“Oh, I appreciate that I always have been more of an outsider than any other member of our Sunrise Camp Fire. Don’t think I am complaining; I realize that I am colder or more selfish and that I have fewer intimacies. But, Vera,” Sally’s large golden brown eyes caught those of the other girl, who plainly had been thinking of something else, “Vera, to-night, during our discussion of friendship, are you thinking of one of us, or of Billy Webster? Was he not more truly your friend than any member of our Camp Fire?” “Sally!” came the shocked exclamation from several of the girls at the same instant. However, Vera Lagerloff’s long eyes, with their odd foreign look, met Sally’s bravely. “There is no reason why Sally should not speak of Billy Webster. Please do not think I ever forget him. Yes, Sally, Billy was the best friend I ever had or hope to have. Yet his death in California[2] has not left me less ready to give my friendship to our Camp Fire. Indeed, I sometimes feel it is only through the Camp Fire and our work in France that I have been able to accept Billy’s passing away.” “‘He that loseth his life shall gain it,’” Bettina quoted softly. In the midst of the pause, feeling that her introduction of Billy Webster’s memory had made their discussion of friendship more sorrowful than she had intended, and conscious that Alice and Bettina were frowning upon her with varying degrees of severity, Sally turned her gaze from the firefight and her group of friends. At the instant her attention was attracted by a whirr of snow against the window. It was as if an errant gust of wind had tossed great handfuls against the pane. There was a noise outside, a little scuffling, uncertain noise. Sally looked more closely, and as she looked her eyes widened and her red lips parted. The color faded slowly from her fire-warmed cheeks. The next instant she was on her feet. “I saw a face outside the window,” she exclaimed. “And one I have seen before!” Fifteen minutes later the big living-room in the winter cabin at Half Moon Lake was deserted, the discussion on friendship having ended abruptly before it was well begun. On the mantel the candles representing work, health and love had ceased to glow. There were only a few sparks left to smoulder amid the ashes of the log fire. No one of the other girls had seen a vision at the window save Sally Ashton, and therefore believed that she had been mistaken. Some animal may have wandered out of the deep woods because of the storm and been attracted by the lights inside the cabin. Yet the spell was broken and bed appeared the happiest solution. CHAPTER VIII Midwinter To the Sunrise Camp Fire girls the closing in of winter about Tahawus cabin brought a new experience of life. Never in the many seasons spent together under varying conditions had they been so thrown upon their own resources for happiness and growth!