"Oh, Walter!" shrieked Grace, her own pony following the others,
while Walter and his mount remained behind.

But the boy leaped into the saddle. He waved his hand to his
sister. They saw his mouth open and knew he shouted a cheery word.
But they could not hear a sound for the roaring of the tornado.

In a second, it seemed, the tempest burst about them. Rhoda had
headed her pony for the hills. The mounts of the other girls were
close beside Rhoda's pony. But Walter was instantly blotted out of
sight.

Whether he followed their trail or not the four girls could not be
sure.




CHAPTER XXI

IN THE OLD BEAR DEN


"Girls! Oh, girls!" shrieked Grace. "Walter is lost!"

She might have been foolish enough to try to draw in her pony; but
Rhoda, riding close beside her, snatched the reins out of Grace's
hand.

"More likely he thinks we are lost!" Rhoda exclaimed so that Grace,