So it was not only a happy Troop that shouted good-by to relatives, but also a flushed, merry group of nine girls who could not keep silent for long.
Ruth was in the rear seat of her father's car, which Jim was driving, when she suddenly sat up and called out to the chauffeur:
"I'm sure one of our suitcases on the trunk-rack at the back must be loose, Jim. I hear it bump about every time you go over a rough place in the road."
"It can't be, Miss Ruth," returned Jim, trying to peer out and see the baggage; "I strapped 'em on good and tight before we left."
"Well, it happens to be my suitcase that's on top, and I'm sure I don't want to lose it," declared Ruth.
"Maybe we'd better stop and make sure about it; we can soon catch up with Verny again," suggested Judith.
So Jim sprang out to investigate. "The suitcases are all right, Miss Ruth, but somethin's wrong in the back all right."
At that Ruth jumped out and joined the man. "What is it?" asked she, anxiously.
"The sag in that spring 'pears to me to say it is about done for. We'll have to travel slow till we find a garage."
"For mercy's sake! Didn't you and Pa's chauffeur overhaul both the cars thoroughly when you knew we were going on this trip?"