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it commanded a full view of the scene of action。 His amiability was
further increased； moreover； by the possession of a bright new
policeman's whistle； which was carefully tied to his button…hole by a
neat little silk cord； and which his fond parents intended that he
should blow if he chanced to fall into danger during his rambles
about the camp。 We might as well state here； however； that this
precaution proved fruitless； for he blew it at all times and seasons；
and everybody became so hardened to its melodious shriek that they
paid no attention to it whatever；history； or fable； thus again
repeating itself。
Mr。 and Mrs。 Noble had driven Margery and Phil into town from the
fruit ranch； and were waiting to see the party off。
Mrs。 Oliver was to live in the Winship house during the absence of
the family； and was aiding them to do those numberless little things
that are always found undone at the last moment。 She had given her
impetuous daughter a dozen fond embraces； smothering in each a gentle
warning； and stood now with Mrs。 Winship at the gate； watching the
three girls； who had gone on to bid Elsie good…bye。
'I hope Pauline won't give you any trouble；' she said。 'She is so
apt to be too impulsive and thoughtless。'
'I shall enjoy her；' said sweet Aunt Truth； with that bright； cordial
smile of hers that was like a blessing。 'She has a very loving
heart； and is easily led。 How pretty the girls look； and how
different they are！ Polly is like a thistledown or a firefly；
Margery like one of our home Mayflowers； and I can't help thinking my
Bell like a sunbeam。'
The girls did look very pretty； for their mothers had fashioned their
camping…dresses with much care and taste； taking great pains to make
them picturesque and appropriate to their summer life 'under the
greenwood tree。'
Over a plain full skirt of heavy crimson serge Bell wore a hunting
jacket and drapery of dark leaf…green； like a bit of forest against a
sunset。 Her hair； which fell in a waving mass of burnished
brightness to her waist； was caught by a silver arrow； and crowned by
a wide soft hat of crimson felt encircled with a bird's breast。
Margery wore a soft grey flannel； the colour of a dove's throat；
adorned with rows upon rows of silver braid and sparkling silver
buttons； while her big grey hat had nothing but a silver cord and
tassel tied round it in Spanish fashion。
Polly was all in sailor blue； with a distractingly natty little
double…breasted coat and great white rolling collar。 Her hat swung
in her hand； as usual； showing her boyish head of sunny auburn curls；
and she carried on a neat chatelaine a silver cup and little clasp…
knife； as was the custom in the party。
'It's very difficult；' Polly often exclaimed； 'to get a dress that
will tone down your hair and a hat that will tone up your nose； when
the first is red and the last a snub！ My nose is the root of all
evil； it makes people think I'm saucy before I say a word； and as for
my hair； they think I must be peppery； no matter if I were really as
meek as Moses。 Now there's Margery； the dear； darling mouse！ People
look at her two sleek braids； every hair doing just what it ought to
do and lying straight and smooth； and ask； 〃Who is that sweet girl？〃
There's something wrong somewhere。 I ought not to suffer because of
one small； simple； turned…up nose and a head of hair which reveals
the glowing tints of autumn； as Jack gracefully says。'
'Here they come！' shouted Jack from the group on the Howards' piazza。
'Christopher Columbus； what gorgeousness！ The Flamingo； the Dove；
and the Blue…jay！ Good…morning； young ladies； may we be allowed to
travel in the same steamer with your highnesses？'
'You needn't be troubled；' laughed Bell。 'We shall not disclose
these glories until we reach the camp。 But you are dressed as usual。
What's the matter？'
'Why； the fact is；' answered Geoffrey； 'our courage failed us at the
last moment。 We donned our uniforms； and looked like brigands；
highway robbers； cowboys； firemen；anything but modest young men；
and as it was too warm for ulsters； we took refuge in civilised
raiment for to…day。 When we arrive； you shall behold our dashing
sombreros fixed up with peacock feathers； and our refulgent shirts；
which are of the most original style and decoration。'
'Aboriginal； in fact；' said Jack。 'We have broad belts of alligator
skin； pouches； pistols； bowie…knives； and tan…coloured shoes； but we
dislike to flaunt them before the eyes of a city public。'
