“Say, girls, I forgot all about that. Honestly I did.”
“Then tell us now,” suggested the guardian.
“I’ll tell you when we get to the camp.” George began climbing the hill, followed slowly by the girls and their guardian.
“Isn’t he provoking?” grumbled Margery petulantly.
The boys led the way over the brow of the hill to the more level ground and on into the forest that crowned the top of the hill. Reaching a cleared spot from which the timber had been cut, the girls found the advance guard of Tramps at work pitching the tent. There was a heavy growth of bushes, but the stumps had been fairly well burned off. The clearing, surrounded by great trees, was about an acre in extent and a really attractive camp site.
“Here we are,” announced George jovially, throwing down his pack. “You girls just make yourselves at home while we put the place to rights. How do you like it?”
“I like it,” answered Harriet frankly. “You have done considerable work here, I see—cut all the bushes and leveled off the ground for the camp. It is very kind in you, Captain. Where is your camp?”
“A quarter of a mile to the north,” he replied with a wave of his hand. “You will find a fine spring just the other side of those rocks yonder. There is an old log road leading in from the highway. It is a much more convenient place in every way than the one where you were camped, and yet not a soul comes here. We were here for a time last fall. Have you plenty of provisions?”
“For the present,” answered Harriet, nodding. “We shall have to go to town within the week, however.”
“No need to do that. There is a farmhouse a mile from here where we can get everything we need. We go there for milk every morning. We can just as well bring your milk at the same time and anything else you may need.”