With a last glance at the old mill, which seemed silent and deserted enough now, and a parting look at the disappearing wagon, the Camp Fire Girls made their way to where they had left their boats. Soon they were rowing over the peaceful lake, which the setting sun was painting in hues of vermillion, olive and yellow. “Isn’t it beautiful,” said Natalie softly, as she hummed a few strains of “The Land of the Sky-blue Water.” “Beautiful!” “And to think of the old mill and—” began Marie. “Don’t,” suggested Alice. “Let’s enjoy the sunset.” Silently they rowed onward, their faces to the glorious colors in the west. “Wo-he-lo! Wo-he-lo!” suddenly called Marie, as they neared the shore. “Wo-he-lo!” “What is it? Who is it?” asked Mabel. “The boys. There they are on shore, waiting for us,” and she waved her hand. Over the water came floating the echo of the call of the Camp Fire Girls: “Wo-he-lo!” “Work—health—love!” murmured Natalie. “What a wonderful combination for—girls.” “And the greatest of these is—love,” softly quoted Alice. “I’m thinking of that poor Gypsy girl,” murmured Natalie. “She perhaps had plenty of work—but I wonder how much of—love? Did she have any?” “She had health, at any rate,” observed Mabel, as she pulled on her left oar to change the course of the craft. “Of course—if she was anything like the other girls in the camp,” admitted Natalie. “But perhaps she has been driven away—maybe the rest of the tribe found she had been—been taking things, and drove her away. She may have taken her health with her, but very little of love, I’m afraid.” “Oh, no doubt some of those Gypsy lads, with their beautifully white teeth, are in love with her,” suggested Mabel. “That isn’t the only kind of love there is,” said Natalie softly. “Oh, my! How romantic we’re getting!” cried Alice. “I declare, that haunted mill must have affected all of us.” “Let’s forget it,” suggested Mrs. Bonnell. “I wonder what the boys want? They seem a bit excited.” The three chums were hurrying down to the water’s edge and, as the boats approached, Blake hailed the girls. “Where have you been?” he demanded. “Out for a row,” evaded Marie. “Were you over to our camp?” asked Jack. “Your camp? No,” answered his sister. “What do you mean?” “Why some one has been there and about cleaned us out of grub. We thought maybe you girls had borrowed some.” “Indeed not,” answered Marie. “We are just getting back. We’ve been to Bear Pond again. But, girls!” she exclaimed, “if the boys have had unseen visitors, perhaps we have too. Let’s look,” and, springing from the boat she hurried up to the tents. CHAPTER XXIII MYSTIFICATION “Anything missing?” gasped Mrs. Bonnell, as she came up the slope from the lake, whither Natalie had sped in advance. “Don’t you dare tell us there is!” cried Marie.