“Probably,” agreed Uncle Teddy, “unless—”
“Unless what?” asked Sahwah, pricking up her ears.
Uncle Teddy smiled mysteriously. Then from his pocket he produced something which looked like a trumpet made of birchbark.
“What is it?” they all chorused, crowding around him.
“Wait and see,” he said, still with that mysterious smile.
He did not seem to be going to do anything with the strange thing he held in his hand. He led the way through the trees, patiently holding aside the 52 branches for the girls to go through, often stopping to examine a twig or patch of bark. When they had been going some time they came out on the bank of a river. Here was an open space and Uncle Teddy called the procession to a halt.
“Everybody find a comfortable place and sit absolutely still,” he ordered.
“What’s going to happen?” asked Hinpoha curiously.
“Nothing–very likely,” replied Uncle Teddy tantalizingly.
“May we climb a tree?” asked the Captain.