It must have been long after midnight when Betty was suddenly aroused by a queer noise. She had slept heavily, and at first she was not fully aware of her surroundings, nor what had awakened her. Then she became conscious of a curious heavy breathing, as of some animal. She sat up in alarm, her heart pounding furiously. Her throat went dry.
“Girls—girls!” she gasped, hoarsely. “Aunt Kate!”
The latter was the first to reply. Quickly reaching out to the lantern near her, she turned up the wick. Following the sudden illumination in the tent there was a cracking in the underbrush near it.
“Oh!” screamed Grace, sitting up. “What is it?”
“I’m going to look!” said Mollie, resolutely.
“Don’t! Don’t!” pleaded Amy, but Mollie was already at the flap of the tent, which she quickly loosed. Then she screamed.
“Look! It’s white! It’s white!”
Betty, forcing herself to action, stood beside her chum. She was just in time to see some-thing big and white run down toward the lake. There was a clash and jingling as of chains, and a splashing of water. Then the white thing disappeared, and the girls stood staring at one another, trembling violently.
CHAPTER XX
THE STORM
Grace “draped” herself over the nearest cot. Amy followed her example, with the added distinction that she covered her head with the blankets. Betty and Mollie stood clinging to each other.