“We’ll have some trouble explaining to the general,” remarked Thistle as they started back to camp. “And this was the day we were to finish our collection.”
“But look, what we did collect,” answered Wyn under her breath, referring to Nora. “Did you ever see anyone so pleased as our friend?”
“She looked happy,” assented Thistle. “But say, Scoutie; whatever are we going to tell the girls about the prince?”
“Let’s say we drowned him,” suggested Wyn, foolishly. “That will give Alma a lovely murder mystery to work upon.”
Nora overheard the word “prince” and surmised correctly it was meant for her Fauntleroy. She longed to turn back to the Nest rather than meet the other girl who might recognize her.
“It’s so near lunch time——” she began.
“Oh, no girlie,” protested Betta. “You are the only specimen we have collected today, and if you don’t come back with us we will all get dreadful marks. Come along. Be a sport and help us out.”
“Yes, we will be considered life savers, perhaps,” added Thistle. “Of course, we won’t say we did anything noble——”
“Nor say we didn’t,” drawled Wyn.
Thus urged, Nora had no choice, so she set off with her new companions towards Chickadee Camp.