“I was with the signal corps. To return to the subject of our journey, I have a horse a short distance from here. You may ride him, and Mr. Brown and I will walk.”
“Walk! Walk thirty-five miles?” demanded Stacy in a tone that was almost a wail.
“I said thirty-five kilometers, not thirty-five miles,” corrected the guide.
“I don’t care which it is; thirty-five of anything is too far for me. I can’t walk. I have a sore finger. I stuck it on a fishhook yesterday,” protested the fat boy.
“Very well, you may remain here if you wish. Come, Miss Briggs. We must take along some of the provisions that are in the cabin.”
“Mr. White found those too,” thought Elfreda, then aloud: “Have we the right to do that?”
“Within reason, yes. This is a forest ranger’s cabin, and one is free to help himself.” Stacy ran in and filled his pockets with cans, and the guide took a can of beans for himself and one for Miss Briggs, directing Stacy to put back all but one of those he had taken. The three then set out at a brisk walk, and at about a mile from the cabin they turned off, and soon found the horse, on which they placed the Overland girl. After mounting, she secretly tucked the canvas bag into the saddle pocket.
It was a relief to Elfreda not to have to walk, and further, it gave her opportunity to study the wiry figure of Hamilton White as he strode along in the rear of Stacy, whom he was urging along, much to that young man’s freely voiced disgust.
Shortly after noon they stopped to water the horse and to give the rider an opportunity to rest. They then pressed on, for the way was rough and progress slow. It was near night when they came within hailing distance of Silver Creek village, and a great shout went up from the Overlanders when they saw Elfreda.
During the absence of the guide, the Overlanders’ missing horse had come in, enabling the Overland Riders to resume their journey to the Cascade Range. It was an evening of rejoicing for them, in which the villagers joined, for the young women of the Overland party had been of great assistance to them in their trouble. Not alone that, but it was freely admitted that Ham White and the Overlanders had saved the village from destruction.