BLUE BONNET'S RANCH PARTY

 The Blue Bonnet Series

 _By_ _Lela Horn Richards_ _and_ _Caroline E. Jacobs_

[Illustration]

Each, one vol. , large 12mo, illustrated $1. 75

 A TEXAS BLUE BONNET BLUE BONNET'S RANCH PARTY BLUE BONNET IN BOSTON BLUE BONNET KEEPS HOUSE BLUE BONNET--DÉBUTANTE BLUE BONNET OF THE SEVEN STARS

 * * * * *

 THE COSY CORNER SERIES

 _By Caroline E. Jacobs_

 Each, one vol. , small 12mo, illustrated $0. 75

 BAB'S CHRISTMAS AT STANHOPE THE CHRISTMAS SURPRISE PARTY A CHRISTMAS PROMISE

[Illustration]

THE PAGE COMPANY

53 Beacon Street, Boston, Mass. 

[Illustration: "BLUE BONNET . . . WATCHED THE SUN RISE OUT OF THEPRAIRIE. " (_See page 303. _)]

BLUE BONNET'S RANCH PARTY

BYC. E. JACOBSANDEDYTH ELLERBECK READ

A SEQUEL TOA TEXAS BLUE BONNET

BYC. E. JACOBS

_Illustrated by_JOHN GOSS

[Illustration]

 THE PAGE COMPANY BOSTON - - PUBLISHERS

 _Copyright, 1912_ BY THE PAGE COMPANY

 * * * * *

_All rights reserved_

Made in U. S. A. 

 First Impression, July, 1912 Second Impression, October, 1912 Third Impression, May, 1913 Fourth Impression, January, 1914 Fifth Impression, April, 1914 Sixth Impression, February, 1915 Seventh Impression, June, 1915 Eighth Impression, July, 1916 Ninth Impression, April, 1917 Tenth Impression, March, 1918 Eleventh Impression, July, 1919 Twelfth Impression, May, 1920 Thirteenth Impression, December, 1921

 PRINTED BY C. H. SIMONDS COMPANY BOSTON, MASS. , U. S. A. 

CONTENTS

 CHAPTER PAGE I. THE WANDERER 1 II. IN THE BLUE BONNET COUNTRY 16 III. THE GLORIOUS FOURTH 32 IV. THE ROUND ROBIN 45 V. THE SWIMMING HOLE 60 VI. AN ADVENTURE 71 VII. A FALLING OUT 86 VIII. CONSEQUENCES 101 IX. TEXAS AND MASSACHUSETTS 112 X. ENTER CARITA 124 XI. CAMPING BY THE BIG SPRING 142 XII. POCO TIEMPO 155 XIII. AROUND THE CAMP-FIRE 169 XIV. A FALLING IN 183 XV. SUNDAY 200 XVI. THE LOST SHEEP 215 XVII. SECRETS 230 XVIII. SOME ARRIVALS 242 XIX. BLUE BONNET'S BIRTHDAY 259 XX. CONFERENCES 275 XXI. BLUE BONNET DECIDES 290 XXII. HASTA LA VISTA 300

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

 PAGE "BLUE BONNET . . . WATCHED THE SUN RISE OUT OF THE PRAIRIE" (_See page 303_) _Frontispiece_

 "COMANCHE . . . LEAPED FORWARD LIKE A CAT" 41

 "'_I_ BELIEVE THE ONLY WAY TO LEARN TO SWIM IS TO DIVE IN HEAD-FIRST'" 96

 "THEY ALL GATHERED GYPSY-FASHION ABOUT THE FIRE" 187

 "IT WAS AN EXQUISITE MINIATURE, PAINTED ON IVORY" 261

 "ALEC SURVEYED HER PROUD LITTLE PROFILE" 290

Blue Bonnet's Ranch Party

CHAPTER I

THE WANDERER

BLUE BONNET put her head out of the car window for the hundredth timethat hour, and drew it back with a sigh of utter exasperation. 

"Uncle Cliff, " she declared impatiently, "if The Wanderer doesn't movea little faster I'll simply have to get out and push!"

"Better blame the engine, Honey, " said Uncle Cliff in his slow, soothing way. "The Wanderer is doing her best. Might as well blame thewagon for not making the horses gallop!"

"I know, " she confessed. "But it seems as if we'd never get toWoodford. This is the longest-seeming journey I ever took--even if itis in a private car. " Then, fearing to appear inappreciative, sheadded quickly: "But I do think it is mighty good of Mr. Maldon to letus take his very own car. I can just see the We are Sevens' eyes popright out when they see this style of travelling. " Blue Bonnet's owneyes roamed over the luxurious interior of The Wanderer, dwelling withapproval on the big, swinging easy chairs, the book-case cunninglyset in just over a writing-desk, the buffet shining with cut glass andsilver, and the thousand and one details that made the car a veritablepalace on wheels. 

Blue Bonnet had been spending a few days in New York with her uncle, who had insisted that she should have a little "lark" after her longmonths in school. Now, in a private car belonging to one of UncleCliff's friends, they were on their way back to Woodford, there togather up Grandmother Clyde, Alec Trent, and the other six of BlueBonnet's "We are Seven" Club, and bear them off to Texas for thesummer. 

"I reckon Sarah Blake and Kitty Clark aren't very used to travelling?"suggested Uncle Cliff, more to draw out Blue Bonnet than with anyconsuming desire for information. 

"Used to travelling! Why, Uncle Cliff--" Blue Bonnet shook her heademphatically--"not one of the other We are Sevens has ever so much asseen the inside of a Pullman in all her life!"

Mr. Ashe hid a smile under his moustache. The fact that Blue Bonnet'sown introduction to a Pullman car had occurred just nine monthsbefore, seemed to have escaped the young lady's mind. 

"Well, well, " ejaculated Blue Bonnet's uncle, "they've someexperiences ahead of them, to be sure!"

"Oh, Uncle, "--Blue Bonnet was struck with a sudden fear, --"do yousuppose they will all be ready to go? We're two whole days earlierthan we said we'd be--"

"They'll be ready, don't you worry. Your grandmother is not one of theunprepared sort, and the girls don't need much of a wardrobe for theranch. Besides, I wired them explicit directions--to meet The Wandererand be ready to come aboard immediately. We shall have only a fewminutes in Woodford. "

Blue Bonnet settled back in her red velvet reclining chair and shuther eyes. Slowly a smile wreathed her lips. 

"What's the joke, Honey?"

Blue Bonnet looked up with dancing eyes. "Benita!" she laughed. "Won'tshe be just--petrified, when she sees seven girls instead of one? Andcan't you imagine the boys--"

"Benita had better not get petrified this summer, " interrupted UncleCliff. "She has to do some tall hustling. I've wired Uncle Joe to getextra help while the ranch party is in session. If they can get oldGertrudis from the Lone Star Ranch--she's the finest cook in the stateof Texas. And her granddaughter might wait on table. "

"Oh, I do think a ranch party is the grandest thing in the world, "cried Blue Bonnet. "I've read of house parties, but they must bedownright tame compared with this kind of a party. And it's not tolast just over a week-end either, but _two whole months_! Why, UncleCliff, any ordinary man would be scared to pieces at the prospect. "

"But I'm not an ordinary man, eh?" Mr. Ashe looked pleased as a boy ashe put the question. 

"Well, I reckon not! You're a fairy godfather. You grant my wishesbefore they're fairly out of my mouth. And I seem to have plenty ofwishes. Just think, Uncle, how many things I've wished for since mylast birthday!"

"First, " said Uncle Cliff, "you wished to go away from the ranch. "

Blue Bonnet nodded assent. "Because I was--afraid--to ride. Doesn't itseem ridiculous, now I'm over that silliness? But oh, how I did wish Icould get over being afraid! That was about the only wish you couldn'tgrant, Uncle Cliff. "

"That wish was never expressed, Honey--don't forget that. Maybe Icould have helped even there, " Mr. Ashe suggested gently. 

"I know, it was my own fault. But I was--ashamed, Uncle Cliff. Youdon't suppose--" Blue Bonnet's face clouded, "you don't think, do you, that the fear will come again when I get back where I sawJosé--dragged?" She shut her eyes and shuddered. 

"Nonsense, Honey. That fear died and was buried the day you rodeAlec's horse, Victor. A good canter on Firefly over the Blue Bonnetcountry will make you wonder that such a feeling was ever born. "

"Dear old Firefly! Won't I make it up to him though! Isn'tit queer how many of my wishes have come true? It makes me feelalmost--breathless. I no sooner got through wishing I could leave theranch and go East and be with Grandmother--than I woke up in Woodford. And I wanted--thought I wanted--to be called Elizabeth. Blue Bonnetbecame Elizabeth!"

"A real lightning change artist, " murmured Uncle Cliff. 

"And I wanted to go to school. Granted. I wanted to know a lot ofgirls, and behold the We are Sevens!"

"And when was it you changed names again?" Uncle Cliff asked slyly. 

"When I got tired of being Elizabethed. Everybody thinks Blue Bonnetsuits me better, except Aunt Lucinda--on occasions. "

"And the next wish? They're stacking up. "

"I reckon it was about the Sargent prize in school. I wanted AlecTrent to win it--and he did. And next I wished to pass my schoolexaminations--"

"And even that miracle was achieved!" said Uncle Cliff, pinching hercheek. 

"And, finally, I wanted to go back to Texas, and, at the same time, Iwished I didn't have to leave Grandmother and Alec and the girls. Thatmight seem a contrary pair of wishes, but it doesn't daunt GodfatherAshe. He straightway makes a private car arise from--from what, UncleCliff?"

"Tobacco smoke, " promptly supplied Mr. Ashe, with a reminiscent smileon his lips. 

"Why tobacco smoke?" asked Blue Bonnet wonderingly. 

"I taught Maldon to smoke when he was a young chap visiting out ourway, and we've been friends ever since. The private car seems to havegrown out of that, " replied her uncle. 

"I see, " Blue Bonnet nodded. "But don't tell Aunt Lucinda, --I fancyshe doesn't approve of smoking. "

"So I've noticed, " rather grimly rejoined Mr. Ashe. Blue Bonnet's primNew England aunt had not suffered him to remain long in ignorance ofher disapproval of tobacco in any form. 

"There's one thing I don't understand at all, " Blue Bonnet knitted herpretty brows. "And that is what was in Uncle Joe Terry's telegram theother day. Won't you tell me, Uncle?"

"Nothing much, --only that I must be back at the ranch Monday eveningwithout fail, " answered Uncle Cliff with an air of evasion. 

"There's some deep reason, I can just feel it. You mean well, Uncle, but I just hate secrets. " Blue Bonnet laid a coaxing hand on heruncle's arm. 

"Secret indeed!" scoffed Uncle Cliff, avoiding his niece's eye. 

"You can't pretend a bit well, " Blue Bonnet assured him gravely. "Youlook just the way my dog Solomon does when he's pretending to beasleep--and can't keep his tail from wagging!"

"Thank you!" said Uncle Cliff with well-assumed indignation. 

"You're quite welcome. He's a mighty wise dog, Uncle Cliff--that's whyI named him Solomon. You know I think--" Blue Bonnet went on sagely, "I think there is some trouble at the ranch, --because I saw the bigbox you sent with our trunks and it was labelled 'dangerous. ' Now, benice, and tell me what was in it. "

"I understood that Miss Kitty was the inquisitive member of yourClub, " Uncle Cliff parried provokingly. 

Blue Bonnet sighed. "Well, I can thank Uncle Joe for cutting us out oftwo whole days in New York. I'm sure Aunt Lucinda will bedisappointed. "

"Aunt Lucinda--?" echoed Mr. Ashe. 

"Yes, you see it was this way: Aunt Lucinda gave me a list of things Iought to see in New York. Every day when you asked me 'what next?'--asyou did, you nice fairy godfather--I chose the things I'd rather seeand left the--the educational things for the last. You see the shops, the Hippodrome, Coney Island, Peter Pan and the Goddess of Libertywere so fascinating, and I'd wanted so long to see them, that-- Well, to face the bitter truth, Uncle Cliff, we left New York without oneweenty peek in at the Metropolitan Museum!"

"Horrors!" Uncle Cliff looked properly stunned. Then he said craftily, "Keep it dark, Honey. Maybe we can bluff. "

Blue Bonnet shook her head. "Nobody can bluff Aunt Lucinda--I ought toknow! Why--Uncle Cliff--I believe we're there!"

And "there" they certainly were. While Blue Bonnet had been busilychattering, The Wanderer had drawn in to the Woodford station. 

Half the population of the village was assembled on the platform, itseemed to Blue Bonnet as she sprang from the car steps. Grandmotherand Aunt Lucinda she saw first, and back of them Denham, the coachman, bearing suitcases, umbrellas, magazines and wraps, besides holding onby main force to a leash at which Solomon was straining frantically. Beside him were Katie and Delia, on hand for a final farewell to BlueBonnet and Mrs. Clyde. Then came Kitty and Doctor Clark; Amanda andthe Parkers; Sarah and the whole crowd of Blakes, big and little; Alecand the General; Debby, and a collection of sisters, cousins, unclesand aunts that overflowed the platform and straggled clear out to theline of hitching-posts, where all of Woodford's family conveyancesseemed drawn up at once. 

The report of Blue Bonnet's ranch party had spread like wildfirethrough the town, and the going away of so many of its most prominentcitizens to far-off Texas, had aroused quiet Woodford to a pitch ofexcitement equalled only by that of a prohibition election, or a visitfrom the President. 

Blue Bonnet was swallowed up by the crowd the moment she alighted, andit was a full five minutes before she emerged, flushed and minus herhat, to ask breathlessly, "Oh, is everybody here?--I can't see anybodyfor the crowd!"

"No time to lose, " warned Mr. Ashe. "We must pull out in ten minutesin order to reach Boston in time for the 5. 17 to-night. "

Even as he spoke, The Wanderer began to move. 

"Uncle Cliff, " cried Blue Bonnet in a panic, "they're going withoutus!"

"Just switching, " soothed her uncle. "The Wanderer has to be on theother track so as to hook on to the train for Boston. That's due infive minutes. Get your good-byes said so that everybody can go aboardwhen she comes alongside. "

During that five minutes while each girl was occupied with her ownfamily, Blue Bonnet had a moment alone with her aunt. "It's a goodthing we said our real good-bye before I went to New York, isn't it, Aunt Lucinda?" she asked, slipping her hand shyly into that of hertall, prim aunt. Somehow Aunt Lucinda had never seemed so dear as inthis moment of parting. Perhaps it was the look as of unshed tears inher eyes, or the flush on her usually pale face that made her seemmore approachable. Blue Bonnet could not tell exactly what it was, butthere was a vague something about Aunt Lucinda that made her appearalmost--yes, almost, pathetic. Suddenly Blue Bonnet remembered--theywere leaving Aunt Lucinda all alone. Her heart reproached her. "AuntLucinda, " she whispered hurriedly, "won't you come, too?"

One of her rare sweet smiles lit Miss Clyde's face. "Thank you, dear--it is sweet of you to want me. But not this time, for I havepromised friends to go abroad with them. I shall miss you, BlueBonnet, --you won't forget to write often?"

"No, indeed!" Blue Bonnet assured her, at the same moment registeringa solemn vow that she would write every week without fail. "And you'llwrite too, Aunt Lucinda? It'll be so exciting getting letters fromfunny, foreign places. And now it's good-bye. You--you are sure you'veno--a--advice to give me?"

Miss Clyde restrained an odd smile at the significant question. "No, dear. Only this: be considerate of your grandmother, and bring herback safely to me. "

"I will! I will!" cried Blue Bonnet, and with another kiss was gone. 

