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