The party then moved off at a brisk gallop. The sun was behind the mountains when they reached Squaw Valley for the second time. Down on the level below the trail they saw their tents pitched and ready for them. The wagon team was staked down, a fire was burning in front of the tents, and Ike Fairweather was observed working about the camp. The girls shouted and Ike waved a hand.
Without leaving their saddles, the entire party slid their ponies down the steep bank without a single rider coming a cropper, though Emma lost her stirrups and was clinging to the pommel of her saddle, bouncing up and down perilously as the party trotted into camp. When her pony stopped, which it did abruptly, Emma fell off in a heap. About the same instant Lieutenant Wingate’s pony stepped in a hole and Hippy went off over the pony’s head, but this time he clung to the bridle rein and held the animal.
“Good work,” complimented Grace when Hippy, very red of face, struggled to his feet. “You surely are a graceful animal, Lieutenant. Pinal Creek is a little way beyond this camp, and I suppose you will be falling into that next.”
“That’s right. Abuse a fellow when he is down,” growled the lieutenant.
Grace, with her bridle rein thrown over one arm, walked over to Ike Fairweather.
“Now that Lieutenant Wingate has finished his performance, I wish to say that it is very fine of you to get our supper started.”
The bacon was in the frying pan, and the potatoes, baked in hot ashes, were ready to be served, as Grace discovered upon testing them with a fork; the coffee was done, and the tin plates were already on the folding table that had been included with the equipment. Oilcloth spread over the table made it look quite attractive.
Folding camp stools had been placed by Ike, and Hippy promptly took a seat at the head of the table.
“Being the only male member of this party, proper, my place is at the head of the table,” he declared. “Be seated, ladies, I beg of you. Kellner—Garcon, I mean, bring on the food and—”
“Please eat and be silent,” urged Grace laughingly, as she began serving the food. “In my childhood days I was taught that children, while at table, should be seen and not heard. Come, Mr. Fairweather, sit down. We are all one family now.”