For some time they sat about the fire, discussing the strange events of the day. Finally, all became sleepy, and it was decided that they had better "turn in." As Old Rocks seemed to sleep "with one eye open," they had not found it necessary to have any one stand guard since he had been with them. No wild animal could come prowling about the camp without arousing the old fellow in a moment. The fire was replenished, the flap of the tent left open, so the warmth might enter, as the nights were rather cool, and the party retired. In a short time all were sleeping soundly. Frank's slumber was dreamless, but he was finally aroused by being shaken fiercely. "Git up hyar!" commanded a snarling voice. In the twinkling of an eye he was wide awake and sitting up. "What is the matter?" was the question that came from his lips, as, by the dim light that came from the dying fire, he recognized Old Rocks bending over him. "Ther dickens is ter pay!" grated the guide. "She's gone!" "She? Who?" "Ther leetle gal." "Fay?" "Yep." "Gone?" Frank was dazed. He looked around and saw Barney and the professor sitting up near at hand, but, sure enough, he could see nothing of the child. "Yep," nodded Old Rocks. "She ain't in this yar tent." "But--but how----" "Dunno how she done it 'thout wakin' me, but she's gone." "It must be that the Hermit crept in here and kidnaped her." "Begorro!" cried Barney; "Oi belave thot is roight!" "It seems reasonable," said the professor. "Whut d'yer think!" snarled Old Rocks; "fancy I'd snooze right along an' let anything like thet happen? Wa-al, I guess not! Dog my cats ef I know how it kem about, but there gal jest vanished." "She appeared like a fairy, and like a fairy she has disappeared," said Frank. "But she may be near the camp. We must lose no time in making a search for her." "Right ye are!" cried Old Rocks, as he led the way from the tent. Hastening outside, they called to the child, but received no answer. "Wait a little," advised the guide, as he replenished the fire. "Don't go ter trompin' round yar too much. I wants ter look fer sign." In this emergency they knew it was best to rely on his judgment, and so they remained quiet, watching his movements. Having started up the fire, the guide began looking for "sign." His eyes were keen, and it did not take him long to find what he sought. "Hyar's whar she left ther tent," he declared. The others looked, but the ground told them nothing. "That's foolishness," said Professor Scotch, sharply. "You don't mean to say you can see anything here?" "Wa-al, thet's whut I mean. You're a tenderfut, an' so yer can't see anything. She wuzn't carried off." "It is not likely she went away alone." "Likely or not, thet's whut she done." Bending low, Old Rocks followed the trail as far as the light of the fire reached. "I reckon I kin torch her," he muttered. "What do you mean by torching her?" asked Scotch.