“I should not be surprised if everybody had gone in search of us,” said Miss Elting.
“I hope they don’t find uth,” spoke up Tommy.
“It will be a good opportunity for you to get into camp without being seen,” suggested Harriet. “Come, let’s hurry down before some one does come.”
In order that their approach might be the more screened, they hurried over to a fence along which bushes and small trees grew. Sheltered by these they made their way down into the valley. But when they reached the road Tommy halted.
“Not another thtep,” she declared stubbornly. No amount of urging would induce her to go on. It was decided to leave her there while the rest continued on, Harriet promising to return to the little girl with another skirt as soon as possible. So Tommy hid in the bushes, peering out at the retreating forms of her companions.
A fire was smouldering in the Meadow-Brook camp. As the party of girls approached, four boys sprang up. They had been sitting about the fire. Their hats were off instantly, and they tried gallantly to force down the grins that persisted in appearing on their faces.
“Why, how do you do?” greeted Captain Baker of the Tramp Club.
“Where is Miss McCarthy?” questioned Miss Elting, pretending not to have observed the grins.
“She and a couple of the fellows went back to look for you,” spoke up Dill Dodd. “The pace was rather swift for you, even if you did get an early start, wasn’t it?” he chuckled.
“Yes, the pace was much swifter than you imagine,” answered the guardian frigidly.