The scouts found that Mark had erected several bird-houses, and as they stood watching him line up his horses again, to lead them back to Freedom, they plied him with questions about Granny Dunstan.
“Mark, does she keep all those pigs for meat in winter?” asked Ruth.
“No, she fatten’s ’em en sells ’em fer groceries en’ other needs. Her pork fetches more’n enny other round th’ country.”
“How do you account for that, Mark?” asked Mrs. Vernon.
“Cuz it is such sweet and clean meat. Them pigs fatten up on acorns and nuts. And that makes the finest tastin’ flesh, yuh know.”
After Mark left camp, the girls still talked of the old lady and her wonderful knowledge of woodcraft. Mr. Gilroy and Mrs. Vernon stood at a short distance, conversing in low tones. Finally they came over and joined the scouts.
Mr. Gilroy said: “I want to thank you scouts for all you have done for me, not only in saving my life, but in entertaining me later.”
Julie looked anxiously up at him and said, “You sound just as if you were going to leave.”
Mrs. Vernon and he laughed: “To tell the truth, I am.”
“There—I knew it! It’s that old walnut bed!” cried Ruth.