Alec and Knight, hearing the uproar on their way to the house, stopped and begged permission to enter.
"Come right in and sit down on the floor," said Blue Bonnet cordially. "Alec, Grandmother says she'll go!"
"So that's what all the row's about?" asked Knight. "Say, but I'm glad!"
Alec's eyes shone. "Don't you think I'd better go ahead with Knight? I could pick out a camping place and have everything ready for you." He had been awaiting a favorable moment to bring forth his quietly laid scheme, and the present seemed auspicious.
"I think that would be splendid," cried Blue Bonnet enthusiastically, reading Alec like a book. "But you'll wait and go with us, won't you, Uncle?"
"Can't go this trip. Pete has gone up with some of the boys to cut out a bunch of beef-cattle. I'll have to see to shipping them."
"Oh, Uncle,—we need you," remonstrated Blue Bonnet.
"And it's almost as good to be needed as it is to be wanted. Thank you."
"We want you even more than we need you," she insisted.
"You'll have plenty of men creatures to tyrannize over in camp. How many boys did you say there were, Knight?"