"There goes some more slang! I haven't my pad here but I won't forget it," reminded the Tally Keeper.
"Oh, bother your pad on such a wonderful morning! Better look for breakfast instead of corrections over my slang!" retorted Hilda, a trifle peeved at being caught napping in her manner of speech.
"Come, girls—we have to have water from the spring," called Miss Miller at this juncture, from the small fire-place she had built.
At that, the girls jumped up and hurried to attend to their several duties; soon after, breakfast was ready.
The top of the mountain was so delightful that the Band delayed their return to Camp until nearly noon. Meantime, Nita grew nervous and wanted to start back before the others were inclined to go. Several times she asked Miss Miller the time, and was irritable and impatient. The Guide kept close watch of her peculiar actions and waited to see the outcome.
At last Cheokee was started on the homeward road and Nita calmed down. She was very quiet but when the girls took the road that led to the house instead of the one that passed Bill Sherwood's house, Nita objected.
"Well, then let me get out here and walk to the Bluff," she said, pettishly, when Zan reminded her that Cheokee had to be put up in his shed and some vegetables gathered for dinner.
Miss Miller did not want to compel the girl to do anything she really did not want to do, so she suggested that Nita get out at the Little Bridge and stop at Mrs. Sherwood's for the meat that Miss Miller had asked the farmer's wife to buy for them.
Nita eagerly consented to this, and jumped out, running down the road that went past Sherwood's.