I hadn't thought of waiting for anybody.
She grabbed a pair of field glasses off the shelf and rushed after me. I heard her calling to Mrs. Blackinton when she went through the yard and I had to go some to keep ahead.
By the time we had climbed the hill, the boys had a big fire going and were piling on green branches and leaves to make it smoke. Then we caught hold of the blanket by the corners, ready to shut off the smoke.
"Ask if it's Bill," Skinny told us, watching the two smokes on the mountain.
Then we signaled, "Is it you, Bill?" and repeated it. Before we had finished the second time Skinny gave a shout.
"It's Bill," said he. "He's signaling."
We could see one column of smoke break up into puffs, but couldn't see very plain because the smoke was so thin and far away.
"Here, take this glass," said Ma, handing the field glass to Skinny.
"Hurrah," he cried, after he had looked through them. "I can see real good."
Then he held up one hand and we waited while he called off the letters.