At five they were ready to start. Lucy could not go, nor Anne, Charlotte, or Tony.
But the older girls were all there, and at the last minute Abby Tucker came hurrying along the road with a large paper bag.
“Thought I’d never get here, but I did,” she said triumphantly. “I made popcorn balls for all of you. And I’ve got some red pepper too. Going to throw it at the ghost.”
“Why you cold-blooded person,” Kit exclaimed. “Red pepper at a poor harmless ghost! Shame on you.”
But Abby only smiled mysteriously and gave the girls to understand that red pepper was the very latest weapon for vanquishing ghosts.
Jean had told each girl to bring a blanket. These were spread down and rolled up army-fashion until they looked like life buoys, then slung over the girls’ shoulders. The commissary department consisted of Kit, Hedda and Ingeborg, who counted over their supplies. There were jam turnovers and deviled-egg sandwiches, loaf cake and cheese, ham-on-rye sandwiches, cherries, and gingerbread.
“You’re equipped for a journey over Chilkoot Pass,” Ralph told them teasingly. “How many weeks will you be gone?”
“We’ll be home tomorrow about sundown,” Kit retorted haughtily. “Should you see the distant light of a signal fire you may come after us.”
Jean looked hopeful at this remark, almost as though she wished it might happen. She suddenly seemed reluctant to leave on this long-planned hike.
The girls left Woodhow and turned into the open road. The first couple of miles went fast enough and then Etoile glanced back over the shadowy road behind them and said, “It’s getting a little dark.” Even though it was still broad daylight.