Joanne gave his arm a squeeze. “No, you precious goosey-gander, that I took that ride. You don’t have to tell her exactly how steep the cliff is, do you?”
“Not if I don’t know, myself. Nevertheless I want to have a look at it.”
“How did you learn about the fire?” Joanne turned to her cousin.
“Dawson told me. Was it a big one, Jo?”
“Not so terribly big, but it might have been if the boys hadn’t taken hold of it at once. It started in a small clump of trees, no one knows how, but Mr. Clover thinks some one was lighting a pipe or a cigar and threw the match away into a pile of dry leaves. There was a little open space around the trees, fortunately, and that made it easier to keep the fire back. If it had begun in the thick woods there is no telling where it would have stopped. As it was, the densest part of the woods is farther on, so by cutting away the underbrush and ploughing up the ground it didn’t spread beyond that one spot. I was there and saw it all; it was very exciting.”
“I’ll be bound for you,” returned Mr. Pattison. “Well, Jo, it seems to me that you are the fellow who should have had the medal.”
“Oh, no,” protested she, “I had all the fun; that was enough.”
Mr. Pattison laughed, then shook his head, but did not utter what was in his mind.
By this time they had reached the groups still seated upon the grass of the meadow. No one seemed inclined to leave so long as the cake and lemonade lasted. The Scraggses partook liberally and often, while the boys were not far behind them. No one of these latter, however, but lay aside his portion of the feast when Dr. Selden and Mr. Pattison appeared. The former answered their salutes in true military style and was soon in conversation with Mr. Travis while Mr. Pattison sought out Mr. Clover, after having thanked the boys for their work in putting out the fire.
Soon Unc’ Aaron came up hat in hand, bowing low and saying to Mr. Pattison, “Escuse me, Mistah Ned, suh, but I comes to ax yo’ requirements. Is yo’ recision to congregate hyah to-night or does yuh return to de city?”