"What was it?"
"Was it a voice?"
"You mean on the river?"
"Shh, listen," said Minerva; "look, do you see a light—right there among the bushes? Shh. Don't run."
There was indeed a light shining through the dark foliage alongshore and presently a voice was to be heard, a voice speaking words to strike terror to the stoutest Camp-fire Girl heart.
"I watched for the cops," it said, "and as soon as I saw them I beat it across the field and told the gang and every one got away but it was a narrow escape. One detective had me by the collar. This is going to be easy though."
"Bandits!" whispered Minerva.
"They're going to rob the house while we're on the lawn," breathed Margaret Timerson.
"They're crouching on the shore just behind those bushes," said another girl.
"Leave it to me," said the mysterious voice. "I'll handle them."