E-text prepared by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images digitized by the Google Books Library Project (http://books.google.com) and generously made available by HathiTrust Digital Library (https://www.hathitrust.org/) Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustration. See 57171-h.htm or 57171-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/57171/57171-h/57171-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/57171/57171-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through HathiTrust Digital Library. See https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433082303326;view=1up;seq=5 [Illustration: “Natalie, in her Camp Fire suit.”] THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS Or The Secret of an Old Mill by MARION DAVIDSON Made in U. S. A. M · A · Donohue · & · Company Chicago New York ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DEDICATION TO THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS OF AMERICA Who are doing so much to glorify, not only the life of the great out-doors, but also the more humble life of the home, this volume is gratefully dedicated. MARION DAVIDSON ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENTS I The Challenge II A Missing Ring III The Deserted Encampment IV The Call of the Camp V Off to the Woods VI The Old Man VII A Night Alarm VIII The Old Mill IX An Excited Constable X Overboard XI Off to the Gipsy Camp XII The Girls Will Try XIII Lost at Bear Pond XIV A Night March XV “It’s the Boys!” XVI The Bottle of Olives XVII A Sharp Attack XVIII Another Try XIX The Gipsy Camp XX The Missing Girl XXI Old Hanson Moves XXII Unseen Visitors XXIII Mystification XXIV Natalie is Gone XXV On the Trail XXVI A Sprained Ankle XXVII Awaiting the Ghost XXVIII The Boys Are Puzzled XXIX The Girls Will Go XXX The Weeping Voice XXXI The Secret Room XXXII Hadee XXXIII Restoration ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS OR THE SECRET OF AN OLD MILL CHAPTER I THE CHALLENGE “Oh, girls, isn’t it just splendid?” “And the rings are too sweet for anything; aren’t they, really?”