“Five miles, five points.”
“All right, Frances, I’ll try to get up a little energy and go! How about you, Lilian?”
“Why you know I twisted my ankle a little this morning in games and it doesn’t feel right yet. I’ve been rubbing it, but I do not believe that a five-mile walk would help it any.”
“O, no; you ought to rest it today. Did you see the nurse?”
“No, it did not swell or anything. I just gave it a wrench, I guess. It will be all right.”
“I’m not going either,” said Cathalina. “I will go down to the house and get you some liniment, if you like.”
Marion, Frances and Hilary proved to be the only Squirrels’ Inn representatives on this hike, for Betty decided to stay with Lilian and Cathalina, and Nora had other plans. The three hikers donned their elkskin hiking shoes, took their smallest purses and started with the rest out the road toward First Trott’s. It was too early in the afternoon for much shade, though the narrow road wound between ferns and woods as ever. The sun had baked the ruts hard, too, and came down hot upon youthful shoulders. But why get points if one does not earn them by effort?
“I’m going to see how soon I can walk it,” said one girl, striding past, though for the most part the girls were going in groups, some strolling, some walking briskly or sturdily along.
“Goodbye, then,” said Frances, “there isn’t any hurry this time, with such a short hike and time to rest there. I’d rather take it more slowly and eat a few blueberries or stop in the shade occasionally, wouldn’t you, Hilary?”
“Indeed I would. But I didn’t bring my field glasses. I thought that there would be few birds flying while it is so hot, and we’ll be coming home for supper before it cools off very much.”