16. Unexpected Visitor
It would never do to leave Sally out of any hikes, Kit said as the end of the week drew near again, and so Buzzy was commissioned to give her a message.
“Tell her we’re going to walk from here over to Mount Ponchas, and back by way of the Spring House. We want to start at five Friday night.”
“Ought to start at daybreak for a hike,” Buzzy replied. “Never heard of starting near sundown. You’ll fetch up by dark at the rock ridge and sleep in a deer hollow.”
“Maybe we will,” Kit responded hopefully. “I hadn’t thought of that, Buzzy. It sounds awfully nice. If you could just get a peep at our lunch you’d want to hike too, no matter where we fetched up.”
“I’ve camped out along the river. Not this river. The big one down at the station, the Quinnebaug. We fellas go down there when the bass is running and fish for them nights. Eels too.”
“Do you know a boy named Billie Ellis?” Kit asked suddenly. “Does he ever go along with you?”
“Billie Ellis? I should say not,” Buzzy answered emphatically. “Judge Ellis wouldn’t let him go along anywhere with the rest of us fellows. He caught a big white owl the other day over in the pines back of the Ellis house.”
“I wish he’d come over our way some time. I’d love to know him. He sounds so kind of—well, different, you know.”
“He’s different all right,” laughed Buzzy good-naturedly. “I remember once three years ago it was awfully cold, and we boys had been skating and went into the feed store to get warm. And who should come in but Billie Ellis without any hat on, and only an old sweater and a pair of pants on, and shoes and socks. We asked him how he ever kept warm such weather, and what do you suppose he said?”