There was only a moment for a handshake with Katie and Delia, whoopenly mopped their eyes at parting; a word with General Trent, achorus of good-byes to a score of We are Seven relations, and theneverybody crowded about the steps of The Wanderer. 

"Grandmother first, " said Blue Bonnet. "Denham, you'd better go aboardand get her settled. Here, Bennie Blake--you hold Solomon till I'mready to take him. Now then, We are Sevens--forward!"

Suddenly Blue Bonnet gave a queer little exclamation and clapped herhand on a leather case which hung from her shoulder. "Stop, everybody, till I get a picture--I nearly forgot! And I want pictures of everystage of the ranch party. Grandmother, please stay on the top step andI'll group the girls below. "

"That's right, " cried Kitty. "Take one now and another when we getback, and we can label them 'Before and After Taking!'"

Sarah, Kitty, Amanda and Debby, amid the teasing remarks of sundrysmall boys, obediently took their places as designated by the youngartist. Then Blue Bonnet's eyes turned in search of the other twogirls. 

"Susy! Ruth!" she called. "Why--where are they?"

An embarrassed hush fell on the group about the car. Blue Bonnetlooked inquiringly at the telltale faces. It did not take her long toscent a mystery. 

"What's the matter?" she cried impatiently. 

Doctor Clark stepped forward, clearing his throat queerly. "Fact is, Miss Blue Bonnet, " he began, "they--they can't go. "

"Can't go?" Blue Bonnet started incredulously at the stammeringdoctor. 

"No, you see, --well, in fact, they're ill, " he completed lamely. Whydidn't some one help him out, the doctor fumed inwardly, instead ofletting him be the one to cloud that beaming face?

Suddenly Kitty leaned down from the car step and whispered: "Scarletfever!"

"Both?" exclaimed the startled Blue Bonnet. 

"No, only Ruth. But Susy was exposed and Father didn't think it safefor her to come. "

"Oh, Kitty!" The tears sprang to Blue Bonnet's eyes--she fought thembut they would come. 

"We're all broken up over it, " said Kitty with her own lips trembling;"but it might have been worse. It's only because we've been too busyto go out there, that we weren't all exposed. Then it would have beengood-bye to the ranch party. "

"Oh, Kitty, suppose you had!" The thought of the narrow escape driedBlue Bonnet's tears. "I'm mighty glad you four could come. But itwon't be complete. And you know how I love to have things complete!"

"Never mind, Blue Bonnet, you still have me!" cried Alec, coming inwith a cheerful note. 

"'The poor ye have always with you!'" chimed in Kitty, and whileeverybody was laughing over this sally, Blue Bonnet took a snap-shotof the group, and then all the travellers trooped aboard. 

Mr. Ashe looked over the heads of the chattering crowd in the car andmet Mrs. Clyde's amused eye. "How do you like mothering a family ofthis size?" he asked jocosely. 

"I fancy I feel much like the hen that hatched duck's eggs, " Mrs. Clyde returned. 

There was a laugh at this, in the midst of which Sarah Blake was heardto remark solemnly: "Yes, children are a great responsibility. "

Whereat there was more laughter, and hardly had it subsided when fromoutside came the conductor's sonorous "All aboo--ard!"

"Girls, we're really going!" gasped Kitty. 

There was a last vigorous waving of handkerchiefs out of the window. Suddenly a wail burst from Blue Bonnet: "Solomon! Solomon!"

All looked at one another aghast. In the excitement of the lastmoments no one had thought of the dog. 

"Find Bennie Blake--he had Solomon last, " cried Blue Bonnet, rushingto the platform. 

"I'll find him, don't you worry, " exclaimed Alec, swinging down thesteps just as the first creaks of the car gave notice of starting. 

"Alec--you'll get left!" cried Blue Bonnet. "There's Bennie, --oh, quick!"

Sure enough, there on the edge of the crowd was Bennie, but alack!--noSolomon. 

"Stop the train, can't you, Uncle Cliff?" wailed Blue Bonnet. "Alecwill be left--and Solomon too--"

Uncle Cliff leaped to the bottom step, --the train was still onlycrawling, --and with one hand on the rail leaned out and peered afterAlec. Blue Bonnet gave a nervous clutch at his sleeve. What he sawevidently reassured Mr. Ashe, for suddenly he straightened up and heldout both arms. A second later a brown furry object came hurtlingthrough the air and was caught ignominiously by the tail. Quick as aflash Uncle Cliff tossed the indignant Solomon to Blue Bonnet, andbent down to lend a helping hand to Alec. That young gentlemanscrambled up with more haste than elegance, just as the train ceasedto crawl and settled down to the real business of travelling. 

"I'll never forget this, Alec Trent, as long as I live, --I think youdeserve a Carnegie medal!" Blue Bonnet cried fervently. "I'd never getover it if Solomon should be lost. "

"He wouldn't have been--lost, exactly, " returned Alec in an odd tone. 

"Why, what do you mean? Where did you find him?" Blue Bonnet demanded. 

And Alec, bursting into a laugh in spite of his awful news, returned:"I found him just where that Blake boy left him--tied on to the end ofthe car!"

CHAPTER II

IN THE BLUE BONNET COUNTRY

"IF one of you speaks aloud in the next five minutes, " declared BlueBonnet earnestly, "I'll never forgive you. "

No one being inclined to risk Blue Bonnet's undying enmity, there wascomplete silence for the space of time imposed. They were rollingalong the smooth white road between the railway station and the ranch, Grandmother Clyde and the girls in a buckboard drawn by sturdy littlemustangs, while Alec, Uncle Joe and Uncle Cliff, who had stayed behindto look after the luggage, were following on horseback. 

Blue Bonnet sat tense and still, her hands clasped in her lap, thecolor coming and going in her face in rapid waves of pink and white;her eyes very shiny, her lips quivering. This home-coming was havingan effect she had not dreamed of. Every familiar object, every turn ofthe road that brought her nearer the beloved ranch, gave her a new anddelicious thrill. 

As they neared the modern wire fence two dusky little greaserpiccaninnies rose out of the chaparral, hurled themselves on the biggate and held it open, standing like sentinels, bursting withimportance, as the buckboard rolled through. 

"They're Pancho's twins!" cried Blue Bonnet. "Stop, Miguel, while Igive them something. " Hurriedly seizing a half-eaten box of candy fromAmanda's surprised hands, Blue Bonnet leaned down and tossed it to thegrinning youngsters. 

"_Muchas gracias_, Señorita!" they cried in a duet, their black eyeswide with joy. 

"Bless the babies!" exclaimed Kitty, "--did you hear what they calledyou?"

Blue Bonnet laughed. "I'm never called anything else here. They meant'Many thanks, Ma'am. ' You will be 'Señorita' too, --better get used toit. "

"Oh, I shall love it, " cried Kitty. "It sounds like a title--'my lady'or 'your grace' or something grand. "

"Grandmother will be 'Señora'--doesn't it just suit her, girls?" askedBlue Bonnet. 

"Mrs. Clyde, may we call you 'Señora, ' too?" asked Debby, "--justwhile we're on the ranch?"

"Debby believes in the eternal fitness of things, " put in Kitty. 

"Certainly, you may call me Señora, " said Mrs. Clyde. "When you're inTexas do as the Texans do, " she paraphrased. 

"I intend to learn all the Spanish I can while I'm here, " remarkedSarah. "I brought a grammar and a dictionary--"

A chorus of indignation went up from the other girls. 

"This isn't a 'General Culture Club, ' Sarah Blake, " scolded Kitty. "Wedidn't come to the Blue Bonnet ranch for mutual improvement--but for_fun_!"

"We'll make a bonfire of those books, " warned Blue Bonnet. 

"All the Spanish that I can absorb through my--pores, is welcome tostick, " said Debby, "but I'm not going to dig for it. "

Sarah tactfully changed the subject. "Your house is a good way fromthe gate, Blue Bonnet, " she remarked. 

"Nearly two miles, " Blue Bonnet smiled. 

"There's nothing like owning all outdoors!" commented Kitty. 

"Grandfather used to own nearly all outdoors, " returned Blue Bonnet. "When father was a little boy nobody had fences and the cattle rangedthrough two or three counties. But now we keep a lot of fence-riders, who don't do a thing but mend fences, day after day. There's thebridge, --now as soon as we cross the river you can see theranch-house. "

"Is this what you call the 'river?'" Sarah asked, as they rattled overthe pretty little stream. 

"We call it a 'rio' in Texas, and you'd better not insult us bycalling it a creek, Señorita Blake, " Blue Bonnet warned her. 

"I won't--'rio' is such a pretty name, " said Sarah, making a mentalnote of it for future use. 

"There!" cried Blue Bonnet, "behold the 'casa' of the Blue Bonnetranch!"

What they saw was a long, low, rambling house, with wide, hospitableverandas embowered in half-tropical vines. It had evidently startedout as a one-roomed, Spanish 'adobe, ' and, as the needs of the familydemanded it, an ell had been added here, a room there, like cells in abee-hive, until now it covered a good deal of territory, still keepingits one-storied, Mission-like character. 

"Oh, Blue Bonnet--it's just what I wanted it to be, " exclaimed Kitty. "It looks as if a fat, Spanish monk might come out of that door thisvery minute. "

"Instead of which there is my dear old Benita, and Pancho and his wifeand the children and--oh, everybody!" Blue Bonnet was bouncing up anddown now with excitement. 

Alec and the other two riders came up in a cloud of dust just asMiguel raced the mustangs up to the veranda steps, where all the ranchhands were gathered to greet the young Señorita. 

"Señorita mia!" cried Benita, and Blue Bonnet leaped from the wheelstraight into her old nurse's arms. 

"And this is Grandmother, Benita, " said Blue Bonnet, helping Mrs. Clyde from her place. 

"The little Señora's mother--God bless you!" cried Benita in Spanish. Then, in spite of her stiff joints, she made a deep, old-fashionedcurtsy. 

Tears sprang to the eyes of the Eastern woman. "Thank you, Benita, "she said. "My daughter always wrote lovingly of you. "

"Blessed Señora!" breathed Benita fervently. 

"This is my grandmother, everybody, " said Blue Bonnet, presenting Mrs. Clyde to the entire circle, "and these are my friends--'amigos' fromMassachusetts. "

"Pleased to know ye!" said Pinto Pete and Shady, the only Americancowboys on the ranch; while the Mexicans, as one voice, gave a heartychorus of greeting. 

The six "amigos" from Massachusetts were thrilled to the core, although at the same time a trifle embarrassed as to the correct wayof responding to this vociferous welcome. Blue Bonnet set them all anexample: she had a smile and a word for every man, woman and child, and finally sent them all off with a--"Come back when my trunksarrive!" And the hint brought a fresh gleam to already beaming faces. 

Later, after a bountiful supper, they all gathered once more on thebroad veranda while Blue Bonnet distributed her gifts. That those daysin New York had been profitably spent was fully attested now when thecontents of the many trunks were displayed. There were ribbons, scarfsand gay beads for the women, toys and sweets for the children, andwonderful pocket-knives, pipes and tobacco pouches for the men. 

The Blue Bonnet ranch had been part of an original Spanish land-grantin the days when Texas was still part of Mexico, and had descendedfrom father to son until it came into the hands of Blue Bonnet'sgrandfather. Many of the Mexican ranch-hands had been born on theplace and looked on the Ashe family as their natural guardians andprotectors. As yet they had not acquired a Yankee sense ofindependence, nor had they lost the soft Southern courtesy inherent intheir race. They came up one at a time to Blue Bonnet as she stood atthe top of the steps, her gifts in a great heap beside her; and eachone, as he received his gift from her hand, called down a blessing onthe head of the young Señorita. Then, laughing, chatting, andcomparing gifts like a crowd of children, they trooped away, thesingle men to the "bunk-house" by the big corral, the married couplesand their children to little cabins scattered over the place. 

"It's just like some old Spanish tale, " declared Alec. "Blue Bonnet isa princess just returned to her castle, and all the serfs are come topay her homage. "

"I suppose Don Quixote will be off soon, hunting wind-mills?"suggested Kitty, with a mocking glance at Alec, whose new gun was thepride of his heart. 

Alec deigned no reply. 

"Look!" said Mrs. Clyde, softly, "--there goes the sun. "

They followed her glance across the prairie that stretched away, greenand softly undulating, in front of the veranda, and watched the reddisk as it sank in a blaze of glory at the edge of the plain. 

"Now you know, " said Blue Bonnet, "why I felt like pushing back thehouses in Woodford--at first they just suffocated me. "

Mrs. Clyde smiled with new understanding. "You probably agree with ourMassachusetts writer who complained that people in cities live tooclose together and not near enough, " she said, patting Blue Bonnet'shead as the girl, sitting on the step below her, leaned against herknee. 

"Didn't you ever get lonesome here?" asked Debby, snuggling up toAmanda. She had been brought up among houses. 

"Lonesome?" echoed Blue Bonnet. "I never knew what lonesomemeant--till my first day in school!"

All too soon came bedtime. 

"Where are we all to sleep?" Blue Bonnet asked Benita. It was likeBlue Bonnet not to give the matter a thought until beds were actuallyin demand. 

Benita led the way proudly. "The Señora will have the little Señora'sroom, " she said, throwing open the door of that long unused chamber. 

Mrs. Clyde entered it with softened eyes. 

"Señorita's own room is ready for her, and here is place for theothers. " Benita proceeded to the very end of a long ell to a huge airyroom, seemingly all windows. It was Blue Bonnet's old nursery, and, next to the living-room, the largest room in the house. Four singlebeds, one in each corner, showed how Benita had solved the sleepingproblem. 

The girls gave a shout of delight; visions of bedtime frolics and longtalks after lights were out, sent them dancing about the place. 

"I tell you what, " announced Blue Bonnet, "--if you imagine I am goingoff by myself when there's a sleeping-party like this going on, you'remistaken. I say--" here she turned on Sarah, "--you've always wanted abed-room all to yourself; you told me so, one day. Well, here's yourchance--you're welcome to every inch of mine!"

Sarah, quite willing to confine her "parties" to daylight hours, accepted the proposition eagerly. Maybe then she could get a peek atthose Spanish books. 

"Are you sure you're willing to give it up?" she asked quite honestly. 

And Blue Bonnet with an incredulous stare returned: "Are you quitewilling to give _this_ up?"

"Perfectly!" exclaimed Sarah with such promptness that Blue Bonnetdismissed her lurking suspicion that Sarah was just "being polite" andaccepted the exchange. 

It was a happy Sarah who tucked herself away in a little bed all toherself, in a dainty room destined to be her very own for two longmonths. Four times happy was the quartet who shared the nursery. Itwas a long time before they subsided. There were so many things to beobserved and discussed in that delightful place. Uncle Joe Terry hadhad a hand in its arrangement, and now that worthy man would have feltwell repaid if he could have heard the gales of merriment over hismasterpieces of interior decoration. 

In her childhood Blue Bonnet had been blessed--or afflicted--with moredolls than ever fell to the lot of child before. Now thelong-discarded nursery-folk formed a frieze around the entire room, the poor darlings being, like Blue-beard's wives, suspended by theirhair. Every nationality and every degree of mutilation was thererepresented, and the effect was funny beyond description. On thebroad mantel-shelf over the stone fireplace reposed drums, merry-go-rounds, trumpets and toy horses; while on the hearth was atiny kitchen range bearing a complete assortment of pots and pans of amost diminutive size. In every available nook of the room stooddoll-carriages, rocking-horses, go-carts and fire-engines, eachshowing the scars of Blue Bonnet's stormy childhood. 

"I wish, " cried Kitty, "that we weren't any of us a day over seven!"

