The in the Mountains Part 6 (1/2)
”Yes, and it isn't straight ahead, either. When there's a big tree in the way, the trail goes around it, and on the regular trail the guides went along a straight line and chopped down trees when they had to.”
”All right. Give me the hatchet, and I'll mark the proper way to go.”
Deftly Bessie, who had had long practice in the use of a hatchet when she lived with the Hoovers, cut off a strip of bark on a tree at the meeting point of the two trails, so that it formed a plain and unmistakable guide to anyone who knew anything at all of woodcraft.
Then they pressed on. They walked fast, and, with nothing to delay them, they made good time, pausing only once in a while to take a sip from their water bottles.
”I can't hear the girls singing any more, can you?” asked Dolly, presently.
”No,” said Bessie, pausing to listen. ”I guess we must be quite a little way ahead of them now. We ought to be, of course.”
”How much sooner than they ought we to reach the peak?”
”That's pretty hard to tell. I don't know how far it is. But I should think we ought to walk about four miles to their three. So if it's ten miles, we ought to be about two miles and a half ahead of them when we get there--and they ought to walk that in about half an hour--say a little more, forty minutes.”
”That would give us plenty of time to get things ready.”
”I should hope so! We really haven't so very much to do when we get there. It's quite an honor for us to be allowed to make the fire, isn't it?”
”Yes, it is. But we won the right to do it, Bessie. You must remember that. And, of course, it isn't like a ceremonial fire.”
”No, but it's a real fire, and an important one. Look! We're beginning to go down hill now. We'll be climbing again before we get there, though.”
”Let's hurry! I'm just crazy to get the fire started. Who is going to make the light?”
”Why, you are, Dolly! You won the dish-was.h.i.+ng race, so you've certainly got the right to do that.”
”I'll let you do it if you want to, Bessie. I don't care about the old race.”
”No. You earned the right. And I believe you can do it better than I can, anyhow.”
”It's just a trick, when you once know how. I used to think it was a wonderful thing to do, but it's just as easy as threading a needle.”
”That's another thing that isn't easy until you know just how to do it, though.”
”I guess that's so. I've seen boys try to do it, ever and ever so many times, and they usually threw the needle and thread away two or three times before they managed it.”
”Are we to cook lunch as soon as we all get to the camping spot?”
”I don't think so. It would be too early, you see.”
”I guess the fire will be made, though. Do you know what we are going to have?”
”Potatoes. I saw those. And I believe we're going to have a ham, too. And coffee, of course, and a lot of fruit for dessert.”
”Well, the ham would take quite a long time to cook. I guess maybe we'd have to start in cooking right away to get finished in time.”
”The boys ought to be having just the same sort of meal that we do. Or else it wouldn't be fair, because some things take longer to cook than others, and you can't hurry them, either.”
”Oh, I remember now that Miss Eleanor spoke about that. That's one of the rules.”
”I believe we're getting near, for the trail is rising pretty sharply now,” said Dolly.
”That's so. See how hilly it is getting to be. It's quite clear on top of the peaks, I believe. I wonder if we'll be able to see them on the other peak and if they'll be able to see us?”
”We'll see the smoke, anyhow. There's nearly half a mile between the two peaks, Miss Eleanor said.”
”Come on, let's hurry. I'll be dreadfully disappointed if they get their fire started first.”
”So will I.”
Then the ascent grew so sharp that for a time they needed all their breath for the climb before them. But the prospect of reaching their destination prevented them from being weary; they were too excited by this strange sort of race in which the contestants could not see one another at all.
”I think this is splendid!” panted Bessie. ”This being on our honor. Either side could cheat, and the other wouldn't know it--but neither side will.”
”Oh, there's no fun in cheating,” said Dolly, scornfully. ”If I win anything, I want to know I've really won it, not that I got it because I was smarter than someone else that way.”
”That's right. Of course it's no fun to cheat! I always wonder why people who cheat play games at all. I don't believe they really know themselves, or they wouldn't do it.”
Then came the last part of the ascent, and they went at it with a will, though they were ready for a rest. But when they reached the summit, and were able to stand still at last in an open s.p.a.ce almost altogether clear of trees they were amply rewarded for all their exertions.
First of all they looked eagerly to the south, toward the peak that was the twin of their own. A happy exclamation burst from them simultaneously.
”No smoke there yet!” cried Bessie.
”We're here in time!” echoed Dolly.
”We mustn't waste any time, though,” cried Bessie. ”Get your sticks started while I lay a fire, Dolly.”
Swiftly Dolly sank to her knees and arranged her fire-making apparatus, the bow, the socket and the drill. Then, while she drew the bow steadily and slowly, making the drill revolve in the socket which was full of punk, Bessie brought small, dry sticks and a few leaves, so that when the spark came in the punk, it would have fuel upon which to feed.
”There it is--the fire!” cried Dolly. ”See how it runs along in the leaves, Bessie.”
First a little glowing ember; then tiny flames, that crackled and sputtered. And then arose a wisp of smoke. Carefully Bessie piled on stick after stick, carefully chosen and well dried by sun and wind, so that they would burn quickly.
”Oh, the beautiful fire!” cried Dolly. ”I do love it, Bessie. See, how it runs along. Really, it's a splendid fire!”
Merrily it blazed up, bright and clear.
”Now we want some green wood that will make a smoke,” said Dolly. ”Here's some. I think it's burning well enough now, don't you?”
”Yes. Let's make the smoke now.”
On went the green, damp wood, resinous and full of oil. And in a moment a thick smoke hid the bright, leaping flames.
”Here's the blanket!” cried Dolly. ”Catch the other side--now!”