The Camp Fire Girls and their brothers and friend, went on excursions together, and had a general good time. The summer had been an ideal one, so far, they all agreed. The girls did some more clay work, and Mrs. Bonnell sent to the Camp Fire Headquarters for a hand loom on which to make bead work. “For you girls will soon be Fire Makers,” she said, “and will want to wear some of the bead head-bands. You can begin weaving your particular designs now. Natalie can make a pine tree for her symbol, Marie a bird, Mabel an ear of corn, and Alice an Indian tepee.” “I think Natalie will look perfectly stunning with a bead head-band over her black hair,” whispered Marie. “She’s stunning as she is now—a regular Pocahontas,” answered Mabel. The girls were delighted with the bead work, and kept at it so steadily that the boys complained they would not “come out and play.” It was late one afternoon when Mrs. Bonnell, who had been walking through the woods with Marie, who wanted to look for a certain flower, came back. She had left Natalie and Mabel together, at their bead work. “Where’s Natalie?” asked the Guardian. “I have a lovely idea for her bead head-band.” “She went out to meet you,” said Mabel. “Some time ago. Didn’t you see her?” “No!” exclaimed Mrs. Bonnell, as she looked at the lengthening shadows over the lake. “I—wish—she would come back.” In spite of themselves the girls and their Guardian felt a chill of fear strike to their hearts. “Let’s call!” suggested Marie. They united their voices in Natalie’s name, varying the summons with “Wo-he-lo!” and “Dogwood camp!” “What’s the matter?” asked Blake, who came running over a little later. “Natalie is missing!” exclaimed Mabel. “Oh, Blake, what could have happened to her?” CHAPTER XXV ON THE TRAIL “Now, the first thing you want to do is to keep cool,” advised Blake. “Take it easy—nothing could have happened to her.” “Oh, but you don’t know—there might,” gasped Alice. “What is it?” asked Jack, as he and Phil came up on the run, having followed Blake when they heard the girls calling. “Natalie is missing!” exclaimed Mrs. Bonnell. “Marie and I went for a walk in the woods, leaving Mabel and Natalie here. When did she leave you, Mabel?” “Soon after you started out.” “That’s nearly two hours ago. And she’s been gone all this time,” commented the Guardian. “Did she say which way she was going?” “No,” answered Mabel. “I didn’t pay much attention. I was looking after that beef stew, and I didn’t want it to burn, so I kept going in the tent ever so often.” “I heard Natalie say, when I was over the stove at one time, that she was going into the woods, and I took it for granted that she would follow you.” “We didn’t see anything of her,” said Marie. “We walked slowly at first, so she could easily have caught up to us.”