“The guide was asleep,” explained Hippy. “No harm was done, as this young man plainly did not hit either of the animals. We are very sorry that a park regulation has been violated by one of our party, and assure you that it will not occur again.”
“I reckon we’ll stay here to-night,” announced the guard.
“We shall be glad to have you,” spoke up Tom. “Mr. Badger, take care of these men’s horses. You may have my tent, gentlemen. I have my sleeping bag.”
“I reckon you don’t have to disturb yourselves. We’ll bunk on the ground. First, we want to see the rest of your party.”
“They are all women,” answered Hippy. “I don’t know whether you can see them or not.”
At this juncture the girls stepped out, each fully dressed, and the troopers saluted, which salutes were returned snappily by the Overland girls, rather to the amazement of the two Park guards. The troopers had given Badger a keen look, and that was all, but instead of permitting him to care for their mounts, they led them over and tethered them with the Overland ponies. When they returned, the Overlanders were turning in. One trooper lay down just inside the tent occupied by Tom and Hippy, the other rolling up in his blanket at the entrance to Stacy Brown’s shelter tent. Stacy eyed the man sourly. In his heart he hoped that the grizzlies would come back and give the fellow a scare. Stacy did not take the situation very seriously.
“Maybe you would like my bed,” suggested the fat boy.
“This will do, thanks.”
“Why do you hang around me?”
“To see that you don’t get into any more mix-ups,” was the brief reply.