So, through a combination of quite ordinary circumstances, Sunrise camp was deserted except by Mrs. Burton, Marie and Gerry.
Mrs. Burton did not feel equal to the long hike and Gerry simply declined without giving a reason.
Since her farewell to Felipe about thirty hours before, she had received no word from him and yet this afternoon Gerry knew he would appear. Now and then she even hoped he would not come, at least not until the next day, or even the one after that.
Soon after the other girls departed, Mrs. Burton asked Gerry to sit beside her and talk while she rested in the sunshine.
A small fire was always kept burning at Sunrise camp, no matter how warm the day, for the small amount of heat made no appreciable difference and the fire was always being needed for cooking.
So Marie arranged an Indian blanket upon the ground away from the windward side of the fire and then went into her tent to write letters.
Afterwards Mrs. Burton lay down in such a position that she could look closely at Gerry.
In the few minutes they had been together without the others, she had noticed that Gerry looked pale and depressed.
"You are not worrying over anything, Gerry?" Mrs. Burton asked.
Gerry shook her head. "Certainly not. What have I to worry about—except everything?"