"It is not
easy to get about in woods on a dark night like this," and she gave
a look at the lights to make sure they were all right. "The boys
were to send word here, or to leave word with Ben if they found her.
Now let's hurry."
It was a sad little party that started off from Camp Cozy. When,
that evening, according to the note Cora had left on the hanging
lamp, she did not appear, for some little time, there was scarcely
any anxiety. Cora was so reliable, and of course they could
conjecture a dozen things that might have detained her. But when an
hour passed, and she then was not to be found, Jack jumped up, Ed
and Walter followed, and as they hurried off, left the word that
through Ben, or by message to camp, they would report to the girls.
Now another whole hour had passed, and there was no message.
"Which way shall we go--?" asked tenderhearted Bess.
"To the landing first," Hazel replied. She was always leader in
Cora's absence.
This was but a short way from the camp. At the landing stood Ben
with his faithful lantern.
"They've got her boat," he blurted out.
"Where?" asked the girls in chorus.
"Just in the cove. But nothin' could hev hurt her there. She ain't
drownded in that cove."
"But how could her boat get there?" demanded Hazel.
"No way but to be run in there," answered Ben. "I tell you, girls,
this is some trick. 'Taint her fault of course, but she's all right
somewhere.
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