“I wonder what next?” laughed Nora.
“Probably a life sentence for Stacy,” answered Elfreda.
“I shan’t serve it alone,” retorted Chunky.
After having the locks of their weapons sealed with sealing wax, the Overland party left the fort, and immediately held a consultation with their guide, at which they decided to make camp near by, using the Springs section as a base for a few days while exploring that part of the Park.
A camp site was selected about half way up the slope, overlooking the fort, the plateau and the hotel. It was both sightly and delightful there, and their camp was made with some idea to permanency. Badger proved himself to be extremely handy at this work, and the Overlanders concluded that he was going to be a useful man for them.
The work was finished shortly before noon and Grace suggested that they all go to the hotel for luncheon, a suggestion that was enthusiastically approved, so, putting on their “best,” the party rode down to the hotel, where they enjoyed a real meal of brook trout and other good things. After luncheon they sat on the broad veranda watching the splendid teams hooked to Concord coaches, carrying parties of tourists to the geysers or on a journey around the Park itself.
From the verandas of the hotel were visible the dazzling white terraces of the Mammoth Springs, shining like ridges of solid silver in the bright sunlight. From the plateau, terrace rose upon terrace, finally disappearing among the pines far up on the opposite mountain-side. The guide told them that there were two hundred acres of these terraces.
“Yonder phenomenon that delights and mystifies, is simply calcareous material deposited by the overflowing springs held in—in a—a—well, in a chemical solution,” finished Tom hesitatingly.
“Ahem!” said Emma.
The others nodded solemnly, their eyes regarding the entrancing scene before them. In the far distance lay the Gallatin Range, ten thousand feet above the level of the sea, while, from the broad plateau, on which they were, rose Electric Peak, bordered at its base by a fringe of slender green pines. The Peak, from the first, held a strong appeal for the Overland Riders. Perhaps it was the name, perhaps something that they had heard about it, but whatever the reason, they determined to climb the Peak, where they were destined to learn more than guide books could tell them of Nature’s vast storage battery.