It was a quiet and thoroughly subdued Stacy who accompanied them on their ride that day, though Emma Dean’s motherly solicitude for him, even to the extreme of cutting up his bacon at luncheon, filled his soul with resentment, and the hearts of the others with joy. Jim Badger finally reminded them that it was time to start back to camp.
Miss Briggs suggested that it was also time they moved to another camping place, and asked the guide where he would advise making a new camp. He said he would let them know that night or on the following morning.
“Why the delay?” interjected Grace.
“Because I want to make inquiries about trails and the like. I don’t know everything about this Park—nobody does,” he added, as they mounted and started away. The Overlanders acquiesced, content to let the guide make the arrangements to suit himself.
Late in the day they approached the Springs Hotel at a brisk gallop and Hippy, now in great good humor, suggested that they show the guests of the hotel how the Overlanders could ride.
“Everyone do her prettiest,” he called.
For the first time that day Stacy Brown, scenting an opportunity to distinguish himself, began to take a lively interest in their activities.
“Little boy, be careful that you don’t fall off,” warned Emma as they neared the hotel, the Riders presenting a snappy appearance, each one rigidly sitting his saddle, right arm hanging at the side, left hand lightly resting on the reins.
The hotel veranda was crowded with tourists, as the dinner hour was approaching. Some of the guests gathered there already knew who the Overlanders were, and a burst of hand clapping greeted their arrival.
Stacy Brown, laboring under his not infrequent delusion that he was the whole show, rose in his stirrups, hat in hand, the bridle-rein trailing on the pony’s neck, as he swept into the drive that led past the veranda. When directly opposite it Stacy’s mount stumbled in a rut. At that moment, the fat boy, who was standing in his stirrups, suddenly looked startled and emitted a howl, and as the pony’s nose struck the dust, the boy left his saddle with a neat, curving dive. He landed on his shoulders and flopped over on his back, accompanied by cries of alarm and laughter from the guests.