While the girls were still making merry over her childhood treasuresBlue Bonnet slipped away. She had not had a word alone with UncleCliff for days, and had exchanged only a hurried greeting with UncleJoe at the station. And there were such heaps of things to talk over!

She found them both on the veranda, enjoying the evening breeze thatcame laden with sweet scents from off the prairie. Blue Bonnet clappedher hands over Uncle Joe's eyes in her old madcap fashion. 

"It's Blue Bon--er--Elizabeth, I mean, " he guessed promptly. 

"Wrong!" cried Blue Bonnet sternly. "Elizabeth Ashe was left behind inMassachusetts, and only Blue Bonnet has come back to the ranch. "

"Thank goodness for that!" breathed Uncle Joe devoutly. "Elizabethcame mighty hard. It didn't fit, somehow. I reckon you're glad to get_home_, Blue Bonnet?"

"Glad? Why, there isn't a word in the whole English dictionary thatmeans just what I feel, Uncle Joe, " replied Blue Bonnet, perching onthe arm of his chair. "I love every inch of the state of Texas. "

The two men exchanged a significant glance that was not lost on BlueBonnet. 

"Oh, I know what you are thinking of, Uncle Cliff. You remember theday when I said I hated the West and all it stood for. I meant thattoo--then. But I feel different now. It isn't that I'm sorry I wentaway; I just had to go, feeling as I did. I reckon I'll always be thatway--I have to find things out for myself. "

Uncle Joe smiled humorously. "Reckon we're most of us built that way, eh, Cliff?"

Mr. Ashe gave a rueful nod. "Yes, what the other fellow has beenthrough doesn't count for much. We all have to blister our fingersbefore we'll believe that fire really burns. "

They were all silent for a moment. 

"Has any one seen Solomon?" asked Blue Bonnet suddenly. 

"I think Don is showing him over the ranch, " replied Uncle Joe. "I sawthem both headed for the stables a while ago. "

"I'm glad they're going to get on well, " said Blue Bonnet in arelieved tone. "I was afraid Don would be jealous. " She gave a clearloud whistle, and a moment later the two animals came racing acrossthe yard, tumbling over each other in their eagerness to be first upthe steps. Blue Bonnet stooped and picked up the smaller dog, fondlinghim and saying foolish things. Don, the big collie, gave a low whineand looked up at her piteously. 

"Not jealous, did you say?" laughed Uncle Joe. 

Blue Bonnet patted the collie's head. "Good dog, " she said soothingly. "You're too big to be carried, Don. " Then she put down Solomon andbending put a hand under Don's muzzle; his soft eyes met hersaffectionately. "I'm going to put Solomon in your charge--understand?You must warn him about snakes, Don, --and don't let the coyotes gethim. " A sharp bark from Don Blue Bonnet was satisfied to take for anaffirmative answer, and with another pat sent him off for the night. 

"Has Alec some place to sleep?" inquired Blue Bonnet, her hospitableinstincts suddenly and rather tardily aroused. 

"Benita has put him in the ell by me. He's there now, unpackingto-night so that he won't have to waste any time to-morrow. I neversaw a boy so keen about ranch-life as he is. He seems to look onhimself as a sort of pioneer in a new country, " Uncle Joe chuckled. 

"It's all new to him, " rejoined Blue Bonnet. "This is his firstglimpse of the West. I hope he gets strong and well out here--GeneralTrent worries so about him. "

"It will be the making of him, " Uncle Cliff assured her. "He'll goback to Massachusetts as husky as Pinto Pete, if he'll just learn tolive outdoors, and leave books alone for a while. "

"I'm going to hide every book he has brought with him, " declared BlueBonnet. "And Sarah Blake will need looking after--she has the bookhabit, too. "

Uncle Joe shook his head. "It seems to be a germ disease they haveback there in Massachusetts. Glad you didn't catch it, Blue Bonnet. "

"Oh, I'm immune!" laughed she, as she said good-night and went to seekBenita. 

She found her old nurse in the kitchen, resting after an arduous day. Gertrudis, the famous cook "loaned" for the summer by a neighboringranch, was mixing something mysterious in a wooden bowl, while hergranddaughter Juanita, a nut-brown beauty, pirouetted about the room, showing off her new rosettes in a Spanish dance. 

Blue Bonnet clapped her hands. "That's a pretty step, Juanita, --willyou teach it to me some day?"

"Si, Señorita, " she assented eagerly, showing all her white teeth in adelighted smile. "It is the _cachucha_. "

"The girls will all want to learn it, " Blue Bonnet assured her. Shedraw Benita into the dining-room and then gave her a hearty squeeze. "Everything's just lovely, you old dear, " she cried. "The girls arecrazy about the nursery, and they think you are the dearest ever!"

Benita's wrinkled face beamed. "If the Señorita is pleased, old Benitais happy, " she said deprecatingly. 

"Benita, I missed you dreadfully, off there in Woodford. I had to makemy own bed and do my own mending!"

Benita gave an odd little sound of distress. "But Benita will do itnow, " she urged anxiously. 

"You'll have to get around Grandmother then, Benita, --I can't. "

"The Señora is kind--" Benita began. 

"--but firm, " added Blue Bonnet. "I leave her to you!"

It was so late before the girls finally settled down into theirrespective corners, that it seemed only about five minutes before theywere awakened at daybreak by the most terrific tumult that ever smotethe ears of slumbering innocence. 

Bang, bang! Boom, crash, bang! Shouts, yells, wild Comanche-like criesrent the ear, and punctuated the incessant booming that shook even thethick adobe walls of the nursery. 

Four terrified faces were raised simultaneously from four white beds, and four voices in chorus whispered: "What is it?" No one dared stir. 

Suddenly the door was burst open and in sprang a white-robed figure, hair flying, eyes wide with terror. Straight to Blue Bonnet's bed thespectre flew and leaped into the middle of it with a plump that madeits occupant gasp. 

"Oh, girls, it's Indians!" wailed the newcomer; and then they saw thatit was Sarah. 

"Indians?" exclaimed Blue Bonnet. "There aren't any Indians aroundhere. Get off my chest and I'll go see. "

Casting off the bed-clothes and the startled Sarah at the same time, with one spring Blue Bonnet was at the window. What she saw there washardly reassuring; the whole space between the house and the stablesseemed to be filled with a howling, whirling mass of men. In the grayhalf-light of early dawn she could recognize no one. Suddenly a freshexplosion set the windows rattling; there was a hiss and a glare ofred. In the glow she caught a glimpse of Alec; he held a revolver andwas shooting it with sickening rapidity, not stopping to take aim. 

Blue Bonnet staggered back faint with horror, and the girls gatheredfearfully about her. Uncle Cliff's voice giving an order came to themfrom outside. Blue Bonnet leaned out and shrieked--"Uncle, Uncle--what's the matter--oh, what is it?"

Never had voice seemed so welcome as those calm, soothing tones, whenUncle Cliff replied: "Reckon you've forgotten what day it is, Honey. "

Blue Bonnet turned on the girls. "What--what day is it?"

And the light from within was suddenly greater than that from withoutas they answered in a sheepish chorus:

"The Fourth of July!"

CHAPTER III

THE GLORIOUS FOURTH

"TO think that a crowd of New England girls, of all people, shouldforget the Fourth of July!" exclaimed Alec, when they met around thebig breakfast table, later that morning. 

Sarah looked positively pained. "I never forgot it before in my wholelife, " she said plaintively. "But there have been so many new thingsto think of, and travelling, you know--" she ended lamely. 

"Are New England people supposed to be more patriotic than those ofother states?" inquired Blue Bonnet, bristling a little in defence ofTexas. 

"Certainly!" cried Alec. "New England folks are fed on Plymouth Rockand the Declaration of Independence from the cradle to the grave. That's the diet of patriots. "

"H'm!" murmured Blue Bonnet scornfully. "I'll wager that Patriot AlecTrent would have forgotten Independence Day, too, if Uncle Cliffhadn't let him into the secret. Now I know, Uncle Cliff, what was inthat box labelled 'dangerous. ' Wasn't I a goose not to think of it?And Uncle Joe telegraphed so as to get us here in time. Grandmother, "here she turned a rueful countenance on Mrs. Clyde, "going to schoolhasn't helped my head a bit, I'm just downright _dull_. "

Uncle Cliff gave an amused laugh. "I'm glad to have caught you nappingfor once, young lady. Now, as soon as Gertrudis stops sending incorncake, I propose that we adjourn to the stables and look over themounts. Pinto Pete says he has a nice little bunch of ponies. "

"Why do they call him 'Pinto?'" asked Debby. "I thought that meant aspotted horse. "

"Haven't you noticed Pete's freckles?" asked Uncle Joe. "He has moreand bigger ones than any other human in Texas, and the boys called him'Pinto Pete' the first minute they clapped eyes on him. He don'tmind--it's the way of the West. "

"And is 'Shady' a nickname, too?" Debby asked. 

"No--just short for good old-fashioned Shadrach. Shadrach Stringer'shis name, and he's the best twister in the county. "

Debby had a third question on her lips but checked it as she metKitty's saucy eye. Kitty, known as "Little Miss Why, " was always onthe alert to bequeath the name to a successor. But Sarah saw none ofthe by-play and asked at once:

"What's a 'twister?'"

"A bronco buster, " replied Uncle Joe. 

Sarah's look of mystification at this definition sent Alec off into afit of laughter. Blue Bonnet came to the rescue. "A twister breaks inthe wild horses, Sarah. Some day we'll get him to give an exhibition. You'd never believe how he can stick on, --it'll frighten you the firsttime you see it. The way the horse rears and bucks and runs, why--"Blue Bonnet suddenly choked and turned pale. Mrs. Clyde and UncleCliff read her thoughts at the same moment and both rose hurriedly. 

"Come on, everybody, " exclaimed Mr. Ashe in a resolutely cheerfultone, "we must make the most of the morning. "

"Why?" asked Kitty before she thought, and then bit her lip. That word"why" was such a pitfall. 

"Everybody has to take a siesta in the afternoon, " explained BlueBonnet. "It's too hot to move. "

"Every afternoon?" demanded Debby. 

"Every afternoon, " repeated Uncle Cliff. "Anybody caught awake betweenone and four P. M. Will be severely dealt with. It's a law of thehuman constitution and the penalty is imprisonment in the hospital, headache, and loss of appetite. "

"What a waste of time, " Sarah commented, privately resolving that shewould not spend two or three precious hours every afternoon in sleep. One didn't come to Texas every summer. 

"I see mutiny in Sarah's eye, " said Blue Bonnet. "Wait till you've hada sunstroke, Sarah, then you'll wish you hadn't possessed such oceansof energy. " She had put all unpleasant memories from her by now andwas leading the way to the stables. Straight to Firefly's stall shewent and threw her arms around her old playfellow's neck. In the fewseconds before the others came in she had whispered into his velvetear something that was both a confession and an apology, while Fireflynosed her softly and looked as pleased as a mere horse-countenance iscapable of looking. 

"Isn't he a beauty?" she challenged as the rest entered. 

"A stunner, " Alec agreed warmly, coming up to admire. "Wouldn'tChula's nose be out of joint if she could see you petting Firefly?"

"Victor has a rival too. Where's Alec's horse, Uncle Joe?"

Pinto Pete came up just then, his freckles seeming to the girls toloom up larger and browner than ever now that they knew the origin ofhis nickname. "Shady says the roan's too skittish for any of the youngladies--" he suggested. 

"Strawberry?--oh, she's splendid! Alec, you'll think you're in acradle. "

The pretty creature, just the color of her namesake, was brought outand put through her paces, and the exhibition proved to thesatisfaction of all the young ladies that Shady's verdict was quitejust. Strawberry pranced, bared her teeth at any approach, and ingeneral did her best to live up to her reputation for skittishness. The fighting blood in Alec made him resolve to change that adjectiveto "kittenish" before he had ridden her many times. 

The four ponies provided for the girls were next brought out forinspection, and met with unqualified approval from all but Sarah. These slender, restless little steeds seemed not at all related to thefat placid beasts to which she had heretofore trusted herself. Herface betokened her unspoken dismay. 

"Sallikins, I know the best mount for you, " exclaimed Kittyinnocently. 

"Oh, do you?" cried Sarah hopefully. 

"Um-hum, --Blue Bonnet's old rocking-horse in the nursery!" laughedKitty; whereupon Pinto Pete let out a loud guffaw, changing it at onceinto an ostentatious fit of coughing when he saw that Sarah wasinclined to resent Kitty's insult. 

Her mild blue eyes almost flashed as she returned: "You can pick outany one of those four horses you choose for me, Kitty Clark, and I'llshow you if I'm afraid to ride!"

This outburst from Sarah the placid rather startled the We are Sevens. But Kitty, after a surprised stare at the ruffled one, picked up thegauntlet. She appraised the horses with a calculating glance, thenpicked out a chestnut who showed the whites of his eyes in a mostterrifying manner. 

"How does that one suit you, Señorita Blake?" she asked tauntingly. 

"Very well, " returned Sarah with a toss of her flaxen braids. This wassheer bravado, but it passed muster. No one dreamed of the shivers ofabject fear that were chasing up and down the girl's spine at sight ofthe fiery little chestnut with the awful eyes. 

"Why, that's Comanche!" exclaimed Blue Bonnet. "He has a heavenlygait. "

"Comanche!" Alec echoed, and then withdrew hastily to a convenientstall. The thought of the plump, blond Sarah mounted on a steedbearing such a wild Indian name was too much for him. He emerged amoment later very red in the face and unable to meet Blue Bonnet'seye. Their sense of humor was curiously akin, and Blue Bonnet knew, without being told, what mental picture filled Alec's mind. 

"Why not have a ride this morning, --there's plenty of time beforenoon, " suggested Uncle Joe. "Here, Lupe, bring out the saddles, " hecalled. 

Guadalupe, the "wrangler, " appeared from an inner room, looking like achief of the Navajo tribe, so burdened was he with the bright-huedIndian saddle-blankets. The girls watched him with eager eyes, butwhen he was followed by several boys bearing huge cowboy saddles, there was a little murmur of dismay from the group. 

"Men's saddles for us!" exclaimed Debby in a shocked undertone. 

Blue Bonnet laughed outright. "Didn't you hear Grandmother say: 'Whenyou're in Texas do as the Texans do?' Well, turn and turn about isfair play. Didn't I ride a side-saddle as proper as pie in Woodford?Now it's your turn. "

Sarah gave an approving look at the high pommels of the saddles, andat the strong hair-bridle that was being fitted over Comanche's wickedlittle head. 

Blue Bonnet gave the same bridle a look that was far from approving. "Lupe, isn't that a Spanish bit you're using?"

"Si, Señorita, " said Guadalupe guiltily. 

"Then take it right off!" commanded Blue Bonnet in her old imperiousway. "They're cruel wicked things that cut a horse's mouth to pieces, and I won't have them used, " she explained to the girls. "Lupe knows Ihate them. " She turned accusingly on the boy. 

Lupe looked at her appealingly. "It is the safer for the Señoritas, "he urged. 

Blue Bonnet was inexorable. "We're not going to do any lassoing orbranding, Lupe, and can manage very well without them. We'll have toorganize a humane society, girls, and reform these cruel cowmen, " shesuggested. 

Lupe discarded the offending bits and substituted others more to theSeñorita's liking, and then the girls went in to dress for the ride. 

"How can we ride across the saddle in these skirts?" demanded Debby. 

Blue Bonnet and Uncle Cliff exchanged a significant glance, the reasonfor which was explained a moment later when the girls entered thenursery. There on the beds lay five complete riding suits: dividedskirts of khaki, "middy" blouses of a cooler material, and soft Panamahats, each wound with a blue scarf and finished with a smart bow. 

