her forehead. "I am all but dead!"
"What has happened?" asked Cora further.
"I can't tell you here. They might find me, and they'd know the
boat."
"We can hide the boat in the bushes, and you may come up to the
camp," suggested Cora.
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