Part 9 (1/2)

”What shall we do with the rest of our things?” questioned Hazel.

”Make them into packages and hide the lot. You might blaze a tree near the road, in case we forget. All parts of the road hereabouts look very much alike to me. There is a good place for a _cache_ about half way between here and the highway. I should go in a few rods, but any food that is not in cans we had better throw away.”

”I don't thee why we can't camp right here,” said Grace.

”This is not the place to which we are going,” Harriet informed her.

”I don't know where it is, but, sooner or later, we'll arrive there.”

”If we are lucky,” added Tommy under her breath.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Jane and Harriet Hid the Trunk.]

Jane had already started for the road. She was called back by Harriet to take hold of one end of the trunk. Together the two girls lugged this to the place on the path that had been indicated by Miss Elting. By going straight in among the trees a short distance they found rocks, under one of which was a hole hollowed out in former times by water, and which made an excellent place in which to stow their equipment until such time as they might be able to return for it.

Hazel, Margery and Tommy brought the rest of their belongings from the highway, Miss Elting and Hazel what had been left at their camping place, all being neatly packed away in the hollow in the rock. This done, and a mound of small stones built over it, the girls were ready to proceed on their journey.

The afternoon was now well along, so they started off at a brisk pace, led by the guardian. Harriet appeared to have fully recovered from her accident. About an hour later they came in sight of a farmhouse. The guardian directed the girls to sit down and rest while she went up to the house to make some inquiries. When she returned her face was all smiles.

”I know where I am now,” she called.

”How far have we to go?” asked Harriet.

”About five miles, they say, but one has to make allowances for distances in the country. It is difficult to find two persons who will agree on the distance to any certain point.”

”Five mileth, did you say?” questioned Tommy.

”Yes, dear.”

”Thave me!”

”We shall easily make it in two hours. I don't think we can go astray.

So long as we keep within sound of the sea we shall be right. If you are ready, we will move on.”

Once more they set out. They had gone on less than an hour when Margery began to cry. Tommy regarded her with disapproving eyes.

Margery declared that she couldn't walk another step. Inquiry by Miss Elting developed the fact that Buster had a blister on her right foot.

This meant another delay. Miss Elting removed the girl's shoe from that foot and treated the blister. Half an hour was lost by this delay, but no one except Tommy Thompson complained. Tommy complained for the sake of saying something. She teased Margery so unmercifully that Miss Elting was obliged to rebuke her, after which Tommy went off by herself and sat pensively down by the roadside until the order to march was given.

The afternoon was waning when once more they came in sight of the sea.

The setting sun had turned the expanse of ocean into a vast plain of s.h.i.+mmering, quivering gold. The Meadow-Brook Girls uttered exclamations of delight when they set eyes on the scene. For a few moments they stood still, gazing and gazing as if it were not possible to get enough of the, to most of them, unusual spectacle.

A full quarter of a mile ahead they observed that the sh.o.r.es a little back were quite heavily wooded, though the trees were small and slender. This particular spot seemed to have attracted Miss Elting's attention to the exclusion of all else. As she looked, a smile overspread her countenance. The girls did not observe it.

”We are nearly there,” she called.

”Near the camp?” asked Tommy.