"How darling of you!" cried the girls, falling on Blue Bonnetrapturously. 

"It's all Uncle Cliff, " exclaimed Blue Bonnet. "He saw some suits likethese in a shop window while we were in New York and went in andordered seven! But Susy and Ruth won't have a chance to wear theirs, "she ended regretfully. 

The girls, too excited to spend time mourning the absent ones, werealready getting into the fascinating suits. These were all of a size, close lines not being demanded of a middy blouse, and all werepronounced perfect except Sarah's, which, as Kitty remarked, "fittedtoo soon. " Gauntlet gloves and natty riding whips completed theequipment of the riders, and when they went out ready to mount theywere as neat a crowd of equestriennes as ever graced Central Park. 

Notwithstanding that they were all dressed alike, each girl'sparticular type stood out quite clearly. Kitty had more "style" thanthe other Woodford girls, and a carriage that had more of consciousvanity in it; her "middy" set more trimly and the little hat was seton her ruddy locks at a little more daring angle than that of theothers. Amanda and Debby appeared the same unremarkable sort ofschoolgirls that they always were. The costume was not designed formaidens of Sarah's build, and it looked quite as uncomfortable on heras she felt in it. Blue Bonnet appeared as she always did in this sortof attire: as though it had grown on her. 

"Whew!" exclaimed Alec, "such elegance!"

"Strikes me you're not so slow yourself, " returned Kitty. "Isn't he'got up regardless, ' girls?"

Alec was dressed for his part with elaborate attention to details. Mr. Ashe had been anxiously consulted, for the Eastern boy had no desireto be dubbed a tenderfoot; and now, except for its spotless newness, his costume was quite "Western and ranchified"--according to BlueBonnet. 

[Illustration: "COMANCHE . . . LEAPED FORWARD LIKE A CAT. "]

He was in khaki, too, with trousers that tucked into high"puttees"--thick pigskin leggings which gave his long limbs quite asubstantial appearance and himself no end of comfort. A soft shirtand a carelessly knotted bandana gave the finishing touches to hisattire. He had even turned in the neck of his shirt so as to be quiteone of the cowmen, secretly hoping that the girls would not notice howwhite his throat was. 

It was a gay cavalcade that cantered out of the big corral, the fivegirls leading; Alec, Pinto Pete, and Uncle Joe forming a rear guard, with Don and Solomon capering at their heels; while a crowd of little"greasers" clung on to the bars, their eyes big with the wonder of itall. 

"Lucky we're not on the streets of Woodford, " remarked Alec, lookingwith amused eyes over the well mounted company. 

"Why?" asked Blue Bonnet a trifle resentfully. "Aren't we grand enoughfor the East?"

"Sure! But I'm afraid we'd be arrested for running a circus without alicense!"

This piece of wit so tickled Pinto Pete that he nearly stampeded thebunch by bursting again into his ear-splitting laugh. Sarah grabbedthe handy pommel with a nervous clutch that was eloquent of her stateof mind. And that action was all that saved her. For Comanche, takingPete's guffaw for a command, leaped forward like a cat, and a momentlater the whole crowd was galloping madly across the level meadow. 

It is probable that if Sarah's hair had not already been as light ashair can well be, that wild ride would have turned it several shadeslighter. The terrors that were compressed into those two hours arebeyond description, while the bobbing, bumping and shaking of her poorplump body left reminders that only time and witch hazel were able toeradicate. 

When they returned at noon Gertrudis had a wonderful dinner awaitingthem, and the riders, with their appetites freshened by the air andexercise, fell upon it like a pack of famished wolves. All exceptSarah. Protesting that she was not in the least hungry, she went atonce to her room. On the little stand by her bed lay the Spanishgrammar and dictionary, mute evidences of the way she had intended tospend the siesta hour. She gave them not so much as a glance, butstepping out of her clothes left them in a heap where they fell, --anaction indicating a state of demoralization hardly to be believed ofthe parson's daughter, --and flung herself into bed with a groan. 

Two hours later she was awakened by the other four girls who hadturned inquisitors, and while two were stripping off the bedclothesthe other two applied a feather to the soles of her feet. 

"Oh--is it morning?" gasped Sarah, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "It doesn't seem as if I had been asleep a minute. "

"Such a waste of time!" quoted Kitty mockingly. "There's such athing, Sarah, as overdoing the siesta, " she taunted. 

Sarah drew up her feet and sat on them, smothering the groan thatarose to her lips at the action. Every bone and joint had a new andawful kind of ache, and in that minute Sarah wished she had neverheard of the Blue Bonnet ranch. Just then came the welcome clatter ofdishes and at the doorway appeared Benita bearing a tray of goodthings, while back of her was Grandmother Clyde. 

"Now off with you, --you tormentors, " the Señora commanded gaily. "Thispoor child must be nearly famished. "

"Grandmother's pet!" sang Blue Bonnet over her shoulder, as obeyingorders, the four girls left the suffering Sarah in peace. 

Existence assumed a brighter hue to Sarah when she had eaten thegenerous repast Benita set before her; and when she had bathed andrubbed herself with the Pond's Extract Mrs. Clyde had secretlyprovided her with, life seemed once more worth living. But she wasvery quiet and moved with great circumspection for the rest of theday, quite content to leave to the others the handling of thefireworks in the evening. 

Uncle Cliff's "dangerous" box yielded still more wonders. The noisybombs and giant crackers of the morning were followed by pyrotechnicsthat aroused unbounded admiration from the grown-ups and caused anexcitement among the small greasers that threatened to end in a humanconflagration. A small fortune went up in gigantic pin-wheels;flower-pots that sent up amazing blossoms in all the hues of therainbow; rockets that burst in mid-air and let fall a shower ofcoiling snakes, which, in their turn, exploded into a myriad stars;Roman candles that sometimes went off at the wrong end and caused awild scattering of the audience in their immediate vicinity; and"set-pieces" that were the epitome of this school of art. 

It would have been hard to say which was most tired, the hostess orher guests, when the last spark faded from the big "Lone Star" ofTexas which ended the show. No bedtime frolic to-night; the four inthe nursery undressed in a dead quiet and fell asleep before theirheads fairly touched the pillows. In her own little room Sarah heldanother seance with the witch hazel bottle, and went to sleep only todream of a wild ride across the meadows on Blue Bonnet'srocking-horse, with a fierce band of Comanche Indians pursuing her, yelling fiendishly all the while, and keeping up a mad fusillade ofRoman candles. 

CHAPTER IV

THE ROUND ROBIN

"WHAT'S the program for this morning?" asked Uncle Cliff, as the ranchparty assembled on the veranda after a very late breakfast. 

"I don't know what the others are going to do, " said Sarah, "but I'mgoing to write letters. "

The other girls exchanged amused glances: it was evident that Sarahwished to forestall suggestions of another ride. Kitty was beginningto show symptoms of sauciness when Mrs. Clyde interrupted kindlywith--"I think Sarah's suggestion quite in order. Every one at homewill be looking for letters. "

"Uncle Cliff telegraphed, " said Blue Bonnet, loath to settle down toso prosaic a pursuit. 

"But a telegram isn't very satisfying to mothers and fathers, dear, "replied her grandmother. "And think of poor Susy and Ruth. "

"I intend to write them, too, " remarked Sarah. 

"Let's all write them!" exclaimed Blue Bonnet. 

"That's the right spirit, " said Señora with an approving nod. "A'round-robin' letter will cheer the poor girls wonderfully. "

"You hear the motion, are all in favor?" asked Alec. 

"Will you write a 'robin, ' too?" bargained Kitty, who loved to tormentthe youth. 

"Sure!" he agreed at once, thus taking the wind out of her sails. 

"Aye, aye, then!" they all exclaimed, and the motion was declaredcarried. 

There was a scattering for paper and ink, after which every onesettled down for an hour's scribbling, some using the broad rail ofthe veranda as a table, others repairing to desks in the house. BlueBonnet doubled up jack-knife fashion on one of the front steps, usingher knees for a pad; while Sarah, complaining that she could not thinkwith so many people about her, took herself off to the window-seat inthe nursery. 

"The idea of wanting to think!" exclaimed Kitty. "I never stop tothink when I write letters. "

"You don't need to tell that to any one who has ever heard from you, "remarked Blue Bonnet. "The one letter I had from you in New York tookme an hour to puzzle out, --it began in the middle and ended at the topof the first page, and there were six 'ands' and four 'ifs' in onesentence. "

"That's quite an accomplishment--I'll wager you couldn't get in halfso many, " retorted Kitty. And then for a while there was silence, broken only by the scratching of pens and the query from Blue Bonnetas to whether there were two s's or two p's in "disappoint. "

 "TO SUSY AND RUTH DOYLE, WOODFORD, MASSACHUSETTS. "THE BLUE BONNET RANCH, "July the fifth. 

 "YOU POOR DEARS: You'll never know if you live to be a thousand years old what a fearful disappointment it was when Doctor Clark told me the awful news. Where did you get it? Is it very bad? And do you have to gargle peroxide of hydrogen? Amanda says she just lived on it when her throat was bad. Are you honestly as red as lobsters? It's a perfect shame you should have to be sick--and in vacation, too. There might be some advantages if it should happen--say at examination time. Grandmother says it is very unusual to have scarlet fever in warm weather, --it just seems as if you must have gone out of your way to get it--or it went out of its way to get you. 

 "The ranch party isn't a bit complete without you. I'm going to take pictures of everything and everybody so as to show you when we get back. That sounds as if I meant to go back again next fall, when really it isn't decided yet. I'm more in love with the ranch than ever and feel as if I never wanted to leave it again. It's so fine and big out here. There's so much air to breathe and such a long way to look, and you can throw a stone as far as you like without 'breaking a window or a tradition'--as Alec says. We have our traditions, too, but they can stand any amount of stone-throwing--in fact that's part of them. 

 "It's worth crossing the continent to see Sarah on horseback, riding across the saddle in a wild Western way that would shock her reverend father out of a whole paragraph. Kitty dared her and I must say she showed pluck--Comanche can go _some_ when he gets started, and Sarah stayed with him to the finish. But you can imagine why she wanted to write letters to-day instead of riding again. You can thank her for the round robin. There, I've reached the bottom of the page before I've begun to tell you anything. But the others will make up for it, I reckon. No more now--I must save strength for a letter to Aunt Lucinda. Do hurry and get well and out of quarantine so that you can write to

 "Your devoted "BLUE BONNET. "

 "DEAR SUSY AND RUTH: We arrived on Monday evening after a very pleasant journey. The name of the station where you get off is Jonah--isn't that odd? We had to drive twenty miles in a very queer kind of vehicle in order to reach Blue Bonnet's home, and this letter will have to go back over the same road in order to be posted. I think I had better go back to the beginning and tell you all about our trip from the time we left Woodford. 

 "The private car we came in is called The Wanderer and it is really a pity you could not have shared it with us. It is much grander than Mrs. Clyde's drawing-room at home, --the mahogany shone till you could see your face in it, and wherever there was not mahogany there was a mirror, and Slivers, the porter, dusted everything about twenty times a day. If you could see Slivers I should not have to explain why he is called by that name. I am sure he is the tallest and slimmest man I have ever seen. And that is odd, too, for you always think of them as plump and fat. He is a negro, you know, and doesn't seem to mind it a bit, but is as jolly as if he were white and as fat as you think he ought to be, and sang and played his banjo in the evenings quite like a civilized person. He waited on table, too, while the chief--the cook, you know--prepared our meals in the most cunning little kitchen you can imagine. 

 "It was a very interesting trip. Sometimes we would begin our breakfast in one state and before we had finished we would be in another, and yet there would seem to be no difference. I think travelling is a very interesting way to learn Geography, for you forget to think of Kansas as yellow and Oklahoma as purple, and think of them as _real_ places with trees and farms and other things like Massachusetts. I knew already that Texas is as big as all the New England states put together, but I never really _grasped_ it before. I am learning new things every day, some Spanish, though not as much as I could wish. Yesterday I learned to ride astride. That is, nearly learned. I don't feel entirely at home that way yet and it has tired me considerably, but I dare say it will come easier after a while. My horse is named Comanche, and he looks just that way. There is more white to his eyes than anything else. 

 "Benita is Blue Bonnet's old nurse. She does the most exquisite drawn-work and is going to teach me (it would be as well for you not to mention this when you write) the spider-web stitch and the Maltese cross, so that I can do a waist for Blue Bonnet. She is doing so much for us all that I want to make some return for her hospitality. Blue Bonnet, I mean, not Benita. 

 "I do hope you will soon be better. I felt so mean at leaving without even saying good-bye. But I had to think of all my brothers and sisters and the girls--I couldn't expose them to the fever, you know. I hope you liked the postals we sent. Amanda and I came very near being left once when we couldn't find the post-box at Kansas City, --we had to run a block, while Alec and Kitty stood on the back platform and laid bets on the winner. (Amanda won. )

 "We are all well and hope you are the same, --I mean I hope you are better and will soon be well. 

 "With best love, "SARAH JANE BLAKE. "

 "Oh, girls, I am simply speechless and can't find a word to say when I try to describe our grand trip and this perfect peach of a place, and the glorious time we have had and are having ever since we left pokey old Woodford and arrived at the Blue Bonnet ranch. I keep pinching myself to see if I'm really me, but it isn't at all convincing, and I suppose I'll simply go on treading air and not believe in the reality of a thing till I come to earth in time to hear the Jolly Good say--'Miss Kitty, you may take problem number ninety-four'--and wake up to the monotonous old grind again--oh, if you could only see this darling old house and the picturesque Mexicans--rather dirty some of them (I suppose that's why they are called greasers) and the perfectly dear way they adore Blue Bonnet and their deference to her 'amigos'--I tell you I feel like a princess when they call me 'Señorita' with a musical accent that makes you downright sick with envy. Why anybody on earth ever left the West to go and settle up the East I don't see, --you may think I mean that the other way about but I don't, for anybody can see at half a glance that this country is as old as Methusalem--the live-oaks look as if they'd been here forever and ever and would stay as much longer--they're all 'hoary with moss' and all that sort of thing like that poem of Tennyson's--or maybe it is Longfellow's--it doesn't matter which in vacation, thank goodness. I don't like to seem to be rubbing it in about our good times, for it's just too hateful that you can't be here, too, and ride like mad for miles without coming to a fence and wear the adorable riding-suits Mr. Ashe got for us in New York--all seven alike and as becoming as anything--and have the best things to eat, wear, do, and see every minute of the day. 

 "This won't go into the envelope with the rest if I run on any longer so I'll close, --with a fat hard hug and lots of love to you both, "KITTY. "

 "DEAR GIRLS: Don't you ever go and get conditioned at school; take my solemn warning. That awful thing hanging over me is going to do its best to spoil my grand summer in Texas. I intended to do a lot of studying as soon as we arrived here, so that I might have a few weeks perfectly free from worry; but goodness me, how can anybody open a book when there's something going on every blessed minute of the day? It's a pity it wasn't Sarah who was conditioned. She actually likes to study and if it came to a choice between a horseback ride and doing ten pages of grammar, she'd jump at the grammar. Sometimes I think Sarah isn't made like other girls. Not quite normal, you know. 

 "Now that I've seen Blue Bonnet at home, I realize what a hard time she must have had in Woodford, at first especially. She's treated like a perfect _queen_ here, and doesn't have to mind a soul except Señora--that's what we call Mrs. Clyde. Fancy having run the ranch all your life and then at fifteen having to start in and obey Miss Clyde, and Mr. Hunt, and the rest of those mighty ones! I think she's a brick to have done it at all, and I take back every criticism I ever made of her. She must be terribly rich, but doesn't put on any airs at all. 

