“Yes, Tally; but in the long run it will prove to be the pleasanter route, because the scouts can trail along the Red River which crosses this road a little farther on, and go almost as far as Springer before leaving it to travel on the more public road.”
“Now we ride to camp and sleep, eh?” suggested the Indian.
“I’ll be glad to get myself a cup of coffee, as I did not stop to eat or drink,” remarked the Ranger, turning his horse’s head to follow the Guide.
“Yeh—too bad!” said Tally, but the night hid his face as he spoke. If it had not the Ranger might have felt slightly embarrassed at the quizzical expression in the eyes of the Guide.
The two horses, with their riders, clip-clopped along the trail to the lake and reached camp, where Tally started to brew the coffee, while Sanderson led the animals over to corral them with the others.
While enjoying the coffee, the two men whispered of the joys of mountain trailing: Tally, of his unexpected good fortune in finding such a splendid company to guide that summer; and Sanderson in having found such a splendid company with which he could travel. Finally the embers of the fire were covered, and both men then stretched out upon the grass to sleep.
Because of Sanderson’s night ride, and because of Tally’s interrupted sleep, both men slept heavily and never awoke when the scouts began to move around. Mrs. Vernon and the girls, without a glance in the direction of the camp fire, ran to the lake and, donning bathing suits, took an early morning swim. The water was cold as ice, and a plunge was more than enough to satisfy every one in the party. Consequently, shivering and with teeth chattering, they rushed back to the small dressing-tent to have a brisk rub-down in order to start circulation again.
In a short time they were dressed. Mrs. Vernon, who was buckling her ridingboots, called after the girls to advise them.
“Betty, you rouse Gilly and Uncle, will you? And Hester, you help Tally with breakfast, while Julie and Jo go catch a mess of fish.”
The girls ran away to do as their Captain had instructed. But Tally had anticipated the call, and was already up when Hester came to arouse him. He turned to her as he was fumbling with the campstove, which was belching smoke from its little pipe, and said: “Somebuddy go ketch trout for brekfas’?”