Pushing aside the brush with one hand and holding the overhanging limb of a large tree with the other, Tom said: “Now you follow me and I will show you my old hiding place.” They went down a narrow passage rather steep in places, but by hanging onto the roots of an old grape vine managed to keep their footing until they landed on solid rock. They walked a few feet, when, before them Nellie saw an opening about two and a half feet wide. Beyond she could see a large chamber, lighted by the opening she had seen on the outside. Part of the floor was flat and on one side of the wall it was broken, as if it had been cut out for use at some time, for it formed a seat and a table, or rather a shelf large enough to hold the basket of provisions they had brought. Several boxes were lying about, showing that it had been used at some time before. Tom selected a box for Nellie, seated himself on the rock, then exclaimed: “This is the place; what do you think of it?”
“Think!” she exclaimed; “I haven’t got beyond wondering yet. And it was here you thought out all the plans for the society?”
“Yes,” he answered; “after I had lived in the city and seen all the miseries the poor have to endure—the injustices.”
“No, no, dear, don’t say it,” she interrupts him. “This is our resting time, and in such a place we are not going to spoil our holiday by even thinking of unpleasant things today. So you came here to be quiet and plan for the future?”
“Yes, the most important rules were written on that table of stone.”
“What a lovely memory so many of you have who were born and raised in the country,” she continued. “How little the city people know about its resources. Why, this cave would answer for a summer home. I wish it was earlier in the season. We could bring in branches of trees and cover them with pine needles for a bed, some bedding, rugs, etc., and what more could we wish for as a quiet place to rest in?”
“Your enthusiasm would make up for deficiencies,” Tom answered. “While you arrange our lunch I will go to a spring for water, so we can make tea. Do you see the stove over there under that opening where the light comes from?”
“I see a pile of stones,” she answered.
“Oh, you poor, ignorant city girl,” he laughed, “not to recognize the camper’s most useful kitchen utensil.”
While her husband was gone for water, Nellie looked around the cave, feeling the calmness of this God-made Temple. Only the twitter of birds, and the rustle of falling leaves could be heard. She arranged the table for their lunch, then waited till he came. Tom made the tea after he had boiled the water over the twigs he had gathered and burned in the stone stove. After lunch they strolled on through the woods, gathering flowers, while Tom showed her all the beauties of the place. Evening came before they realized it and as they ascended the hill on their return home after securing the boat, when out from the shadow of the trees they saw a calf tied to a tree.