 "How is little old Woodford getting along without us? I'm almost ashamed to write Mother and Father, for I can't say I'm homesick and parents always expect you to be. Debby wants to finish my page, so no more now from

 "Your loving AMANDA. "

 "DEAR SUSY AND RUTH: There's only room for me to say hello, and how are you? I wish I were a grand descriptive genius like Robert Louis Stevenson so that I could describe this wonderful Texas. But description isn't my strong point--you know how I just scraped through Eng. Comp. So I'll not try any flights. 

 "It isn't half as _wild_ as we used to imagine it. The cowboys don't go shooting up towns and hanging horse-thieves to all the trees the way they do in most of the Western stories. Even the cattle are tame, but Blue Bonnet says that is because they are fenced nowadays, and most of them de-horned. All the cowboys except two are Mexicans, and they are so picturesque and--different. Mr. Ashe says Texas is filling up with negroes but he won't have any on the ranch, --he sticks to the Mexicans, and I'm mighty glad, for they seem just to suit the atmosphere. Juanita, who waits on the table, is a beauty, with the most coquettish airs. Miguel is in love with her, and we all hope she won't keep him waiting too long, for if they are really going to be married, we want a grand wedding while we are here. Wouldn't that be thrilling?

 "I've just room to sign my name, "Yours, with love, "DEBBY. "

 "TO THE ABSENT TWO-SEVENTHS OF THE 'WE-ARE-ITS'--Greeting! Please don't imagine that I forced my way into this Round Robin affair. My masculine chirography probably looks out of place in this epistolary triumph--ahem!--but you can thank Kitty Clark for it. I don't know whether or not this is intended as a letter of condolence, but it surely ought to be, --anybody who has to miss this summer-session on the Blue Bonnet ranch deserves flowers and slow music. 

 "This letter will be postmarked 'Jonah'--but don't be alarmed; they say it's a harmless one. I'm going to ride over with the mail. Just a little matter of twenty miles, a trifle out here! Kitty says she doesn't see how we can expect any letters to reach a place with such a name, but I've faith in the collection of relatives left behind in Woodford. 

 "Now I advise you both, the next time you go into the vicinity of anything catching, cross your fingers and say 'King's Ex. ' for you're missing the time of your young lives. As a place of residence, Texas certainly has my vote. A fellow can breathe his lungs full here without robbing the next fellow of oxygen. 

 "With unbounded sympathy, "Yours, "ALEC TRENT. "

Blue Bonnet collected the literary installments from each of thedifferent authors and put them in a big envelope. 

"This 'round-robin' is as plump as a partridge, " she remarked. "I hopeSusy and Ruth won't strain their eyes devouring it. "

"The Woodford postman in our part of town will have an unusually warmgreeting, I fancy, " said Mrs. Clyde, gathering up all the otherletters and placing them with the round-robin in the roomy mail-bag. 

"I think Father had better have a social at the church for theWe-are-Seven relatives and ask them to bring our letters. Reading andpassing them around would make a very interesting evening'sentertainment, " said Sarah. 

Blue Bonnet paused long enough to shake her. "Don't you dare suggestsuch a horrible thing to your father, Sarah! My letter wasn't intendedfor--public consumption. "

"Nor mine!" exclaimed Kitty. "Father and mother know what ascatter-brain I am, but it's a family skeleton which they don't careto have aired. "

"Is the mail all in?" asked Alec in an official tone. 

"All in, postmaster, " replied Mrs. Clyde, fastening the bag andhanding it to him with a smile. "You're not going alone, are you?"

"No, Shady is going along this trip, Señora, " he replied. 

"Why don't we all go?" asked Blue Bonnet; "it isn't much of a ride. "

Sarah looked up in alarm, but met Mrs. Clyde's reassuring glance. "Notthis time, dear, " she returned to Blue Bonnet. "So far you have hadall play and no work. The piano hasn't been touched since wearrived. "

Blue Bonnet said nothing, but into her eyes there sprang a suddenrebellion. Out there by the stables Don and Solomon were frolicking, ready at a moment's notice to dash away at Firefly's heels. Away infront of the house stretched the road and the prairie, callingirresistibly to her restless, roving spirit. And vacation had been solong in coming! If grandmother were going to be like Aunt Lucinda--Again there flashed into her mind the wish so often voiced inWoodford: that there might be two of her, so that one might stay athome and be taught things while the other went wandering about as sheliked. All at once she remembered Alec's suggestion--that she adoptSarah as her "alter ego. " A smile drove the cloud from her eyes. "Can't Sarah do my practising while I do her riding?" she askedcoaxingly. 

Her grandmother hid a smile as she said: "I was under the impressionthat my coming to the ranch was to see that Blue Bonnet Ashe did herpractising, mending, and had coffee only on Sundays. "

Blue Bonnet colored. She had uttered those very words, and nobodyshould say that an Ashe was not sincere. Straightening up she met thequestioning looks of the other girls with a resolute glance. "Grandmother is right, as she always is, girls. I'll go and practise, and you--what will you do?"

"I'm sure all the girls will be glad of a little time to themselves, "said the Señora. "Let us all do as we like until dinner-time. I'vebeen longing to sit in the shade of the big magnolia ever since Icame. I shall take a book and spend my two hours out there, and anyone who wishes may share my bower. "

"Then I'll be off, " said Alec. "Any commissions for me in Jonah?" Hestood like an orderly at attention, with the mail-bag slung over oneshoulder and his whole bearing expressive of the importance of hismission. The sun and the wind of the prairie had already tanned hissmooth skin to the ruddy hue of health, but Mrs. Clyde, observing himclosely, could not fail to note how very slim and frail the erectyoung figure was. 

"Isn't twenty miles a rather long ride on a hot day?" she askedtactfully, fearing to wound the sensitive lad. 

"We shall reach Kooch's ranch by noon, and we are to rest there untilit is cool again, " he replied, flushing a little under her solicitousglance. 

"Well, keep an eye on Shady!" said Blue Bonnet, waving him good-bye asshe went to do her practising. 

Fifteen minutes later each member of the ranch party was busilyengaged in doing "just as she liked. " Mrs. Clyde, deep in a book, satunder the fragrant magnolia; Kitty reclined on a Navajo blanket nearher, lazily watching the gay-plumaged birds that made the tree arendezvous. From the open windows of the living-room came aconscientious rendering of a "Czerny" exercise, enlivened now and thenby a bar or two of a rollicking dance, with which Blue Bonnetsugar-coated her pill. In the kitchen Debby and Amanda were deep inthe mysteries of "pinoche" under the tutelage of Lisa and Gertrudis;while Sarah, safe inside her own little sanctum, sat and drew threadsrapturously, and later, coached by the delighted Benita, wove theminto endless spider-webs. 

CHAPTER V

THE SWIMMING HOLE

THEY sat up late that evening waiting for Alec to come with the mail. Mrs. Clyde and Blue Bonnet were somewhat uneasy, for they knew he hadintended to be back in time for their late supper; and when teno'clock came and no Alec or Shady appeared, they grew openly anxious. 

Uncle Cliff refused to share their worry. "Shady's no tenderfoot, " hescoffed, "and holding up the mail has gone out of fashion in theseparts. "

Blue Bonnet had no fear of hold-ups and did not care to express hersuspicion that the ride had proved too much for Alec. She found reasonto reproach herself: a forty-mile ride for a delicate boy like him wasa foolish undertaking and she should have realized it. She had riddenthat distance herself innumerable times; but she had practically beenreared in the saddle and had lived all her life in this land of greatdistances. It was very different with Alec. The day of their picnic inWoodford came back to her, and again she saw the boy, worn out by amuch shorter ride, lying white and unconscious before the fire in thehunter's cabin. She grew almost provoked with her grandmother forhaving insisted upon her practising instead of riding to Jonah as shehad wished. If she had gone along, she at least would have known whatto do for Alec in an emergency. 

At eleven the moon came up, and rising out of the prairiesimultaneously with the golden disk, came Shady, riding alone. A rapidfire of questions greeted him as he came up with the mail. 

"Left the young fella at Kooch's, " he explained briefly. 

"What was the matter?" asked Blue Bonnet anxiously. 

"Well, ye see--it was this way, --" Shady paused and then stoodawkwardly shifting his sombrero from hand to hand. Blue Bonnet guessedinstantly that Alec had sworn the cowboy to secrecy concerning thereal reason for his non-appearance, and she refrained from furtherquestioning. But her grandmother took alarm. 

"Is he hurt--or ill?" Mrs. Clyde asked quickly. 

For a moment Shady avoided her eyes, then resolutely squaring hisshoulders he lied boldly: "No, Señora, --the mare went lame on him. He'll be over in the morning. "

Mrs. Clyde drew a quick breath of relief; but Blue Bonnet was not soeasily reassured. That Kooch had a dozen horses which Alec might haveridden if Strawberry was really disabled, was something hergrandmother did not know; but the little Texan, used all her life tothe easy give and take of ranch life, understood at once that Alec'sreal reason for staying at the Dutchman's was quite different from theone Shady had so glibly given. She knew better, however, than to pressthe cowboy, and let him go off to the cook-house without attempting toget at the truth. 

"Grammy Kooch will take good care of him, " said Uncle Joe; and withher fears thus set at rest, Mrs. Clyde proposed an adjournment to thehouse to read their letters. 

The next morning Blue Bonnet was up before any one else in the housewas stirring, and, dressing without arousing any of the otheroccupants of the nursery, she stole out of the house and made her wayto the stable. Some of the Mexicans were already up, feeding the stockand doing the "chores, " and one of them saddled Firefly. None of themwondered at Blue Bonnet's early appearance, for since her infancy shehad ridden whenever the fancy took her, and now as she dashed out ofthe corral with Don and Solomon racing madly after her, the mengrinned with satisfaction that the Señorita had returned to the ranchunchanged. 

As she neared the Kooch ranch she saw a solitary horseman emergingfrom the gate. He was not looking towards her, and after a moment'sscrutiny she began to whistle "All the Blue Bonnets. " With a start ofsurprise Alec glanced up the road and at once galloped towards her. 

"Is it really you?" he asked, hardly believing his eyes. 

"Nae ither!" she laughed, turning Firefly and falling in with thestrawberry mare--whose four legs, she noted, were as sound as ever. 

"Well, you are an early bird. "

"Lucky you're not a worm, --I'm hungry enough to eat one!" she saidgaily. Under cover of the jest she stole a quick look at him. Yes, inspite of the sunburn he looked worn out and ill; he needed to rest andbe taken care of. She refrained from asking how he felt and insteadkept up a steady fire of nonsense, describing their dull day at theranch without him. If Alec had felt any resentment at her coming forhim, it melted under her light treatment of the situation; and by thetime they reached the little "rio" he was more like his usual, interested self. 

"I think I'd like to follow up this cree--er--river, I mean, " heremarked, looking up the winding, willow-grown course. 

"Not before breakfast, thank you!"

"Well, I didn't mean right this minute, but sometime, " he corrected. 

"We will, surely. I want to introduce you to the lovely spots of theranch, just as you showed me the charming places about Woodford. Itwill be different from following the brook as we used to do there, but I think you'll like it. There are picnic places along SanFranciscito that can't be beat. "

"San Frances_cheeto_?" he echoed; "where's that?"

"That's the name of this river, " she replied loftily. 

Alec threw back his head and laughed. "The name's bigger than thestream!" he declared. 

"It has advantages over the brook, as you'll see. One of them is theswimming hole. Do you swim?"

Alec's eyes glistened. "I'm ready to learn. "

"Well, get Shady to teach you. I'm going to make the girls learn. Youboys and we girls will have the pool on alternate days, --won't it befun?"

"The best ever. This is the first I've heard of it. "

"I wanted some things for surprises, " Blue Bonnet declared. "Isn't itodd your being here and seeing everything I used to talk about? It wasa novelty then, but after this I won't have anything left to describeto you. What do you suppose we will talk about on our first jaunt bythe brook next spring?"

Alec's face changed oddly. "Maybe there won't be any jaunt by thebrook next spring--for me, " he said, looking away from her startledeyes. 

"Why, what do you mean?" she asked, and then wished she had notspoken, for she was suddenly afraid of his answer. 

"I may not be, --you can't always tell, " he stammered, looking as if hewanted to take it all back. "Let's not talk about it now, please, " hebegged, and Blue Bonnet gladly let the subject drop. 

She rode on in silence the rest of the way, depressed and miserable. Alec's words were a revelation; she had not dreamed he felt so ill anddoubtful of living. She had thought he would grow strong and well atthe ranch, and already he was worse and spoke of his case as hopeless. 

They were greeted with a loud outcry from the girls, who were perchedon the top bar of the corral gate awaiting them. They had beensomewhat startled upon arising to find Blue Bonnet gone, but Firefly'sabsence from his stall had explained her disappearance. 

"Hurry up, --we're starving!" they cried; and Alec and Blue Bonnet, responding gaily, dismounted and hastened to the house with the rest, both glad to escape questions in the general hilarity and press ofhunger. 

"Grandmother, " said Blue Bonnet later in the day; "I'm worried aboutAlec. " It was just after the siesta, and seeing her grandmothersitting alone in her chosen seat under the magnolia, she had gone outfor a chat. They were seldom alone these days. 

"He does look tired, " Mrs. Clyde admitted; "but it is natural heshould after that long ride. "

"It isn't that. " Blue Bonnet shook her head. "I'm afraid he's--gotsomething. "

"Got something?" her grandmother repeated in puzzled surprise. 

"_Has_ something, if you object to 'got. ' Has something the matterwith him, I mean, --serious, you know. "

Then she repeated the conversation she had had with Alec that morning. Mrs. Clyde listened in silence, but her eyes were troubled when BlueBonnet finished. 

"It may not be so bad as Alec imagines, " she said with a forcedhopefulness. "He has been outgrowing his strength, and beingovertired, too, makes him despondent. "

In spite of her words, from that time on Mrs. Clyde was more observantof the boy, and the moment she saw the first signs of fatigue shewould make some tactful suggestion for his benefit, relieving him ofthe necessity of saying he was tired, yet bringing about thepossibility of rest. And often with her own hands she would concoctsome nourishing dish, hardly so piquant as Gertrudis' red-hotcreations, but rather more healthful for a growing boy. Neither shenor Blue Bonnet voiced their fears to the other girls nor to any ofthe men, but, with a silent understanding, ministered quietly to thefrail boy's needs. 

A few days later the girls crossed the meadow to the pool for theirfirst lesson in swimming. It was an odd little bunch that sat on thebank dabbling their toes in the limpid water. The hastily improvisedbathing-suits they wore were of every style and color, and they lookedas gay as a flock of parrots in their bright-hued raiment. Blue Bonnetdove off the big boulder in the middle, to the great envy of theothers, who only consented to get wet all over after much persuasionand the threat of a forcible ducking. 

Sarah took the whole thing as seriously as she did most things. "Everybody should learn to swim, " she announced authoritatively as shesat contemplating a plunge. "Some day we might have a chance to crossthe ocean, and then we'd wish we knew how. "

"Do you mean to swim across the ocean?" demanded Blue Bonnet wickedly. 

"Of course not, " replied Sarah, unruffled. "But in case of shipwreck, you know, it's well to be prepared. I believe it should be studied asa science, --get the stroke, then do it. It's like bicycle riding, theysay: when you once learn how to keep your balance you never forget. "

Blue Bonnet demonstrated the stroke again and again, while the othergirls watched and imitated as they sat or sprawled on the grassybank. Sarah bent her whole mind to the acquiring of the proper armaction; lay face-down and kicked scientifically; then, convinced ofher preparation for the feat, boldly entered the water. 

