“Have you any plans for fooling the boys, Harriet?” asked Jane.
Harriet shook her head, but, after a gesture of apology, drew Jane aside, whispering with her.
“Can you spare us a moment, Miss Elting?” asked Harriet. Soon the three were in earnest council.
“I agree,” called Tommy ironically. “What ith it? I’m thtrong for it!”
“It’s going to be hard work,” declared the guardian, “and it’ll be rough traveling during the last five miles, but we’ll be there by noon. We made no agreement with the boys to stop at any particular place?”
“No, Miss Elting,” Harriet answered.
“Then everybody to bed!” ordered the guardian tersely.
At three the next morning four sleepy girls were tumbled out of bed by a barely less drowsy chaperon. But swift, silent work had to be done. Harriet put wood on the still glowing coals of the fire, then prepared coffee and a light meal.
“Thtop it!” screamed Tommy, when energetic Jane “struck” the tent, bringing it down on a pair of heads, the other of which was Margery’s.
Jane McCarthy, heedless of their protests, hustled relentlessly. The girls and their guardian ate as best they could, under the circumstances. By the time the light breakfast had been eaten all the packing had been done, and everything was ready for moving, except the dishes and supplies. These were packed by Margery, Hazel and Tommy. At four o’clock all was in readiness for the start.