“Me pooly well,” grinned Tally, pulling off his cap and bobbing his head many times.
Mrs. Vernon, approaching, extended her hand and spoke cordially to the guide, who was devoted to her. With Tally’s advent came also the bulky bundles, but by that usual persuasive power which operates with public servants Mr. Gilroy induced the Pullman porter to stow away the outfit during the remainder of the trip.
The tents, cook-stove, utensils and harness were to be purchased in Trinidad, the junction where Mr. Gilroy planned to leave the train and take to the trail.
Soon after they started southward for the Enchanted Lands Mr. Gilroy began to catechize.
“I see you obeyed my orders to travel light, but I want to know just what you brought. I may have to supplement the baggage at Trinidad.”
Mrs. Vernon enumerated: “We each have a khaki suit; a pure wool suit; waterproof coats; cowboy’s slickers; several pairs of wool golf stockings; three changes of wool underwear—one light weight, two pairs heavy weight; one pair knee-length rubber boots; one pair scout hiking shoes, and one pair riding boots. Then we have a few minor items such as toothbrushes, combs, etcetera.”
As the Captain read from a paper, Mr. Gilroy checked up the items on a memorandum he had taken from his pocket.
“I see where you’ll need more shoes, Captain. Once we start on the trail it will be difficult to get the kind I want the scouts to have this summer. We will try and buy them in Trinidad. Otherwise I shall have to telephone to Denver and have a sport-shop send them to Santa Fé, where we can get them from the express-office.”
“What special kind do you want, Gilly?” asked Mr. Vernon, who had been listening to the conversation.
“Tally says elk-skin boots never shrink when wet, nor do they harden as they dry. They have broad extension soles which keep the stirrups from rubbing against the sides of the foot. These soles, made partly of cork, give a spring and lightness to the hiker, and are thick enough to protect the soles of the feet from being bruised from the sharp projections of the rocks. We figure that a pair of these high boots will last throughout the trip if ordinary care is given them.