"Good for you, Sallikins!" cried Blue Bonnet. "The others must beafraid of getting their feet wet. " Then she sang tauntingly:

 "Mother, may I go out to swim? Yes, my darling daughter, Hang your clothes on a hickory limb-- But don't go near the water!"

Thus challenged, Kitty stepped shrinkingly into the cold water. "IfSarah will swim from me to you, I'll try it after her, " she bargained. It was perhaps a distance of three yards from where she stood, waist-deep, to the big rock whereon Blue Bonnet was perched, laughingat them; but the Hellespont could hardly have loomed wider to theanxious eyes of Hero, than did this narrow channel now appear to thefour novices. 

"All right, " agreed Sarah with dogged determination. She shut hereyes, screwed up her face, spread her arms, struck out with her feetand started. If a hippopotamus had suddenly slipped off the bank therecould hardly have been a greater splash; Sarah kicked madly, puffing, panting, and churning the water into foam. All to no avail. Beforeshe had gone a yard she sank like a paving-stone to the bottom of thepool. Blue Bonnet, convulsed with laughter, went down after her, butit took the combined efforts of herself and Kitty to bring thestruggling Sarah to the surface. Sputtering and choking and muchpuzzled over the failure of her scientific method, Sarah retired tothe bank to get her breath. 

"Kitty's turn, " she said inexorably as soon as she could speak. 

Kitty found the bottom no less speedily, but scrambled up by herselfand went at it again until she was able to progress almost two feetbefore going down to "call on the fishes, " as Blue Bonnet said. Itremained for Debby to cover herself with glory. Disdaining science andthe instructions of the teacher, she took a lesson from Nature andstruck out like a puppy. Straight to Blue Bonnet she swam, struggledup on the big boulder beside her, gasping and breathless, butdelighted at her own success. 

"Bravo!" cried the girls, quite overcome with admiration. 

Emboldened by her triumph the others tried again and again, and whilenot wildly successful were so far encouraged that they lost theirfirst great fear of the water. And that, as every swimmer knows, isthe first step towards victory. 

"After you've all learned, " said Blue Bonnet a little later, as theyall sat on the veranda rail drying their hair, "we'll go over to thereservoir above Jonah some time and have a real swim. That is, ifGrandmother's willing. " She was glad she had remembered to add thatlast provision; it would have won an approving look from Aunt Lucinda. 

"Then we'll have to have real suits, " remarked Kitty, beginning thenand there to plan a fetching costume for the occasion. "I'll writehome for one right away. "

When the plan was laid before Señora she made a brilliant suggestion. "Why not make your own suits? We may be able to find material inJonah, and Benita and I will superintend. "

Sarah beamed delightedly, but Blue Bonnet looked doubtful. "Will it beas hard as knitting a shawl?" she asked, ignoring the giggles herquestion provoked. 

"Lots harder, you goose, " said Kitty. "But if you begin it you'llprobably have it finished for you by the same person who did theshawl. "

"Then I don't mind!" Blue Bonnet agreed promptly. "We'll go to Jonahto-morrow--" adding before the words were fairly said, "--may we, Grandmother?"

"Perhaps, " was all she said; but her eyes held more encouragement. 

CHAPTER VI

AN ADVENTURE

"HAVE you decided, Grandmother, " asked Blue Bonnet, "whether or not wecan go to Jonah this morning?"

"I think you may as well go, " said Mrs. Clyde. "If they have nosuitable material at Jonah, we shall have to send away for it, and thesooner we know the better. And, besides, we need several things forthe house. "

Blue Bonnet smiled gratefully. Grandmother was so sweetlyreasonable--most of the time. To her surprise Sarah was the only oneof the girls who greeted the proposal with any enthusiasm. The otherslooked listless and heavy-eyed. 

"I feel tired all over, " said Debby. 

"I can't move my arms without groaning, " complained Amanda. 

"I'm as stiff as a poker, " added Kitty mournfully. 

Sarah looked wise. "It's the swimming, " she declared. 

"Trying to swim, " Blue Bonnet corrected her. "I'm not tired or stiff. "

"If trying to swim has made us feel this way, why doesn't Sarah makeher little moan?" demanded Kitty. 

Sarah looked still wiser. "I was so stiff before that I think swimmingjust limbered me up, " she explained delightedly. Sarah could not helpfeeling a little very human satisfaction at the consciousness that shehad borne her sufferings with far greater courage than the others nowdisplayed. 

"I couldn't ride a mile, " groaned Kitty. 

"Nor I!" declared both Debby and Amanda. 

"Then, Señorita Blake, do we go by our lones?" asked Blue Bonnet. 

"I'd love to, " Sarah assented readily, beating down a nagging fear ofComanche's eyes. 

"Then let's hurry and dress. We must start while it's cool. "

"I think you will have to drive, dear, " said her grandmother, lookingup from the shopping list she was making. "Lisa says we must havelaundry soap, and I don't see how you can bring a big box unless youtake the buckboard. "

Blue Bonnet's face fell. "Lisa's always wanting soap, " she grumbled. 

"I should love to drive, " Sarah suggested wistfully. 

Blue Bonnet hesitated; after all a hostess should consider a guest'spreference, and Sarah was certainly a "good sort. " "Very well, " sheassented, smothering a sigh. 

"Have you all decided what color you want your bathing-suits?" askedthe Señora. 

"Let's have them all alike, " suggested Sarah. 

"Red!" exclaimed Blue Bonnet. 

"No, thank you, " returned Kitty. "Pray consider the feelings of myhair! I'm willing to have any color so long as--"

"--so long as it's green!" Blue Bonnet finished for her, recollectingformer debates of this sort. 

"Green is lovely for swimming, anyway, " Kitty contended. "It's somermaidy, you know. "

"And so becoming to red--er--auburn hair, " put in Blue Bonnet. "Havingblue eyes myself, I'm not partial to green. "

"Oh, if you're going to insist on harmony of colors I think we hadbetter stick to black and blue--I'm one big bruise. " Kitty illustratedher remark with a groan. 

"Yes, I've seen blue trimmed with black and it was very pretty, " saidSarah, quite missing Kitty's point. 

"Here, Grandmother, please make a list. Now, everybody, decide. Redfor me. Debby, what shall yours be?"

"Red with white braid, please, " replied Debby after a moment'sthought. 

"Blue with white ditto, " was Amanda's choice. 

"Green, " came from Kitty. 

"Black and blue, "--this from the consistent Sarah. 

"I think you will have to change the name of your club from the 'Weare Sevens' to 'The Rainbow Quintet, '" said the Señora, laughing asshe wrote down the variegated list. 

After all it was a delightful drive to Jonah. The two fleet horsesdrew the light buckboard over the smooth road with a motion that Sarahfound far preferable to the cat-like leaps of Comanche; and BlueBonnet was so proud of being trusted to drive a team that she wasquite reconciled to the arrangement. 

"Denham would have fainted if I had even suggested drivingGrandmother's carriage horses, " she told Sarah, with a scornful snifffor those fat Woodford beasts. 

"You drive beautifully, " was Sarah's comforting rejoinder. 

To their great satisfaction they found just what they wanted in Jonah. Alpaca was to be had in almost every shade, and wide white braid thatmade an excellent trimming. And to Blue Bonnet's delight she found abright red sash that would add the finishing touch of elegance to hersuit. Their shopping done and the buckboard well-heaped with theirvaried purchases, the two girls drove back as far as Kooch's ranch, where, according to an immemorial custom, they lunched and resteduntil the cool of the afternoon. On the return trip they met with anadventure. 

The road ran for a short distance beside the little river with the bigname--San Franciscito--which had so amused Alec. It was there thatSarah did something unprecedented. For several miles she had beenenvying Blue Bonnet her easy manner of handling the reins and thelight touch that sent the mustangs right or left as she willed. It wasa beautiful accomplishment. 

"Blue Bonnet, " she asked suddenly, "may I drive for a little while?"

Blue Bonnet looked up in speechless surprise; Sarah was certainly"coming on. " "Surely you may, " she said cordially, straightway handingover the reins. "Hold them firmly--these colts are apt to run under aloose rein. "

Sarah felt a curious sense of power as she grasped the leather in herunpracticed hands. Conscientious to a degree, she did as she was bidand held the mustangs firmly. In her anxiety to do the thing properly, she overdid it, and the next moment the horses were tossing theirheads angrily and backing with all their might. The bank of the streamjust here was very high and steep, though just beyond was a ford wherethe road branched. The light buckboard offered no resistance to thespirited mustangs, and, in a second, before Blue Bonnet could graspthe reins, one hind wheel had slipped an inch or two over the ledge. For a second or two the girls were in grave danger. Blue Bonnet felt aswift overpowering fear; the half-broken colts were as apt to plungebackward as to advance if they felt the whip, and that meant a plungedown the steep bank. She looked about her helplessly. Sarah, with afaint shriek, shut her eyes and prepared for the catastrophe. 

At that moment a horseman came suddenly up the bank at the ford, emerging as if from out the earth. At a glance he took in thesituation, was off his horse, caught the near colt by the bit andbrought both frightened animals to a standstill with the wheel a safemargin from the bank. Then without waiting to hear the faintlymurmured thanks of the terrified girls, their rescuer turned at onceto his own horse, which had seized the moment to make a break forfreedom. The boy--for he was hardly more--had thrown the lines overthe animal's head and now, with another of his incredibly swiftmovements, he caught them and in a second more had jerked the horseabout. Then in a flash he was once more in the saddle. Blue Bonnet hadjust managed to catch her breath, --when it was taken away again. Forbefore the boy had put his right foot in the stirrup, he was out ofthe saddle once more, lying all of a heap in the grass, while hishorse with a wicked kick-up of his heels, vanished around a turn inthe road. 

Not daring to trust the reins out of her hands a second time, BlueBonnet almost pushed Sarah from her seat. Fearfully the girlapproached and bent over the fallen hero; to her relief she saw thathis eyes were open. He blinked queerly for a moment, then gave a gaspylittle laugh. 

"I'm all right. Don't worry. It's knocked the breath out of me--that'sall, " he managed to say at last; and then, after another pause, hescrambled up to a sitting posture. 

"I'm so sorry, " said Sarah, finding her voice. "I hope you're notseriously hurt. "

"I'm--quite whole!" he assured her, and stopped with a wince of pain. "It's my wrist, I reckon--broken or sprained. " He examined the injuredmember closely and after a vain attempt to lift it said briefly:"Broken. Isn't that the limit?"

"Oh, dear, " exclaimed Sarah, all sympathy. "What shall we do?" Sheapproached Blue Bonnet with a very serious face. "We shall have to geta doctor to set his arm right away, " she said in a low tone. "You knowthe bones go crooked if they're not set soon. "

"If he can get up into the buckboard we can take him to the doctor, that'll be quicker, " replied Blue Bonnet. 

Sarah went back to the boy. He still sat, rather dazed and white, looking disgustedly at his injured arm. "Say, " she beganhesitatingly; she wished she knew his name--"say" was so plebeian;"--are you too badly hurt to get into the buckboard?"

"No, indeed, " he replied cheerfully. "Be--with you--in a minute. Butsorry--to trouble you. "

"It's no trouble, " said Sarah. "We're terribly sorry about your arm. "

"Nothing much, --only a bother, " he maintained stoutly, setting histeeth as he said it and scrambling to his feet. Then he swayed andwould have fallen if Sarah had not caught him. He clung to her for amoment, fighting the dizziness with all the pride of his seventeenyears, then giving in sheepishly, let her lead him to the buckboard. Once there he leaned weakly against the wheel, while the two girls, anxious and frightened, yet too considerate of his feelings to showtheir concern, watched him in speechless sympathy. At last hestraightened up and gave a short, embarrassed laugh. 

"Reckon I've got a funny-bone in my head, " he said impatiently. Thensteadying himself with his right hand he climbed slowly into the backseat of the buckboard. 

"We'd better go to Jonah at once, don't you think--for the doctor?"Blue Bonnet asked him. 

"Is it far?" he asked. Blue Bonnet looked her surprise and he added:"I don't know these parts. I'm camping up at the Big Spring and wasjust riding down this way looking for a place they call Kooch's. "

"Why, we've just come from there, " exclaimed Blue Bonnet. 

"Then it is near?" he asked. "I'd begun to think I must have taken thewrong road. "

"Just a mile or two back, " explained Blue Bonnet. 

"Then if you will kindly take me there, I'll not trouble you anyfurther, " the youth said eagerly. 

"But you must have your arm set right away, " protested Sarah. 

"Well, if the man I was looking for is at Kooch's, maybe he can setit, " he replied, adding, "He's a 'medic' from Chicago--a friend of acousin of mine. Left college on account of lung trouble, and I heardhe was camping on Kooch's ground somewhere. "

"Maybe it was his tent we saw back there a ways, " said Sarah. "That'squite near. "

Blue Bonnet turned the horses and driving very slowly, so as not tohurt the boy's injured arm, went back over the road they had justtraversed. It was not long before they came in sight of the tent sheand Sarah had noticed; a rather high fence prevented her approachingit very closely, and she stopped just opposite the camp. 

"I reckon you'll have to go and see if the man's there, Sarah, " saidBlue Bonnet. 

Sarah looked fearfully at the high fence. "I just know I can't getover. "

Blue Bonnet gave her a withering glance. "You--Woodfordite!" was theworst epithet she dared trust herself to before a stranger. "Thenyou'll have to hold the horses. There's no river to spill intohere--and you don't have to pull them over backwards. "

"There's no need, really, " the young fellow interrupted. "I can bringAbbott if he's here. " He raised his right hand, put the tips of twofingers to his lips and blew. The shrillest, most penetrating whistlethe girls had ever heard pierced the air, causing the colts to lungeforward in a way that might have precipitated another catastrophe, hadnot Blue Bonnet's little steel wrist brought them up sharply. 

At the summons a tall lanky figure appeared from within the tent andstood peering under his hand at the occupants of the buckboard. Theyouth whistled again, this time only with his lips, --a bird-like call. "That's his frat whistle. Ought to bring him. "

And bring him it did. The lanky figure deserted the tent and with aneager stride crossed the meadow and came up to the fence. After onescrutinizing glance at the girls his eye fell on the boy and hegrinned broadly. 

"Hullo, Knight!--is it really you? Glad to see you, old chap!"

"Hello, Doc. How am I going to get over this hospitable fence ofyours?" returned the boy, with an abruptness born of an aching wrist. "My nag threw me and I've broken my left arm. Know anybody that canset it?" He winked impudently at the fledgling doctor. 

The latter beamed with professional delight. "Just my line, dear boy. I wish it had been your leg, now, --I do those beautifully!"

"Or my neck--I don't doubt it. But this is quite enough, thank you, "retorted the boy. He was white with pain and yet could joke!--it wasthe sort of pluck Blue Bonnet admired. 

"If your cousin will drive down to the gate, --" the young mansuggested. 

The boy looked a trifle embarrassed. "This isn't my cousin, " hereplied. "These gir--er--young ladies picked me up after my spilland--"

"I'm Elizabeth Ashe, " Blue Bonnet supplied, coloring slightly. 

"Of the Blue Bonnet ranch?" asked the medico, and at her affirmativenod he added, "I've met Mr. Ashe. "

"This is Doctor Abbott, " said the boy, striving to make theintroduction easily, though one could see that such social amenitieswere not a matter of habit with him. 

"I can't claim that title yet, " the "doctor" protested. "My friendsbestowed it when I was a freshman. I hope to earn it yet. Now, Knight, --about that arm. If Miss Ashe will drive on--there's a gate ahundred yards down the road. It isn't big enough to drive through, butI'll meet you there. I've some bandages in my tent. Be with you in aminute. "

He appeared at the little gate bearing a most professional lookingleather case and various packages that emitted queer odors. Hisenjoyment of the operation in store was plain. 

