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breath of fresh air； or want to believe that the spring has come；
just call Bell Winship in； as she walks with her breezy step down the
street。 Her very hair seems instinct with life； with its flying
tendrils of bronze brightness and the riotous little curls on her
brow and temples。 Then； too； she has a particularly jaunty way of
putting on her jacket； or wearing a flower or a ribbon； and as for
her ringing peal of laughter； it is like a chime of silver bells。
Elsie Howard； the invalid friend of the girls； was as dear to them as
they were to each other。 She kept the secrets of the 'firm'； mourned
over their griefs and smiled over their joys； was proud of their
talents and tenderly blind to their faults。 The little wicker
rocking…chair by the bedside was often made a sort of confessional；
at which she presided； the tenderest and most sympathetic little
priestess in the universe； and every afternoon the piazza； with its
lattice of green vines； served as a mimic throne…room； where she was
wont to hold high court； surrounded by her devoted subjects。 Here
Geoffrey Strong used often to read to the assembled company David
Copperfield； Alice in Wonderland； or snatches from the magazines；
while Jack Howard lazily stretched himself under the orange…trees and
braided lariats； a favourite occupation with California boys。 About
four o'clock Philip Noble would ride up from his father's fruit
ranch； some three miles out on the San Marcos road； and； hitching his
little sorrel mare Chispa at the gate； stay an hour before going to
the post…office。
This particular afternoon； however； was not one of Elsie's bright
ones； and there was no sign of court or invalid queen on the piazza。
The voices of the girls floated out from Elsie's bedroom； while the
boys； too； seemed to be somewhere in the vicinity； for there was a
constant stirring about as of lively preparation； together with noise
of hammering and sawing。
'If you were only going； Elsie； our cup of happiness would be full；'
sighed Bell。
'Not only would it be full； Bell； but it would be running over； and
we should positively stand in the slop；' said Polly。 'No； you
needn't frown at me； miss； that expression is borrowed from no less a
person than Sydney Smith。'
'Don't think any more about me；' smiled Elsie。 'Perhaps I can come
down in the course of the summer。 I know it will be the happiest
time in the world； but I don't envy you a bit； in fact； I'm very glad
you're going； because you'll have such a lovely budget of adventures
to tell me when you come back。'
'When we come back； indeed！' exclaimed Bell。 'Why； we shall write
long round…robin letters every few days； and send them by the team。
Papa says Pancho will have to go over to the stage station at least
once a week for letters and any provisions we may need。'
'Oh； won't that be delightful；almost as good as being there myself！
And； Margery dear； you must make them tell me every least little
thing that happens。 You know they are such fly…aways that they'll
only write me when they learn to swim； or shoot a wildcat； or get
lost in the woods。 I want to know all the stupid bits： what you
have for dinner； how and where you sleep； how your camp looks； what
you do from morning till night； and how Dicky behaves。'
'I can tell you that beforehand；' said Bell； dolefully。 'Jack will
shoot him by mistake on Thursday； he will be kicked by the horses
Friday； and bitten by tarantulas and rattlesnakes Saturday； he will
eat poison oak on Sunday； get lost in the canyon Monday； be eaten by
a bear Tuesday； and drowned in the pool Wednesday。 These incidents
will complete his first week； and if they produce no effect on his
naturally strong constitution； he will treat us to another week；
containing just as many mishaps； but no duplicates。'
By the time this dismal prophecy was ended the other girls were in a
breathless fit of laughter； though all acknowledged it was likely to
be fulfilled。
'I went over the camping…ground last summer；' said Margery。 'You
know it is quite near papa's sheep ranch； and it is certainly the
most beautiful place in California。 The tents will be pitched at the
mouth of the canyon； where there is a view of the ocean； and just at
the back will be a lovely grove of wild oaks and sycamore…trees。'
'Oh； won't it be delicious！' sighed Elsie。 'I feel as if I could
sniff the air this minute。 But there！ I won't pretend that I'm
dying for fresh air； with the breath of the sea coming in at my south
window； and a whiff of jasmine and honeysuckle from the piazza。 That
