Soon the steaks were ready. The girls filed past Miss Gordon, each receiving a cup of steaming soup and a hot sandwich.
Gathered on either side of the wooden table, they excitedly discussed who might have prepared the feast for them. Their mysterious benefactor was nowhere to be seen. Nor had he left any clue as to his identity.
“The brownies must have done it,” chuckled Veve. “The imaginary ones I mean.”
“I wish we knew who built the tree house,” Connie said, taking a large bite of sandwich. “The person who did that must have planned this surprise for us too.”
Eileen asked Miss Gordon if she had any idea who might have provided the meal.
“Not the slightest,” the teacher said, placing another pan of steak on the coals. “I did have a thought about the tree house, but this completely baffles me.”
Before the girls could question Miss Gordon as to the person she had in mind, Connie unexpectedly held up her hand in a signal for silence.
“Listen!” she commanded.
Startled, the other girls became quiet.
Distinctly, they could hear someone approaching on the trail. As yet they could see only a slight movement of the bushes.