Part 26 (1/2)

”I'm the only molly-coddle in the crowd and I'd like to see more of this mountain, myself,” laughed Barbara.

”'Nuff said,' when Barbara talks like that!” laughed Eleanor.

So they continued along the crest of the mountain from which grand views of distant peaks and vast forest-sides could be seen. The brilliant hues of wild flowers, everywhere, mottled the ground; the dark-green of towering pines, or again the shorter aspens like pickets on guard in the foreground; the bleached skeletons of lodge-pole pine burnt clean in forest fires; and just before the riders, the plunging water falling from a cliff that shut out any glimpse of the trail ahead, combined to produce a master-piece of Nature's work.

”Why not camp at those Falls for dinner?” asked Eleanor.

”Good idea--I'm half-starved,” admitted Anne.

”And maybe the horses can rest, too,” from Barbara.

”Bob's going to join the S.P.C.A. soon,” laughed Eleanor.

”No, I'm not, but horses will last longer if you feed and rest them, and I do not care to walk home!” retorted Barbara.

”I brought my fis.h.i.+ng tackle, girls, and while you are unpacking dinner I may as well cast for a few trout in that stream,” suggested Polly.

”Can you fish trout?” exclaimed Barbara, wonderingly.

”Can a bird fly?” laughed Anne.

”The idea! A westerner and _not_ know how to fis.h.!.+” scorned Eleanor.

But Barbara was not sensitive to-day so did not feel offended at these remarks; neither did she take pains to disguise her real sentiments when it would have been kinder to keep silence on a subject.

Having reached the base of the cliff, the girls found a delightful spot for the luncheon. The packs were slipped from Choko and he, with the other mounts, were hobbled and left to graze on the buffalo gra.s.s in the clearing.

The girls unpacked a pannier while Polly arranged her tackle and started for the top of the cliff whence fell the water.

”Let me go with you, Poll, and watch?” asked Eleanor.

”If you won't speak, and mind you don't slip and fall!”

”I won't,” promised Eleanor, crawling up after the sure-footed Polly until both reached the top. To their surprise, the girls found a cleft between two great rocks with a quiet pool resting at the base. The current pa.s.sed, rus.h.i.+ng onward to the Falls, but the water circulating in the nook scarcely rippled. Even as the two girls watched, a flash of a speckled back flounced up in play and splashed their shoes.

”_What_ a spot for trout!” whispered Polly, crawling out to the rim of a rock while Eleanor watched breathlessly.

”Not too far out, Poll!” whispered Eleanor, anxiously, as Polly leaned over the edge to gaze into the clear depths.

Without a word, Polly carefully cast her fly far out upon the smooth surface of the sparkling water. Then flashes deep down, and in incredibly short time a large speckled trout rose to the bait, and Polly felt her nerves tauten with the excitement of the sportsman.

Eleanor held her breath for fear the trout would disappear.

Polly landed that one, weighing at least three pounds, then caught two more, weighing about two pounds each.

”Guess these will be enough for this noon. No use catching more than we need!” remarked Polly, coming back to Eleanor's side.

The girls hastened down the rocks and brought the fish over to the place where Polly expected to find a good fire burning.

”Why, I don't see any fire--didn't you build one for the fish?” cried Polly.