"Hadn't I better go over to the tent with you?" asked the patient. Tohave an arm set with two strange girls looking on was evidently not tohis taste. 

"Too far for you to walk if you feel as shaky as you look, " saidDoctor Abbott, his keen eyes taking in young Knight's pale face andtwitching lips. "And I may need assistance. " He sprang lightly intothe seat beside the patient and made a rapid examination. The girlsresolutely kept their eyes away, but they could hear the boy's quickbreathing. He made no other sound. 

"A sprain, my boy, " was the verdict which the girls heard with vastrelief. 

"Only a sprain?" asked Knight in an injured tone. "Then what makes ithurt so like the mischief?"

"A sprain hurts worse than a fracture, sometimes, but it is lessserious and will heal quicker, " said the doctor. "I've just the rightthing here and will fix you up in no time. "

The next five minutes were bad ones for the sufferer; Sarah and BlueBonnet knew it, though they still stared off over the meadow and triedto chat unconcernedly, while the hurried breathing of the boycontinued. 

"There you are!" The girls turned to see the young man viewing hiswork and the neat bandage with approval, while Knight, with his lipsstill trembling, looked up at him with forced cheerfulness. "You'llhave to keep it still for a few days, --wish we had some sort of asling. " Abbott knit his brow. 

Knight touched the bandanna about his neck. "How about this?"

Abbott tried it but found it too short. Blue Bonnet had one of hersudden inspirations. Diving down underneath the seat she fished up oneof the many packages. Under the interested eyes of the others sheopened it and then held up something bright and silky. 

"Your red sash!" gasped Sarah. 

"Will it do?" Blue Bonnet asked the doctor anxiously. 

"Just the thing!" he exclaimed; and in a minute had slung hispatient's arm in the scarlet folds of the sash. 

"I say, " Knight protested, "I hate like everything to take this fromyou, Miss Ashe. "

Blue Bonnet gave him a bright smile. "I'm very glad to have it proveso useful. Sarah called me frivolous when I bought it. "

The boy looked uncomfortable but was forced to submit, vowing inwardlythat he would buy her the "fanciest article in the sash line" thatChicago could boast, to make up for the loss of her finery. 

"Now, my friend, " said the young surgeon, as he gathered up hisinstrument case in a professional manner, "I must see that wrist inthe morning. Where are you staying?"

The youth colored; it was evident that he had expected an invitationto stay with his friend. Blue Bonnet spoke up at once: "You must comewith us to the ranch. Uncle would never forgive me if I let you stayanywhere else. "

"Sorry I can't ask you to stay with me, " Abbott said, observing theboy's confusion. "But I've only a cot built for one, you know. You'llbe a heap more comfortable at the Blue Bonnet ranch than in myquarters. I'll ride over in the morning and take a look at you. "

With the matter thus taken out of his hands, Knight had to submit. "It's mighty good of you, " he said to Blue Bonnet. 

"Not at all, " she returned heartily. "I'd have to do a great deal toget even!"

"That wasn't anything, " he protested. Then, turning to the doctor, heremarked with a return of his usual humor: "So long, Doc--hope youhaven't injured me for life. Bring over your bill in the morning!"

CHAPTER VII

A FALLING OUT

IT was quite late when they reached the ranch, and an anxious crowdwas awaiting them on the veranda. Blue Bonnet wished there were ratherfewer people there; it was tiresome to make explanations before suchan audience. Besides, she did not know the visitor's name, --introductionshad been of a rather sketchy sort that day. Suddenly she made up hermind: she would explain nothing just then, and trust to her grandmother'sready tact to understand her reasons. 

"This is--" Blue Bonnet looked at the youth inquiringly. 

"--Knight Judson, " he supplied. 

"--and he's met with an accident and will stay here till his arm isbetter, " she said rather breathlessly to her uncle. 

"Very glad to have you, I'm sure, " said Uncle Cliff with ready, outstretched hand. 

Knight Judson took the proffered hand with an air of relief. "You'revery kind, sir, " he stammered. 

"Not at all, " Mr. Ashe protested cordially. "Come right in to supper. "

They all went in without further ceremony to the delayed supper whichJuanita stood waiting to serve; and the meal progressed in the usualgay fashion that prevailed at the ranch. Knight Judson was placedbetween Alec and Uncle Cliff, and in that congenial company the youthlost his shyness and was soon chatting away like an old friend. Theawkwardness of eating with one hand gave him occasional bad moments, but little services, rendered unobserved by his attentive neighbors, tided over even these trying times. 

The girls stole occasional glances down to that end of the table, which were promptly frowned upon by Blue Bonnet and Sarah. On thewhole, they acted rather well considering the strain on theircuriosity; it was not every day that a good-looking young chap, wearing a bright red sash for a sling, appeared at the ranch. 

It was not until after supper, when Alec had taken the visitor to hisroom, that the others heard the whole story of the day's adventure. Sarah and Blue Bonnet told it almost together, a rather incoherent butwholly thrilling tale, while the rest of the girls hung breathlesslyon the recital. Mrs. Clyde look worried when Sarah dwelt on the perilthat had threatened the two of them; Blue Bonnet wished Sarah had notfound it necessary to enlarge on that part of it. She, herself, preferred to describe young Judson's skill and quickness, hiswonderful daring, and heroism under pain. 

"Judson, Judson, " repeated Sarah, wrinkling up her brow. "Where have Iheard that name before?"

Blue Bonnet thought deeply for a moment. "I know, " she cried; "don'tyou remember Carita, Carita Judson, --my missionary girl!"

"I wonder if they're related!" exclaimed Sarah. "She lives in Texas, you know. "

"We must ask him in the morning, " said Blue Bonnet. 

Early the next day Mr. Ashe despatched one of the Mexicans with aletter from Knight Judson to his uncle at the Big Spring. 

"Tell him not to expect you until he sees you, " Mr. Ashe admonishedthe youth. "You must stay until that wrist is perfectly well. "

"You're very good, sir, " replied Knight warmly. He was not at allaverse to spending any length of time in this pleasant place; he andAlec had fraternized at once, and he welcomed the chance to know thebright Eastern boy better; as for the girls, there were too many ofthem, he thought. 

At breakfast Blue Bonnet opened fire on him. 

"Carita!" he exclaimed. "Am I any relation to her? Well, I guessyes--she's my cousin! Do you know her?"

"I don't exactly know her, " Blue Bonnet confessed, "--but wehave--corresponded. " She stopped abruptly; it was impossible to tellKnight about the missionary box; he might feel sensitive about it. Happily Sarah came to the rescue. 

"Father knows the Reverend Mr. Judson, " she remarked. "Is he youruncle?"

"Yes, --and Carita's father, " he explained. "You see, Uncle Bayard hascharge of a summer camp for boys up at the Big Spring; he has had itfor several years, --we have wonderful times there. A few days ago Ihad a letter from my cousin George in Chicago asking me to look up hisfriend Abbott, who had been ordered to Texas for his health. Abbottwas at the Spring with us last summer, but it didn't agree with him, so he came to Kooch's. I was on my way there when--"

"When!" exclaimed Kitty dramatically. "We've heard what happened. Weought to have known better than to let a tenderfoot like Blue Bonnetgo off with no protector but Sarah. "

"It wasn't Blue Bonnet's fault, " protested Sarah indignantly. "I wasdriving. "

"And I suppose you drive as scientifically as you swim?" mocked Kitty. 

Knight looked up with twinkling eyes; evidently the We are Sevens werenot all of Sarah's type. Blue Bonnet he had already put in a class byherself. 

"Please tell us some more about the boys' camp, " begged Blue Bonnet, "I've heard about the Big Spring, and Uncle has promised to take methere. But, somehow, he never seems to get time. Is it a camp just forboys?--it sounds so interesting. "

"It's one of Uncle's fads, " Knight returned, showing by his tone thathe was rather proud of "Uncle's fad. " "He's tremendously interested inboys and has started a sort of 'get together' movement for fellows wholive on big ranches and farms and don't get a chance to see much ofother young people--"

"Like me!" Blue Bonnet nodded. 

"They club in on expenses, share the work, and, incidentally, havemore fun than some of them ever had before, " he continued. "Uncleisn't at all strong--that's why he came back from his mission--but heworks hard all the time, always doing good--" he stopped abruptly. "Ididn't mean to brag, but when I get started on Uncle Bayard, I neverknow when to stop. "

"And Carita--does she go camping, too?" asked Blue Bonnet. 

"Aunt Cynthy often brings the whole family for over Sunday, " hereplied. Then a thought seemed to strike him. "Why don't you all comeup and camp--it isn't a hard trip?"

Blue Bonnet clapped her hands. "Oh, I think it would be perfectlylovely. Grandmother, may we?" she asked. 

Mrs. Clyde looked up with her sympathetic smile. "It soundsattractive. Perhaps we can arrange it. "

Without seeming to do so Grandmother had heard every word of theconversation, and her heart had warmed to the boy who spoke soglowingly of his uncle's work. Knight Judson was a manly young fellow, she concluded, the right sort to be among girls; the best ofcompanions for the frail, bookish Eastern lad. 

Alec himself was charmed with Knight. There was something fascinatingabout a boy who had spent most of his life in the open, and withoutmuch aid from books had yet thought more deeply than most youths ofhis age. He was tall and strong, all bone and muscle, with somethingabout him that was suggestive of a restless colt; but a thoroughbred, every inch of him. 

After breakfast the two boys set out to hunt for Knight's horse, asnothing had been seen or heard of that frisky pony since he hadvanished so unceremoniously the evening before. Alec carried a lariat, for learning to lasso had become the absorbing passion of his life, and young Judson, in spite of the hampering folds of the sling abouthis left arm, could give lessons in that art to any boy of his age inTexas. 

Blue Bonnet and Mrs. Clyde looked after the youthful pair withinterested eyes. It was plain that Knight had brought a new elementinto Alec's life, and these two good friends rejoiced, though theysaid nothing and only smiled with new understanding. 

"I'm glad we nearly tipped over!" Blue Bonnet suddenly declared. 

"Blue Bonnet!" exclaimed her grandmother in a pained tone. 

"Well, I reckon I didn't mean that, " confessed Blue Bonnet after amoment's reflection. "But I'm glad we've met Knight Judson. Alec hashad too many girls around him here. He needs a spell of roughing it, "and then, as she saw an odd look on her grandmother's face, she askedquickly: "Isn't 'roughing it' in good society?"

Mrs. Clyde laughed. "I believe it moves in the best circles--here. "

"That's good, for there isn't a Massachusetts word that could possiblytake its place. "

"The dining-table is cleared, Benita says, " Sarah announced from thedoorway, "and we can begin our sewing lesson. "

They all repaired to the house, and a few minutes later the bigdining-room was the scene of great activity; the table strewn with thebright-hued pieces of material, Benita smoothing and pinning thepatterns, the Señora superintending, and the girls cutting andsnipping to their hearts' content. At the same time there went on anincessant chatter, chatter, to the cheerful accompaniment of thesewing-machine. 

When Juanita entered to spread the cloth for their early dinner, thegirls looked up in surprise. 

"I never knew time fly so quickly before, " said Debby. 

"If I'd known this kind of sewing was so easy and so fascinating, "Blue Bonnet declared, "I'd have taken it up before. It's much nicerthan embroidery or mending. Just see how much I've done!" She proudlyheld up the bright red garment. 

Sarah scanned it with perplexed eyes. "It looks rather queer to me, "she said. 

Kitty examined it, too, then snatched the suit from Blue Bonnet'shands. "Look!" she bade the rest, "--there's no place to get into it. Blue Bonnet has sewn it up the back!"

There was a great outcry at this, which had the unexpected effect ofmaking Blue Bonnet angry. 

"There's nothing on earth gives Kitty Clark such pleasure as findingme out in a mistake, " she declared with flashing eyes and cheeks thatburned with mortification. Then she turned on Kitty, --"I'm sorry theranch can't offer you any other enjoyment!" she said scathingly andthen, snatching back her ridiculed work, flung herself out of theroom. 

Kitty's cheeks turned as red as her hair and she was just framing anangry reply to hurl after Blue Bonnet when she met Mrs. Clyde's eyes, full of a pained surprise. The girl checked the words on her lips atonce, but a few hot tears came in spite of her efforts. 

"I was only joking, " she said with a catch in her voice. 

"I'm afraid it was my fault, " said Sarah. "I shouldn't have calledattention to her mistake. I'll go and apologize. "

Kitty turned to Mrs. Clyde. "I apologize to _you_, Señora, " she said, adding proudly, "but I've nothing to apologize for to Blue Bonnet. Half the fun of being a We are Seven is being able to say just what wewant to. If everybody is suddenly going to be thin-skinned, I'll haveto go about muzzled. "

"Blue Bonnet was hasty, " said Mrs. Clyde, "and I'm sure she'll beready to apologize as soon as she has thought it over. "

The sewing lesson for that day ended in a gloomy silence. At dinnerthe two "magpies, " as Uncle Joe had nicknamed them, were mute. Thisunheard of state of affairs would have aroused comment at any othertime, but just now their attention was diverted. 

"Doctor" Abbott, who had ridden over to "take a look at Knight'swrist, " had stayed to dinner--there being always room for one more atthat elastic table--and his bright humorous talk had completelyfascinated every one. After dinner the men went off for a smoke, andthe girls retired for their siesta in an atmosphere as hazy as if theytoo had indulged in the fragrant weed. 

They went to the swimming hole later in the day, but somehow the zestwas all gone from the sport, with the two leading spirits distrait andmoody, avoiding direct speech with each other, and preserving anattitude of injured pride. Blue Bonnet had made up her mind that Kittyowed her an apology, while Kitty obstinately refused even in herthoughts to acknowledge herself in the wrong. 

"Blue Bonnet thinks she's the king-pin of the universe, " she musedangrily. "The others can keep on spoiling her if they want to, but I'mnot going to kowtow all the time. They ape her every action, --_I'll_show her that one of us has independence. "

Keyed up by this formula, repeated mentally a great many times, Kittybegan to indulge in heroics. Aching to excite some admiration forherself she did "stunts" in the water that would have terrified herthe day before. Once she plunged her bright head under the water andkept it there until she was almost black in the face, in an effort toprove her "staying powers. " It only frightened the other girls andwent apparently unnoticed by Blue Bonnet for whose benefit the testhad been made. 

[Illustration: "'_I_ BELIEVE THE ONLY WAY TO LEARN TO SWIM IS TO DIVE INHEAD-FIRST. '"]

"I'll show her we're not all 'fraid-cats!" Kitty resolvedpassionately. "I believe, " she announced to the girls, in a tone loudenough to reach Blue Bonnet, who was doing an overhand stroke in thequiet water of the opposite bank. "_I_ believe the only way to learnto swim is to dive in head-first--then you just _have to_. Big boysalways toss little fellows into the middle of the pool and make 'emscramble back--they always do it right off. Here goes!"

She poised only for a moment on the bank, not daring to give herselftime to reconsider. Blue Bonnet shot a quick glance at her; she saw atonce that Kitty had chosen too shallow a spot, --a dive at that pointmight be dangerous. At any other time she would have shouted a hastywarning, but now she hesitated, --and in that second Kitty shothead-first into the water. 

The girls gave a gasp, and kept their eyes on the spot where she hadgone down, waiting to see the red locks reappear. But the water closedover Kitty, --and stayed closed. 

"Blue Bonnet!" they shouted shrilly, "she hasn't come up!"

