"I thought it was plain enough, but Bob declares that the boy was too stupid to understand a simple invitation. She is in her glory because every one is disappointed," said Anne.
"I wouldn't let her see me feeling bad for anything!" exclaimed Polly, stiffly. "But I do wish they would come, because I wanted to find out if he ever knew any one like our Old Man Montresor."
"Look! See way over there—out on the Bear Forks road?" now exclaimed Eleanor, pointing away towards the distant trail.
"Sure enough!" breathed Anne, with relief.
"But there are three, and we only expected two. Who can the other one be?" added Polly.
"Maybe they are not our company, at all, but some ranchers riding that way," suggested Eleanor, fearfully.
"Ranchers seldom ride that trail, and never on Sundays. Now look!" said Polly.
The three horses had stopped and soon, one rider was seen going along the trail to Oak Creek, while the other two turned in at the gulch trail and disappeared under the giant over-hanging rocks.
"Hurrah!" shouted Eleanor, waving her sun-hat wildly about her head.
"I reckon our company is coming, after all," said Polly, smiling with satisfaction.