Part 35 (2/2)

”Good gracious! I haven't any habit!” exclaimed Ruth.

”We will ride in the bloomers we wear at camp,” said the Captain.

”I never knew there were enough saddles in Freedom for all of us,”

laughed Julie.

”That is what I went to find out,” said Mr. Gilroy. ”The man, Mark, who has charge of the stable, told me he could hire some from the farmers round about. He is going to bring up the horses in the morning and take them back in the evening.”

”What will he do meantime, to kill time here?” asked Joan.

”He said he would make some bird-boxes for you, and nail them up in various trees, so you can entice the birds to nest here.”

But the scouts had not yet studied bird-life, so they were not aware that the nesting period was past. They delighted in the news that they were to have bird-houses, however.

When Mr. Gilroy took up his flashlight to go down to his ”Royal Suite,”

as the scouts called the walnut bedstead, Joan said: ”Shall we escort you down the trail?”

”Oh, no! I can find the bed, all right. It is such a huge affair that I would have to be blind not to see it in the dark.”

The scouts were soon in bed after this, and honestly tried to go to sleep, but the new adventure planned for the morrow kept them awake.

After telling each other what they would wear and how well they could ride horses, one after the other quieted down, and, last of all, Mrs.

Vernon was able to sleep.

It was past eight when Mark was seen coming up the trail leading a line of horses, saddled and ready to ride. Stopping at the Royal Suite, he waited for Mr. Gilroy to get upon the largest horse. Then they continued to the camp.

The girls had breakfast out of the way, and were anxiously waiting for the horses, so Mark had quite an audience as he rode up on the plateau.

The scouts seldom had opportunity to ride a horse when at home, and now they commented on the different animals. Julie instantly said: ”I choose the brown one--he is so s.h.i.+ny.”

”Seems to me they look awfully tall,” whispered Betty.

”They be the usual size, miss,” said Mark, who overheard.

”Maybe they won't seem so high when we get up,” added Joan.

Mrs. Vernon laughed. ”That is always the first thought of an amateur rider--how high up the saddle seems!”

Mr. Gilroy a.s.sisted the Captain to mount, then he helped the girls up.

Mark had an extra horse, and now he said: ”I brung my own hoss ez I figgered I'd best lead the way as fur as Crest Trail. After that it's easy going and you can't miss Dunstan's Cabin.”

”All right, Mark--lead on,” said Mr. Gilroy.

”As the hosses is all safe fer ridin', the scouts needen' fear 'em. They ain't colts ner air they skittish,” said Mark.

Mr. Gilroy smiled, for he surmised as much. The mounts, in fact, seemed aged enough to be pensioned for the rest of their lives.

<script>