Bennie was in the front seat with exactly two motions. Spider dove into the rear, and found a hole to sit in amid the luggage. The doctor and Mr. Stone tooted their horns, the housekeeper waved from the door—and they were off!
CHAPTER VI
Bennie and Spider Have to Make After-dinner Speeches, and Bennie’s Knees Knock
The day before had been cloudy and cold, though the boys had been too busy with their packing to notice it much. Now, however, that they were off at last, and wanted to see every bit of country there was to be seen, they were acutely conscious that it was a heavy day, without a single glimpse of Mount Hood through the vapor, and the threat of rain at any minute.
“Nice weather you’ve handed us for a start off,” said Bennie to his uncle.
“Oh, this won’t last long,” Uncle Billy assured him. “We have the finest climate in Oregon of anywhere in the world. It’s never very cold in winter, and it’s never very hot in summer, and our tent probably won’t get wet on this entire trip.”
“Is that so?” said Bennie. “Some smart tent, I’ll say. Look at your wind-shield.”
Indeed, as he spoke, the first drops of the rain began to splash on the glass.
“You wait!” Uncle Billy smiled.
On the edge of Portland they stopped for gas, and the Stones’ car pulled in behind them. A big, smiling man, covered with axle grease, came out to fill them up.
“Hello, Doc,” he said. “Off for a trip? Got a fine day to start. As far as I can see, it rains for twelve months of the year in Portland, and it ain’t very pleasant the rest of the time.”