'Here they are！' cried Geoffrey； from the gate。 'Uncle； and aunt；
and Dicky； andgood gracious！ Is he really going to take that
wretched tan terrier？'
'Won't go without him；' said Bell； briefly。 'There are cases where
it is better to submit than to fight。'
So the last good…byes were said； and Elsie bore up bravely； better；
indeed； than the others； who shed many a furtive tear at leaving her。
'Make haste and get well； darling；' whispered the girls； lovingly。
'Pray； pray； dear Mrs。 Howard； bring her down to us as soon as
possible。 We'll take such good care of her；' teased Bell； with one
last squeeze； and strong signs of a shower in both eyes。
'Come； girls and boys；' said kind Dr。 Paul； 'the steamer has blown
her first whistle； and we must be off。'
Oh； how clear and beautiful a day it was； and how charmingly gracious
Dame Ocean looked in her white caps and blue ruffles！ Even the
combination steamboat smell of dinner； oil； and close air was
obliterated by the keen sea…breeze。
The good ship Orizaba ploughed her way through the sparkling； sun…lit
waves； traversing quickly the distance which lay between the young
people and their destination。 They watched the long white furrow
that stretched in her wake； the cloud of black smoke which floated
like a dark shadow above the laughing crests of the waves； and the
flocks of sea…gulls sailing overhead； with wild shrill screams ever
and anon swooping down for some bit of food flung from the ship； and
then floating for miles on the waves。
How they sung 'Life on the Ocean Wave；' 'Bounding Billow；' and
'Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep！' How Jack chanted； …
'I wish I were a fish；
With a great long tail；
A tiny little tittlebat；
A wiggle or a whale；
In the middle of the great blue sea。 Oh； my！'
'Oh； how I long to be there！' exclaimed Philip； 'to throw aside all
the formal customs of a wicked world I abhor； and live a free life
under the blue sky！'
'Why； Philip Noble！ I never saw you inside of a house in my life；'
cried Polly。
'Oh； yes； you're mistaken。 I've been obliged to eat most of my meals
in the house； and sleep there； but I don't approve of it； and it's a
trial to be borne with meekness only when there's no remedy for it。'
'Besides；' said Jack； 'even when we are out…of…doors we are shelling
the reluctant almond； poisoning the voracious gopher； pruning grape…
vines； and 〃sich。〃 Now I am only going to shoot to eat； and eat to
shoot！'
'Hope you've improved since last year； or you'll have a low diet；'
murmured Phil； in an undertone。
'The man of genius must expect to be the butt of ridicule；' sighed
Jack； meekly。
'But you'll not repine； although your heartstrings break； will you？'
said Polly； sympathisingly； 'especially in the presence of several
witnesses who have seen you handle a gun。'
'How glad I am that I'm too near…sighted to shoot；' said Geoffrey；
taking off the eye…glasses that made him look so wise and dignified。
'I shall lounge under the trees； read Macaulay； and order the meals。'
'I shall need an assistant about the camp；' said Aunt Truth；
smilingly； 'but I hardly think he'll have much time to lounge； when
everything else fails； there's always Dicky； you know。'
Geoffrey looked discouraged。
'And； furthermore； I declare by the nose of the great Tam o' Shanter
that I will cut down every tree in the vicinity ere you shall lounge
under it；' said Jack。
'Softly； my boy。 Hill's blue…gum forest is not so very far away。
You'll have your hands full；' laughed Dr。 Paul。
Here Margery and Bell joined the group after a quick walk up and down
the deck。
'Papa；' said Bell； excitedly； 'we certainly are nearing the place。
Do you see that bend in the shore； and don't you remember that the
landing isn't far below？'
'Bell's bump of locality is immense。 There are nineteen bends in the
shore exactly like that one before we reach the landing。 How many
knots an hour do you suppose this ship travels； my fair cousin？'
asked Geoffrey。
'I could tell better；' replied Bell calmly； 'if I could ever remember
how many knots made a mile； or how many miles made a knot； but I
always forget。'
'Oh； see！ There's a porpoise！' cried Jack。 'Polly； why is a
porpoise like a water…lily？'
But before he could say 'Guess；' Phil； Geoff； and the girls had drawn
themselves into a line； and； with a whispered 'One； two； three；' to
secure a good start； replied in concert； 'We…give…it…up！'
'What a deafening shout！' cried Aunt Truth； coming out of the cabin。
'What's the matter； pray？'
'Nothing； aunty；' laughed Polly。 'But we have formed a society for
suppressing Jack's conundrums； and thi