“Unless you wish us to delay moving on, we plan to leave within an hour or so.”
The colonel said he knew of no good reason why the Overlanders should delay their departure, and added: “If there be anything that we can do for you while you are in the Park we shall esteem it a favor to serve you. Colonel Scott, I also thank you for your assistance in this matter. I trust that none of you will speak to outsiders on this subject. Mr. Wingate, you were in the service during the war, were you not?” he asked, turning to Hippy.
“Yes, sir. Ninety-fourth aero-squadron, fighting pilot. The young ladies of our party were members of the Overton College unit, and Mrs. Gray served as an ambulance driver at the front.” As Lieutenant Wingate rose to take his leave, Colonel Appleby and the others of the Overland party also rose. The commanding officer saluted and all hands returned the salute snappily, then left the office of the commander of the Park forces. Outside, they bade good-bye to Colonel Scott and started back towards their camp.
They found that Jim Badger had struck the camp and was lashing the packs, whereupon all hands fell to and assisted in making ready for their day’s journey. They planned to make camp that night at the base of Electric Peak. Hats were waved in farewell as the outfit passed the hotel; then the ponies settled down to a steady jog and were soon lost in a cloud of dust.
Prairie schooners, parties on horseback, bicycle squads and many others were passed on the government road. Here and there the little white tents of other campers were observable some distance back from the road, and early in the afternoon the Overland party halted to make camp. Leaving Badger to pitch their tents at the edge of a fringe of trees, the Overlanders set out with their ponies to visit the Upper Basin. They had not ridden far ere they found it necessary to dismount and tether their ponies, because the ground near the geysers was found to be insecure.
As the Overlanders walked out over the thin volcanic crust each one was profoundly impressed. They picked their way amid steaming pools, now and then startled by a sudden column of steam and water that shot up near by. Gusts of heated sulphurous air fanned their faces.
“This must be the Devil’s Parlor,” suggested Stacy.
“I should say it is his workshop,” answered Miss Briggs. “But it is a wonderful place.”
“Not wonderful—terrible!” declared Nora. “Were I suddenly to find myself alone here I know I should have an attack of heart failure.”
“Pshaw! You’re a tenderfoot,” accused Stacy.