They fell quiet, after this, and exchanged few words until they were outside the tent and had made a fire of twigs and leaves in the rock stove. Sybil warmed the last of the baked beans, adding a little water to moisten them. With these they each ate a biscuit and finished their breakfast with a draught of cool water from the spring.
After the meal they wandered among the queer greenery they had before observed and Sybil called attention to the fact that many of the broad, tender leaves had been nibbled at the edges.
"The owls did that, of course," said Orissa, "and if it is good food for owls I'm sure it wouldn't hurt us."
"Doesn't it look something like lettuce?" asked Sybil.
"Yes; perhaps that is what it is—wild lettuce."
She plucked a leaf and tasted it. The flavor was agreeable and not unlike that of lettuce.
"Well," said Sybil, after tasting the green, "here's an item to add to our bill-of-fare. If only we had dressing for it a salad would be mighty appetizing."
"There's the vinegar in the bottle of pickles," proposed Orissa. "It won't go very far, but it will help. Let us try the new dish for luncheon."
"And how about the bananas?" asked Miss Cumberford.
"I'll proceed to get them right now," promised Orissa, walking back to the group of trees.