“Who was it, Captain?” pleaded Ruth. “Please tell us!”
“No; I dare not. But I will tell you one thing: after the trip is over, the canoes are to be the property of the members of Pansy troop!”
“When we graduate, can we take them with us?” demanded Ruth.
“No; they are to belong to the active members of the troop. But you have two years yet, Ruth. You’re only a Junior.
“Now—to get back to the subject in question. Suppose we all sit down here. The ground’s dry enough, isn’t it, Michael?”
“Dry enough for anybody what hasn’t got the rheumatiz.”
“All right!” laughed Miss Phillips. “Then I guess we’ll take a chance.”
The happy party seated themselves upon the ground which was well covered with pine needles and dry leaves. Here and there they found patches of moss, but it seemed dry enough not to cause them to avoid it. Miss Phillips began all over again.
“As you have guessed,” she said, “we are going down the Silver Creek. I am allowing two weeks for the trip, although it may take us longer. As far as I know there is only one portage.”
“What’s a portage, Captain?” asked Lily.