“Never mind; never mind! We will take your word for it,” protested Stacy Brown. “We do not need a public demonstration.”
“It surely would be interesting,” agreed Elfreda.
“Oh, all right. Just let me know when the show is coming off and I’ll have business on the other side of the mountain,” declared the fat boy.
During this temporary halt the pack-horses had plodded on alone. They made a detour of the spot where the snake was being skinned, seeming instinctively to know where they were expected to go, and soon after they started off, Woo Smith followed with his “Hi-lee, hi-lo!”
About midday they topped a range of hills, and before them saw revealed a vast forest that stretched over more miles of mountain country than they cared to try to estimate. At first they had no idea of the bigness of the trees; it was merely a great forest.
Lieutenant Wingate, who had been gazing inquiringly at the scene, fanning himself with his sombrero, turned to his companions.
“Good people, you are now gazing on some of the big trees of California of which you no doubt have heard or read much. Before you lies the world-famous Sequoia forest. Let us push on. When you are among the trees you will get a better idea of their great height.”
“You should have been a guide on a sightseeing bus,” averred Emma, as the Overlanders rode on.
The party reached the edge of the great forest some two hours later, where, in the cool shadows, they halted for a rest.
“I am told,” resumed Hippy pompously, “that this forest comprises more than five thousand specimens of trees.”