The Phantom Violin / A Mystery Story for Girls

ford them a shelter for the night. Balsam tips must be gathered. These are nature's mattres

hen, over a fire that had burned down to a bed of glowing coals, they brewed str

g at their backs, they sat

to live," Je

ive," Flor

take one long, deep breath of this glorious air, after you h

reck, wondering what might be happening to it in their absence. In her short

e came in search of something. I

ing coals reminded her of many another campfire tha

She had left him there. But gypsies seldom remain in one place. "He may be back in America." She liste

island. Can he drive his van across miles of water?" But gypsies, she knew right

lin. "Some day," she told herself, "I shall see that violin and the ha

ese reveries, "Swen is a fine boy. I wish we cou

fair?" Jeanne

twice a week for their fish. And the captain pays so very little for their fish! In these hard times money is so scarce the fis

eir own fish to market. Not a big boat, but large enough. They've

boy whose nets were set not

ck might become. For a very little pay he had assisted them in fitting up th

ted. "When hard times came he was

elp him!" Jeanne put in

e," Greta said, "he and h

d her knees. "We should see

ound with a sharp stick. "All we need is a barrel of gold. Greta wants a fine music teacher.

"Only happiness for

ted dreamily. "And perhaps it is r

us?" Gret

a camping ground for countless generations. The Indians came to Isle Royale to pound out native copper from the rocks

e we dug down and found some treasure-a barrel of-. But then,

s did," Flore

were

utstretched hands, the big girl stared into the darkness that is Duncan's Bay at night. "Great, stalwart men, muscl

ne night with a great bag of gold. Perhaps they were expecting an attack by Indian

ps they did. Anyway, you are right on o

ghed, "what we need most

at last called them to re

ant rush of water against the rocky shores of Blake's Point and star

bed beneath their boat, she found her mind going over th

erienced in this event a return to the wild desires of her early ancestors. They had been wanderers,

has not passed from the earth. There still are adventures

e. Back of that was a sloping hillside where the spruce, balsam and pine of a primeval forest battled for a place in the

dge is Tobin's Harbor. Many people there. But suc

t crying out. A loud click had sounded out in the night.

she pushed the covers quietly aside, rolled over

t. Still lying flat on the damp earth, she listened with all her ears. What

ut were they human footsteps? She doubted

d into the night. At that moment a lou

patriarch of his tribe, a moose with wide-sprea

thousand or more on the island, and that they are

days. His giant antlers were a burden. He walked very slowly an

the blood seemed to freeze in her veins. A second creature

n, Old Uncle Ned stepped into the w

ave the walls of her memory. Neither the moose nor the wolf had seen her. The moose,

is lolling tongue. But the instant the aged moose was well in the water and, f

kill tha

to her feet, seized the steel casting rod and, racing to the ba

led in for a second try. All this she had done under

spoon, striking the wolf on the back, slid down to at last entan

irl screamed. "Wake up

reamily. "You are walking in your sl

protested. "Get up! Quick! Quick! I've c

as saying to herself,