"What followed?" urged Mrs. Livingston.
"Everything happened. It seemed as if we were being slowly crushed to death. Then Jane and Jasper came to the rescue."
"How did you get such a lame back?" asked the Chief Guardian suddenly.
"I think it was trying to lift the cots," answered Harriet, then she blushed. "I mean when the cots——"
"I understand," smiled the Guardian. "You held up the cots so that your companions might not be crushed."
"I had to do so," admitted Harriet. "But it was no more than I should have done. You see the branches suddenly began pressing down on the cots pinning the girls underneath them. I knew they never could get out if the whole weight of the tree once settled down on them. Jane was near at hand. I knew she would reach us in a very few moments. It was nothing, Mrs. Livingston. I didn't wish to speak of it. Please don't say anything to the girls about it unless you wish to embarrass me," added Harriet, laughing. "I have been more conspicuous already than I like. You see they have not forgotten the soapy soup."
"Nor have I," answered the guardian with a quick compression of her lips. "That affair is being investigated, though I have now little hope of fixing upon the guilty person. Perhaps this interruption may bring out something however. That makes two mysteries for us to clear up. First the hazing, then the incident of the consommé. There are one or more guilty girls in this camp who must be found and dismissed. I am determined upon that. Now about your sleeping quarters."
"Oh, yes, I was going to speak with you about that."
"The only tent we have is a small A tent with room enough for two persons. Do you think you can get along with that, allowing one other girl to share the tent with you, say for instance, Miss Kidder?"
"Oh, yes. But I rather thought I should like to sleep out of doors for a few nights. May I?"