First came the sheep wagon, then a line of ponies and girl scouts, as the Chief would have dubbed them. They looked it too, in their trim khaki suits, and lightweight felt hats with turned-back brims. Every brim bore the class pin of Calvert, the big C on a shield of deep maroon, with silver quarterings.
They took the straight road west from the ranch, instead of turning off over the bridge, or north towards the gulch.
“Isn’t this the way we go to the Alameda?” asked Sue.
“We pass the MacDowells’ place on our way to the mountains,” said Peggie. “Father said we would let out a hail at them but we’d best not stop, for it delays us. We want to reach a good place to camp to-night.”
“Does he know where he’s going?” asked Ted, interestedly. “I mean, does he know all the roads and trails ahead?”
“I guess he does,” laughed Peggie. “He’s traveled them often enough. Every year some of us go camping, you see, and we like to go over the same trail.”
“Shall we meet bears?” asked Isabel, thoughtfully, but without any sign of pleasurable anticipation.
“I hope so,” Peggie said, very cheerfully. “I like bear meat. I never had a chance to shoot any, but Don did last year. He’s got the pelt now, up in his room. You didn’t see his room, did you, girls? It’s the garret over the main cabin. You have to climb up a ladder to get to it, and even Don can’t stand upright, but he’s got all his pet things up there.”
“I’m finding out the queerest thing about life,” Isabel said, in a low voice to Ruth. “The less you have, the more you love it.”
Ruth laughed, and nodded her head.