“I don’t intend to,” answered Stacy. “I can use butter to better advantage than greasing geysers with it. That reminds me, I haven’t had anything to eat in a century or so. When do we have supper?”
“What you need is brain food, though I fear it would break the outfit to supply you with enough to do you any good,” spoke up Emma.
“Get to work and help settle camp,” advised Tom. “We wish to finish supper before it is time for ‘Old Faithful’ to erupt.”
This appealed to Stacy who set to work with more than his usual industry. Supper was soon served and eaten, and it was decided to leave the dishes as they were until after the eruption. Everyone hurried to the basin, finding “Old Faithful” still steaming lazily.
“She’s getting ready for business,” announced the guide after a keen glance into the simmering pool.
The Overlanders did not understand how he knew this, but he seemed to be quite confident. The party had sat about gazing at the pool for more than half an hour, but still nothing happened. Stacy yawned.
“I guess she must be waiting for someone to feed her a pound or two of oleomargarine,” he observed.
Tom walked over and gazed into the pool. He saw that there was more water there than when he first looked, and as he peered in, a gentle bubbling began and the water became troubled.
“I reckon it is time we were getting out of here,” he warned, walking briskly away.
“Oh, pooh! Who’s afraid?” jeered Stacy.