would be nonsense。 Are your trunks packed？'
'Trunks！' exclaimed Polly。 'Would you believe it； our clothes are
packed in gunny…sacks！ We start in our camping…dresses； with ulsters
for the steamer and dusters for the long drive。 Then we each have
let me see what we have： a short； tough riding…skirt with a jersey；
a bathing…dress； and some gingham morning…gowns to wear about the
camp at breakfast…time。'
'And flannel gowns for the night； and two pairs of boots； and a
riding…cap and one hat apiece；' added Margery。
'But oh； Elsie； my dear； you should see Dicky in his camping…suits；'
laughed Bell。 'They are a triumph of invention on mamma's part。
Just imagine！ one is of some enamelled cloth that was left over from
the new carriage cushions； it is very shiny and elegant； and the
other； truly； is of soft tanned leather； and just as pretty as it can
be。 Then he has hob…nailed； copper…toed boots； and a hat that ties
under his chin。 Poor little man； he has lost his curls； too； and
looks rather like a convict。'
Mrs。 Howard came in the door while Bell was speaking； and laughed
heartily at the description of Dicky's curious outfit。 'What time do
you start？' she asked； as she laid a bunch of mignonette on Elsie's
table。
'At eleven to…morrow morning；' Bell answered。 'Everything is packed。
We are to start in the steamer； and when we come to our old landing；
about forty miles down the coast； we are to get off and take a three…
seated thorough…brace wagon； and drive over to Las Flores Canyon。
Pancho has hired a funny little pack mule； he says we shall need one
in going up the mountain； and that the boys can take him when they go
out shooting；to carry the deer home； you know。'
'If I can bring Elsie down； as I hope； we must come by land；' said
Mrs。 Howard。 'I thought we could take two days for the journey；
sleeping at the Burtons' ranch on the way。 The doctor says that if
she can get strength enough to bear the ride； the open…air life will
do her good； even if she does nothing but lie in the hammock。'
'And be waited upon by six willing slaves；' added Polly。
'And be fed on canned corned beef and tomato stew；' laughed Bell。
'Not a bit of it；' said Margery。 'Hop Yet is a splendid cook； if he
has anything to cook； and we'll feed her on broiled titbits of baby
venison； goat's milk； wild bees' honey； and cunning little mourning
doves； roasted on a spit。'
'Good gracious；' cried Bell； 'what angels' food！ only I would as soon
devour a pet canary as a mourning dove。 But to think that I've been
trying to diet for a week in order to get intimate with suffering and
privation！ Polly came to stay with me one night； and we slept on the
floor； with only a blanket under us； and no pillow； it was perfectly
horrid。 Polly dreamed that her grandfather ate up her grandmother；
and I that Dicky stabbed the Jersey calf with a pickle…fork。'
'Horrors！' ejaculated Margery； 'that's a pleasant prospect for your
future bedfellows。 I hope the gophers won't make you nervous；
gnawing and scratching in the straw； I got used to them last summer。
But we really must go； darling；' and she stooped to kiss Elsie good…
bye。
'Well； I suppose you ought；' she answered。 'But remember you are to
start from this gate； Aunt Truth has promised me the fun of seeing
you out of sight。'
The girls went out at a side door； and joined the boys； who were
busily at work cleaning their guns on the broad western porch。
'How are you coming on？' questioned Polly。
'Oh； finely；' answered Jack； who always constituted himself chief
spokesman； unless driven from the rostrum by some one possessed of a
nimbler tongue。 'I only hope your feminine togs are in half as good
order。'
'We take no baggage to speak of；' said Bell； loftily。 'Papa has cut
us down to the very last notch； and says the law allows very few
pounds on this trip。'
'The less the better；' quoth Geoff； cheerily； 'then you'll have to
polish up your mental jewels。'
'Which you consider imitation； I suppose；' sniffed Polly。
'Perish the thought！' cried Jack。 'But； speaking of mental jewels；
you should see the arrangements Geoff has made for polishing his。 He
has actually stuck in six large volumes； any one of which would be a
remedy for sleeplessness。 What are you going to study； Miss Pol…y…
on…o…mous Oliver？'
'Now； Jack； let us decide at once whether you intend to be respectful
or not。 I don't propose to expose myself to your nonsense for two
months unless you make me good promises。'
'Why； that wasn't disrespectful。 It is my newest word； and it simply
means having many titles。 I'm sure