“How many horses will you need?” asked Julie, quickly scheming.
“There are eight people in the party, and they will want one or two extra horses for the luggage,” replied the man.
“There are nine horses and one mule in our outfit,” hinted Julie, her eyes gleaming as she glanced at the Captain.
“But your mounts will do us no good,” laughed the man.
“Oh, they might, if you could persuade us to swap for a time,” said Julie, daringly.
“Julie, what do you mean?” demanded Mrs. Vernon, angrily.
“Why, one likes to be brotherly, you know, Verny, and in the wilds, far from other people, we ought to do a good turn to strangers. Here is a party with a number of canoes but no horses, and here are we with horses but no canoes—see my point?” she said.
“Even though you are the Scout Leader, Julie, I do not see how you can even suggest such a step. The Captain refuses to listen to any argument along those lines,” said Mrs. Vernon sternly.
“We scouts like to canoe, and we will be here at camp for several weeks, so a little side trip like the one offered now would be most delightful,” responded Julie, who understood that the Captain’s objections arose mostly from dread of the scouts taking the trip on unknown streams.
“Several weeks! Why, we are only camping here for a few days,” retorted Mrs. Vernon. “Besides I have no idea of exchanging safe methods of travel, for what is known to be a great risk.”