The little group, white-faced and trembling, broke and made for the trail. The girls started first. The boys staid still, irresolute; but as the uncanny sound grew louder and louder, soared higher and higher, they became panic-stricken too. They ran. Arthur, ending the file, walked at first. But finally even his walk grew into a run. The others leaped forward. They bounded over the trail, gaining in terror as they went. In some way, they got into the canoes but half a dozen times their trembling and fumbling nearly spilled them out. It was not until they were well out into the middle of the Magic Mirror that their composure came back. “What do you suppose it was?” Maida asked, white faced. “It couldn’t have been a ghost could it?” dropped from Laura’s shaking lips. “No.” Arthur dismissed this theory with complete contempt. “I should think it was a crazy person,” Harold declared. “Is there a lunatic asylum around here, Maida?” “No,” Maida replied. “Is there any crazy person about here?” Maida shook her head. “I think it was a tramp who first stole our lunch,” Arthur guessed shrewdly, “and then decided to frighten us away.” “I think the wood is haunted.” Rosie shivered. “Nonsense!” Maida exclaimed. “Well I wish I hadn’t run away,” Arthur burst out impatiently. “I wish I’d stayed.” “So do I, Arthur,” Maida agreed vigorously. “That’s the first time I ever ran away from anything in my life.” “Let’s go back,” Arthur suggested. Laura burst into tears. “Oh, please don’t,” she begged. “I’m frightened to death.” “We won’t go, Laura dear,” Maida reassured her, “don’t worry.” She continued after an interval of thought, “And don’t let’s tell Granny Flynn and Mrs. Dore about that screaming. Let’s say that our lunch was stolen while we were away. If I tell them all of it, they won’t let us go on another picnic.” “Well, believe me, I don’t want to go on another picnic,” Laura said, her eyes streaming still. However, by the time they had reached the jetty and had tethered the canoes, they were more composed. When they reached the Little House even Laura had begun to smile, to admit that the tramp theory was probably the correct one. Granny Flynn and Mrs. Dore looked very much concerned when they heard the story. They asked many questions. Finally they decided with Arthur that tramps were the answer to the strange happening. Maida persisted though that tramps were never permitted in Satuit. The next morning Arthur strolled down to the lake alone. In a little while, he came running back white with rage. “What do you suppose has happened?” he called while still running up the trail. “We didn’t lock the canoes in the boathouse last night and somebody has made a great hole in all four of them.” The Big Six rushed down to the Magic Mirror. It was only too true. Four of their canoes were ruined. The children stood staring at them, horrified.