By sundown the foot of the mountain was reached and preparations were made for supper. Brushwood was plentiful, therefore a fire was readily managed. Miss Lloyd produced a frying-pan in which slices of bacon soon sizzled. Carrie King was delegated to watch the coffee which began to boil over and was rescued only after heroic efforts. Then the girls fell to and ate heartily, deciding that coffee from tin cups was not so bad after all and that bacon and bread made a dish fit for any king, “including Carrie,” remarked Bertha.
“Apple turnovers!” exclaimed Jean. “Oh, Miss Lloyd, what a nice supper.”
“Crackers and cheese, please, ma’am,” called out Jo.
“I’ll take a cookie.” Jack made known her choice.
There was milk for those who preferred it and water from a spring near by.
It was almost dark by the time they had finished their meal. The stars began peeping from a rack of clouds; a little stream tinkled on its way from the mountain to the lake; an owl hooted in the distance. The girls spread their rubber blankets on the ground and without undressing, pulled their woolen covers over them, each having selected the softest spot she could find.
But in spite of the long ride, the excitement of such an unusual experience kept Nan awake, and she lay looking up at the stars twinkling down at her. The clouds were drifting away and from the blue spaces one after another a golden eye appeared. For a long time she lay thinking, but finally she fell asleep. She was roused after a while by hearing suppressed giggles from Jack who lay next her. She sat up, leaned over and whispered, “What’s the matter, Jack? Haven’t you been asleep?”
“Yes,” said Jack, also in a whisper, “but I was wakened up by something walking over me. I was a tiny bit scared and then I saw such a funny little animal sitting by me and looking at me with such a ridiculous expression that I had to laugh. When you moved it went off. What do you reckon it was?”
“I can’t imagine. What did it look like?”
“I can’t tell, for it wasn’t light enough for me to see very well. I could only make out its funny little face. It wasn’t a rabbit.”