"Who did dark and bloody deeds and whose spirit now haunts the place," interrupted Maud. "Oh, don't!" begged Ray. "It's not quite as bad as that, but I heard some one say that on certain dark nights that--" "Stop it!" commanded Cora. "My nerves are all right, but I'm still shaky from that stone. Let's see if--" "Oh!" cried Bess suddenly. "There's something there, girls," and, with dramatic gesture, she pointed to a pile of leaves in one corner. "Something moved there, I'm sure of it!" They looked, and all started as the leaves actually did move. "Come on!" cried Ray. They gathered up their skirts and were hurrying from the old room into which they had penetrated when the leaves rustled still more, and from them came a tiny snake. There was a chorus of screams and Cora found herself alone in the ruined chamber. She was pale but resolute as she followed her companions sedately. "Weren't you awfully frightened?" asked Ray as Cora joined them. "No indeed," she answered. "I prefer a live and seeable snake to some haunting, unseeable rumor that only appears on dark nights. But let's get out into the sunlight and admire the ruins from a better perspective. Besides it's getting near lunch time." It was more reassuring out of doors, they all admitted, and after admiring the picturesque remains of what might have been either a church or fort as far as appearances now went, they got the hampers from the cars and feasted. Then, sitting in the shade, they discussed many things until lengthening shadows warned them that it was time to go. "Now for a jolly day to-morrow," remarked Maud as they neared their stopping place that night. "If only we have good weather." She had her desire. Never was weather more perfect, never were better country roads discovered and never could there have been a more jolly party of girls. Maud was enchanted with Ebbinflow. She declared the watering place was a perfect fairyland, but some of her companions hinted that it was the style of the gowns that attracted her. Still they spent the best part of a day there, enjoying the bathing and coming back in the cool of the evening much refreshed. "Now, Bess, it's your choice for our destination to-morrow," announced Cora at a little luncheon just before retiring time. "But please don't choose ruins or a watering place." "The woods for mine," announced Bess. "I heard of a lovely grove about twenty-five miles from here--" "Twenty-five miles to find an ordinary grove," said Maud. "Oh, but it's not an ordinary one," declared Bess. "It is quite extraordinary." A delightful fancy dress ball was given that evening at the girls' club, where our friends stopped, and this made a pleasant break in the tour and a welcome relief from spark plugs, carburetors and the cranking of motors, much as the girls had come to care for their cars.