that new Manual gets here. I wrote fer it t'other day, and I've got five schoolgirls ready to start with me. Maw says she will ask the teacher to be our Captain."
Thereupon followed a good scout talk by Mrs. Vernon, the country girl listening with all her wits alert.
"How'd you know we were scouts?" asked Julie, curiously.
"By that pennant flyin' in front, of course!" retorted the girl.
As the scouts drove away, Mrs. Vernon said, "She'll make a first-class scout, because she uses her eyes and other faculties."
After leaving the town of Gravesville, the scouts took a short cut to Prospect, but the roads were steep and rough, and it was all the engines could do to mount the grades. Then the opposite down slopes were so steep and sudden that it was necessary to put on all brakes and shut off the engines.
One of these down grades had a sharp turn at the bottom, with a purling stream running under a rustic bridge immediately at the base of the mountain. On the other side of the bridge, the road rose abruptly up the side of another mountain. The descent was made nicely and the Captain's car crossed the bridge, but Jim's car stopped unexpectedly just as it reached the bridge at the foot of the mountain.
"Another case of push!" laughed Julie.
"All out!" ordered Jim.
"What now?" called Mrs. Vernon, as she also stopped her car to ask what was wrong.
"If only your car was behind, you could shove us across the bridge, but there isn't enough room in this trap to do anything."
"Every one will have to help, Jim; the girls can push and pull the car back to the grade, while you work the engine. Maybe it will start that way," suggested Mrs. Vernon, waving her passengers out to help the stranded car.
After half an hour's work, Jim suddenly called, "My! what a lot of cotton-heads we are! Here, Captain, just back up and give us a tow across the bridge – that's all!" At this simple remedy every one laughed.
The steep climb of the mountain was accomplished without trouble, and there the road wound back and forth like a serpent's trail. Rocks, weighing tons, overhung with lovely vines, jutted out from the sides of the cut-out road that edged the cliff. Again, mossy dells where maidenhair fern waved fragile fronds at the girls, nestled under giant groups of pines. The chorus of wild birds mingled with the subdued music of falling water, to the keen appreciation of the tourists who delighted in this impressive scene as only scouts can.
The cars continued slowly through this peaceful place, but Jim's engine suddenly stopped short again. He frowned and got out to examine it.
"Gee, Captain! the tank needs gas and no place at hand to buy the feed. What shall I do?"
"We didn't cross that other bridge until we came to it," giggled Julie, quickly.
"I suppose I've got to tow you along until we find gas, somewhere," said Mrs. Vernon. So the second car was harnessed to the leader and they started again.
In this manner they traveled until they came to a small settlement that boasted an "Emporium" where all the "latest styles and goods were sold." On the front porch of this store, in a low rocking-chair, sat the owner, a lady of doubtful years. She jumped up spryly when the cars stopped at the steps, and smiled invitingly.
"Do you sell gasoline?" asked Mrs. Vernon, politely.
"I guess I kin oblige you," replied the lady, going indoors.
Jim jumped out and began to unscrew the plug on the tank.
"Now who'd a thought we could get gas in this little shop?" declared Ruth, surprised.
"You never can tell! I s'pose she wants to make all she can in every way," added Hester.
Meantime the lady returned to the door and called out, "Won't you please step this way?"
Jim thought she had to fill a measure from some barrel in the back, so he went in. But the lady was searching diligently along a shelf of bottles until she saw the one she wanted.
"Here they be – I knew I had 'em somewhere. One's ten cents, and the other's a twenty-five cent bottle. But you have to take keer of fire, you know."
Jim scratched his head, as he said, "I'll take a five-gallon can, please, ma'am."
For a second, the old lady was amazed, but she rose to the occasion and showed herself a true business woman, "Oh, I'm sorry, I'm just out of that size to-day, but can't you come back to-morrow – I'll have it then?"
Jim laughed. "I need it for the tank. The car won't go on nor come back, unless I get some gas for it."
"Oh! I thought you wanted some to clean gloves, or shoes. That's the only kind I keep on hand."
"Maybe you can tell us where we can get a gallon or so," said Jim, trying hard to keep a straight face.
"If you kin wait until Jed gits back I kin send him to Prospeck Junction for a gallin. He can't carry five gallins, I fear."
Jim started out and the shopkeeper followed as she spoke. So Mrs. Vernon asked, "Where is Prospect Junction?"
"Jus' over yander, a bit of ways. It's quite a gay resort, I've hear'd Jed say, where they sells gas to riders what come through. But I hain't never gone there, 'cause I don't mingle with society. I am a church member and 'tends to my business." The lady tossed her head with a self-righteous air as she said the last words.
Jim said: "I'm sorry that four-ounce bottle wouldn't do, Missus." And the scouts bowed as they left her standing on the "stoop."
CHAPTER THREE
IN THE MOUNTAINS AT LAST
The scouts finally reached Old Forge, where they had been due a full day sooner. Mr. Gilroy was worried at their non-appearance and had telephoned to their homes to learn that they had left on time. Then he followed them along their route and at some places he heard they had stopped and gone again, and at others that they had not yet arrived. But the moment the girls saw him and heard his complaint, they laughed at his concern.
"Nice way to treat your adopted father – laugh at him, because he worried over his girls!" said he in pretended grievance.
"But what could possibly happen when we had Jim and Verny at the wheels?" asked Ruth.
"That's just it! With the Captain leading, I was sure you would be jailed for speeding, and would need me to bail you out," teased he.
"We needed baling out when we got in the river-flood, but not in jail!" laughed Julie.
"If we had dreamed you had a 'phone way up here, we would have called you to help us, that time," added Joan.
Then the story of the mud and flood had to be told, while Mr. Gilroy sat on the side-door of the car and directed the Captain which road to take to reach his bungalow.
"Did our outfits get here all right, Mr. Gilroy?" asked Ruth.
"Yes, and they have been down at your camp several days now," replied their host.
"How far is our camp from your bungalow, Mr. Gilroy?" asked Betty.
"Not very far – just a nice
