For fully a half-hour she stumbled along, then she heard Nancy Jane’s voice, and the girls fell on her with loud reproaches. “I was exploring,” Lalla said with shining eyes, and then she told them about the cabin. “It’s mighty secret; I’d never found it only for taking the short cut. Folks could do stillin’ and no one be the wiser.” “I wonder if they do make moonshine there,” said Mallie after a pause. “We heard that shot and were worrying about you. Don’t you run away again.” Lalla smiled, but did not answer. A long whistle came from below. It was repeated. “That’s Miss Howard!” exclaimed Kizzie. “She wants us right away; see how late it’s getting.” All the way down Lalla was very quiet. Her head was full of plans to help Abner and find out more about the mysterious cabin. Mystery appealed to her vivid imagination and stimulated her to immediate action. A thin trail of smoke came up to them as they made the last steep descent into the basin. “Oh, Lalla, Miss Howard’s getting supper and I’m so hungry,” said Kizzie. But Lalla was thinking of the two boys—which way could they have gone home? XVI THE MOUNTAIN CONGRESS IT was several days before Lalla saw Abner alone. He was certainly working like a tiger. He rushed over to meals, and when the boys were dismissed, was gone like a shot, not waiting to join the groups who visited in the yard. It wanted a week of the Mountain Congress when she followed him into the library one day and straight back to the stack room. There was a long table in one corner and piles of reference books on it. Abner had snatched his cap off and was digging for the bottom one of the nearest pile when Lalla touched his shoulder. “Working on your debate?” she whispered. “I hope you’ll win.” Abner looked up gratefully. “I don’t reckon on it much—Raphael’s an old hand, they tell me—but I’m learnin’ a lot, that’s one sure thing.” “I’ve thought of some points which will be likely to help you.” Lalla pushed a sheet his way. “You can never tell what they’re going to spring on you just at the last.” Abner took it with a look of surprise. “I didn’t know that you even knew the subject of the debate; we’ve tried to keep it a secret.” Lalla reddened—she had not thought of this emergency. “Of course I told Gincy,” Abner continued, “and I know she trusts you, so it’s all right.” He had misconstrued her evident embarrassment, and was trying to reassure her. For one moment Lalla’s courage failed, but she was sure Abner stood little chance of winning without some help, and there was almost no risk of discovery, not even if Gincy told her brother that she had kept the secret.