“We are ready for breakfast, sir,” answered Elfreda Briggs. “My, but it does smell good.” “Where is Mr. Haley?” questioned Grace, regarding the guide with a look of inquiry in her eyes.
“He thought best to sleep outside of the camp, and no doubt has gone on before this.”
“Why, Mr. White?” persisted Grace.
“That is a question that I can’t answer just now, Mrs. Gray,” returned the guide, meeting her eyes in a level gaze.
“Oh, very well. We will have breakfast.”
“We will,” agreed Stacy, and began to help himself from the frying pan, when the guide smilingly placed a hand on the fat boy’s arm.
“You forget the ladies, Mr. Brown,” he reminded.
“Forget them? How could I?”
“It is you who forget, Hamilton,” interposed Emma. “You forget that Stacy Brown never was brought up.”
“Give me the chuck!” whispered Stacy. “Heap the plate.”