“Yes, I have never seen anything like it excepting the coloring of sky and water at Naples, and the coast towns of eastern Italy.”
“Verny, we simply must get some more of the marvelous wild flowers that are to be found here, to add to our collection,” declared Judith Blake, who was half-wild over everything she saw in the west.
“If we collect any more specimens of the cactus, our folks back home will begin to think we plan to launch some sort of Indian patent medicine,” laughed Julie.
“We wouldn’t be believed by the school children in Elmertown if we told them that the western deserts of New Mexico and Arizona are not the broiling waste of sand they picture to themselves,” said Amy Ward.
“I wrote Edith all about it,” added the elder sister, Judith, “and told her how very different it is from what mother feared. If only Edie could have come!”
Further regrets were forgotten now, however, as the scouts came to the meeting-place where they found the teams awaiting them. Then there was merry laughter and much advice as the girls got in and settled themselves in the wagons. Finally the drivers cracked their whips, and started their four-in-hands on the trip.
As such a party was an occasion in Laguna many of the natives were up to watch the four-in-hands and the joyous scouts start. Women with their babies in bright-hued shawls slung across their backs, and men with bronzed bodies wearing only the hip-cloth, and children with no clothes whatever, stood solemnly watching till the entire party was out of sight. But Julie had managed to perpetuate the scene by snapshotting the picturesque group on a film in her camera.
The sun now rose higher, touching the wild poppies, the gorgeous globe cactus, even the blue forget-me-nots with such ardent love that it was small wonder these desert blooms glowed with color as no other wild-flowers can produce.
“Oh, look. See that picture made by the sheep going down to drink,” called Julie, who was in the first wagon. “Just like pictures in the Bible.”
The tourists had left Laguna, where the sun was touching the twin-towers of the church on the crest of the hill as they had their last glimpse of it, and had been going steadily up the trail for some time before Julie spoke.