“All the same, others take these trips safely,—why shouldn’t experienced scouts?” added Anne.
“Just because we never thought of it, with all our other excitement,” answered Ruth.
“Now that we have thought of it, let’s ask Verny why there are no places where one can hire a canoe,” suggested Julie.
The girls laughed at such an idea, but the thought of what a wonderful experience it would be to canoe on these streams, clung to their minds, and so the Captain heard about it.
“Even if you had canoes, there are no navigable streams,” said she.
“Those folks who stopped to ask Tally the way to Flat Top base were to meet friends who canoed all the way from somewhere,” said Joan.
“Yes, they told us they were to meet the party there and all were going to cross the Divide on horses, then come back and canoe home,” added Judith.
“It seems too bad that all those fine canoes must remain idle while those folks are riding over the Divide,” sighed Julie.
Mrs. Vernon purposely ignored the sigh and the insinuation, then did her best to change the subject to one more practical. But the Fates were against her this time.
The following morning, two of the men who had previously stopped to inquire the right trail to take, returned to ask Tally if he knew of any one who would sell them, or hire out, a number of mountain-climbing horses. Now that the canoeing party had arrived, there were no extra horses for them to ride.