Blue Bonnet felt a queer tightening around her heart; she had heard ofboys breaking their necks that way. With a few powerful strokes shereached the shallows and felt for Kitty. "Help me girls--quick!" shecried, "she's struck her head on the bottom. " She had seized Kitty bythis time and held the girl's head above the water, but the bodyhung limp and heavy in her arms. The girls sprang to help and amongthem they managed to lift the slight figure to the bank and lay ittenderly on the soft grass. Kitty's face was deathly white, and from agash on the top of her head a trickling stream was dyeing her brightlocks a deeper red. 

Blue Bonnet's teeth were chattering. "Go for somebody!" she gasped, and then, as Debby started on the run, she called after her--"Thatyoung doctor--bring him!" Then she turned to Sarah: "Here, help me sether up--work her arms--so!"

Dripping as she fled like a frightened water-sprite, Debby burst uponthe others as they sat under the magnolia and screamed tragically:

"Come quick--the doctor, everybody! Kitty dove and Blue Bonnet wentdown after her and she's drowned!"

Then breathless, exhausted, and with her bare feet cut and bleedingfrom her run over the rough meadow, she fell headlong at Mrs. Clyde'sfeet. 

Uncle Cliff dropped his pipe and ran, followed by the two boys andAbbott, who paused only to catch up his medicine case from theveranda, and then sped like the wind after the others. Mrs. Clyde hadturned ghastly white at Debby's cry and had sprung up to follow themen. But the sight of the little messenger lying in a pathetic heap byher chair, stopped her. Hastily summoning Benita she helped carryDebby into the house and put her to bed; and not until a faint tiredmoan told of returning consciousness, did she yield to her anxiety andhasten to the pool. 

With her feet winged by fear she crossed the meadow, ran as she hadnot run for forty years, and burst upon the group on the bank with awild cry--"My girl, my girl--where is she?"

At the sound Blue Bonnet sprang up, and running to her grandmotherhugged her convulsively. "She isn't dead--only stunned, " the girlsobbed in a glad relief. 

Mrs. Clyde held her off for a second. "It wasn't you then?" shequestioned as if afraid to trust her eyes. 

"No, no!" cried Blue Bonnet. 

"Thank God!" breathed her grandmother. Then she folded the girl, wetas she was, in her arms, and held her close as if she would never lether go. In that moment Blue Bonnet knew and was never to forget howmuch she was loved by her mother's mother. 

A sound drew them to the group about Kitty. 

"There now!" young Abbott was saying cheerfully. "She's all right. Now, Knight, get in some of your good work, --first aid to the injuredas taught by the Reverend Bayard Judson. A stretcher is what we need. "

Much pleased to be called upon, Knight set about his task, while Alecsupplied the place of his disabled arm. Under his directions two stoutsaplings were cut and the small twigs trimmed from them. Thenstripping off his coat he bade Alec thrust the two poles into itssleeve, one in each. Uncle Cliff's coat went on at the other end; bothcoats were buttoned underneath, and there before the eyes of theinterested group, was a stretcher ready for the patient. 

Kitty, still weak and dazed, but with the color beginning to return toher milk-white cheeks, was borne gently to the house by Uncle Cliffand the doctor, attended by a body-guard of Alec and Mrs. Clyde, andfollowed by the other dripping and subdued We are Sevens. 

There was a rather bad quarter of an hour for Kitty while the doctorbathed and dressed her wound. After much debating and graveconsideration in his most profound manner, young Abbott had decidedthat the cut was not deep or wide enough to warrant his sewing it up. Whereat there was great rejoicing in the household, --not, however, shared by the medical man. A bit of stitching would have given himpractice and no end of professional enjoyment. However, Kitty feltthat she had had quite her share of attention and was glad to be leftalone in the nursery tucked in between cool sheets, to sleep off theache in her broken head. 

When she awoke it was dusk in the room. Beside her bed stood somebody, bearing a tray. 

"Are you awake?" asked a sepulchral voice. 

"Yes, " she whispered faintly. 

The tray was hastily placed on a stand, a second pillow slipped deftlyunder Kitty's head, and then before she had recognized her servitor apair of soft lips were laid on hers and a penitent voice whispered:"I'm so sorry, Kitty, --and ashamed!"

"It wasn't your fault, Blue Bonnet, " said Kitty, returning the kisswarmly. "Served me right for being such a peacock. "

"Then all's serene on the Potomac?" Blue Bonnet questioned. 

And with a reassuring, though somewhat shaky smile, Kitty returned:

"All's serene!"

CHAPTER VIII

CONSEQUENCES

BLUE BONNET came in from an early morning romp with Don and Solomonlooking even more rosy and debonair than usual. It was surprising howmuch easier it was to rise early at the ranch than it had been atWoodford. She liked to steal quietly out of the nursery and goadventuring before breakfast; she felt then like Blue Bonnet thefourteen-year-old, full of the joy of life, untroubled by fears of anysort or desires for the great unknown. She and Don in those days hadhad many a ramble before the dew was off the grass. Hat-less andshort-skirted she had climbed fences, brushed through mesquite andbuffalo grass; hunted nests of chaparral-birds; sat on the top bar ofthe old pasture fence and watched the little calves gambolling; or, earlier in the spring, had gathered great armfuls of blue bonnets fromover in the south meadow. Now when she found herself away from thehouse, skirting San Franciscito in an eager chase for a butterfly, shecould have thought the past ten months all a dream, --except for acertain small brown dog tearing madly from one gopher-hole to another, while Don, in the veteran's scorn for the novice, refused to beenticed from his mistress' side. 

"Where's Grandmother?" she asked as she entered the dining-room. Grandmother always sat at the head of the breakfast table, and hersweet "homey" face over the teacups, was the first thing Blue Bonnetlooked for. 

"Benita says the Señora is not well, " replied Juanita. 

The brightness all went out of the morning. Grandmother breakfastingin bed! It was unheard of. In her impetuous rush from the room BlueBonnet almost collided with Benita. "Is Grandmother awake--can I go toher?" she asked, impatiently. 

"It is better not. The Señora prefers to rest, " said Benita. 

"What's the matter with her, Benita? I never knew Grandmother to beill before, " Blue Bonnet asked miserably. 

"It is the shock, I think. The Señora is not so young as she once was, Señorita. "

Blue Bonnet turned away, sick at heart. In the nursery she foundnothing to improve her spirits. Kitty lay languid and pale among herpillows, saying that her head ached and she didn't care for anybreakfast. Debby, too, had kept her bed, declaring that she couldn'tbear shoes on her poor lacerated feet. Amanda and Sarah only appearedas usual, and these two had their spirits dampened immediately by thesight of Blue Bonnet's gloomy countenance. 

The three of them had the table to themselves, the men havingbreakfasted earlier than usual and Alec and Knight having hurriedthrough the meal and ridden off, no one knew where. Blue Bonnet wasnot conversational; everything in her world seemed topsy-turvy, andshe felt that she must have an hour of hard thinking to sort thingsout and put them in their places. 

Amanda and Sarah, respecting Blue Bonnet's mood, were silent. Duringthis period of unusual restraint, a resolution was forming in Amanda'smind, and at the conclusion of the meal she made an announcement thatwould have petrified the rest had it come at any other time. 

"I'm going to study, " she said. 

Sarah looked her approval of this decision. "I'll help you, --let's doit in my room. "

Relief on Blue Bonnet's part quite crowded out surprise. "Then youdon't mind if I leave you to yourselves?" she asked. 

"We wouldn't get much done if you didn't, " Amanda replied with morefrankness than tact. 

Blue Bonnet had found solitude glorious in the half-hour beforebreakfast, but now it had lost its charm: joy in her heart had givenplace to hate. Not hatred of the old life, such as had driven her topastures new; not hatred of Texas and "all it stood for"--as she hadonce passionately declared to Uncle Cliff. This time the object of herdeep and bitter feeling was--herself. She had been rude to a guest inher own house. She had seen one of her best friends risk her life andhad made no move to prevent it. She had been the cause of hergrandmother's receiving a shock which, at her time of life, mightprove very serious. And all this in spite of having lived for nearly ayear with two such perfect gentlewomen as Aunt Lucinda and GrandmotherClyde. In spite of her boasted loyalty to the "We are Sevens. " Inspite of her promise to her aunt to care tenderly for her grandmotherand bring her back safely to Woodford. 

She had wandered aimlessly outdoors and now flung herself face down onthe Navajo under the big magnolia. "It's no use, --I reckon it's thesame old thing. I'm not an Ashe clear through. " With the thought cameswift tears. 

Her head lay against something hard and unyielding; and after herfirst grief had spent itself, she put up her hand to push away theobject--but grasped it instead. It was a book; opening her tear-wetreddened eyes Blue Bonnet saw that it was a volume of hergrandmother's favorite Thoreau. It lay just where Mrs. Clyde haddropped it the day before when she had sprung up at Debby's frightenedcry. 

She dried her eyes and sat up. Leaning against the low, wicker chair, that was her grandmother's chosen seat, she slowly turned the leavesof the well-worn volume, her thoughts more on the owner of the bookthan on its author. All at once her glance was caught and held bysomething that seemed an echo of the cry that kept welling up from herown unhappy heart. It was a prayer, only ten short lines, and she readthem with growing wonder:

 "Great God! I ask thee for no meaner pelf Than that I may not disappoint myself; That in my striving I may soar as high As I can now discern with this clear eye. That my weak hand may equal my firm faith, And my life practise more than my tongue saith. That my low conduct may not show, Nor my relenting lines, That I thy purpose did not know Or over-rated thy designs. "

How could any one, and that a grown man and a poet, have so exactlyvoiced the thoughts of a young girl on a far-off Texas ranch?

 " . . . . I ask thee for no meaner pelf Than that I may not disappoint myself. "

That was just it--she had disappointed herself, grievously, bitterly. So absorbed was she that she did not hear a foot-fall, nor did shelook up until Uncle Cliff exclaimed, "All alone, Honey? That doesn'toften happen these days!" His cheerful voice expressed no regret forthe absence of the others. 

She looked up, and then quickly down again; but not soon enough forthe traces of tears to escape his watchful eye. 

"What's up, Blue Bonnet?" he asked anxiously. He was on the rug besideher now, and with a hand under her quivering chin tilted her face andscanned it closely. 

She winked fast for a moment. "Uncle Cliff, do you find it terriblyhard to be good?"

"Thundering hard, Honey. " He thought whimsically that it was lucky noone else had heard that question. "So hard that my success at ithasn't been remarkable!"

"Oh, Uncle, it has!" she declared. "And it always seems so easy foryou to 'live as you ride--straight and true. ' I was so proud lastwinter when you said I'd proved I was an Ashe, clear through. But Ireckon you spoke too soon. I've been showing what Alec calls 'a yellowstreak. '"

"Don't you say that of my girl! I'll wager our best short-horn againsta prairie-dog that if you've a yellow streak it's pure gold!" Hecaressed the brown head that nestled against his arm. 

She wriggled away and faced him firmly. "You may as well know theworst, Uncle Cliff. It was my fault that Kitty was hurt yesterday. It's my fault Grandmother is ill and Debby's feet hurt. I was meanand thoughtless and selfish and--"

He put his hand over her mouth. "Look here, no Ashe is going to hearone of his race called all those ugly names. Remember whom you'retalking to! Things always seem to come in bunches, Honey, but you haveto dispose of them one at a time. Why, it's hardly a year since a girlabout your size--a bit younger she was, but she had blue eyes justlike yours, --was saying she reckoned she'd never make a Westerner, andshe hated the ranch and was going to sell it as soon as she came ofage--"

"Don't!" came in a smothered tone from Blue Bonnet. Her face wasburied again. "Don't remind me how downright horrid I was. "

"And six months later that same little girl--blue eyes same asyours--was telling me how she reckoned that three hundred years wouldnever make an Easterner of her, and she loved the ranch and wanted tobe a Texas Blue Bonnet as long as she lived!"

"And so I do, Uncle. "

"Well, I'm just running over a few items in order to remind you thatmost troubles aren't half as black as your feelings paint them at thetime. It's best not to worry over spilt milk till you see it's made agrease-spot. Ten to one the cat will lick it up, --and it's an ill windthat blows nobody good. There, --that figure of speech is as mixed asa plum-pudding, but it has a heap of sound philosophy!"

Blue Bonnet was smiling now. "I wish all the preachers would say thekind of things you do. Most of the sermons I've heard sound like thatlast piece of mine--'variations on one theme'--and the theme is Dutywith a big D. Sarah was brought up on those. And they must be prettysuccessful, for Sarah is awfully good. Isn't she?"

"Just that--awfully good. "

She looked up quickly, struck by something odd in his tone; but he wasperfectly sober. 

"She's the salt of the earth, " he added, "and you--"

"And what am I?"

He smiled down at her. "Do you remember how the south pasture lookswhen the blue bonnets bloom in March, --how fresh and sweet, a skyturned upside down--? It's the glory of the ranch, Honey. And whatthey are to the ranch, you are to me. Please don't be trying to besomething you can't be, Blue Bonnet!"

She laughed outright. "That sounds like the Duchess in 'Alice inWonderland. ' Don't you remember?"

"I confess I don't. You've been neglecting my education, young lady, since you began your own. What does the Duchess say?"

"'Be what you would seem to be'--or, if you want it put moresimply--'Never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than what it mightappear to others that what you were or might have been was nototherwise than what you had been would have appeared to them to beotherwise. '" The face she turned to him as she finished was cloudless, and he breathed a sigh of relief. 

"That's quite plain, " he said, "and I hope you'll take the lesson toheart!"

She smiled as she rose. Glancing up he was surprised to see how tallshe looked, --quite as tall, he thought, as her mother had been whenshe came a bride to the ranch. Well, she was almost sixteen, --theother Elizabeth was only eighteen. 

"You've done me a lot of good, Uncle Cliff, " she was saying. "I thinkmy 'indigo fit, ' as Alec calls the blues, has faded to a pale azure, and I can go to Grandmother. She will be wondering where I am. "

"Next time I see a fit coming on, I shall quote the Duchess!" hewarned her. 

Blue Bonnet was delighted to find her grandmother awake and ready fora "heart to heart" talk. Snuggled cosily on the bed at her feet thepenitent poured out all her discouragement of the morning, andreceived the balm, which like the milk in the magic pitcher, bubbledconstantly in Grandmother's heart. 

In Sarah's room the two students were diligently at work, Sarah in therôle of preceptress, hearing Amanda's French verbs, or helping todiscover the perplexing value of X in an algebraic equation. Onlyoccasionally did the thoughts of either wander. 

"This is the second time, " remarked Amanda, "that Blue Bonnet andKitty have had a tiff. The 'third time never fails, ' you know. "

"Do you really think that after the third falling-out they'd stay--"

"Out?--indeed I do think so, " Amanda declared. "I've seen it come truetoo many times to doubt it. There are always three fires--the last theworst; three spells of illness, three shipwrecks, three--everything!"

"It sounds rather--superstitious to me, " observed Sarah, doubtfully. "I shouldn't like to believe it anyway, for it keeps you alwayslooking out for the third time, and that is _so_ uncomfortable. "

"It's true as gospel, " Amanda insisted. 

From that time onward, in spite of her better judgment, Sarah lived inperpetual dread of Blue Bonnet's third falling-out with Kitty; and herattitude was continually that of the pacifier, pouring the oil oftactful words on troubled waters, or averting the wrath of either by awatchfulness that never relaxed. Just how much was due Sarah for thecordial spirit that prevailed for a long time following this betweenthe two girls, neither realized; and Sarah asked no reward for herpains, save peace. 

CHAPTER IX

TEXAS AND MASSACHUSETTS

AT supper-time all the invalids were up; Kitty appearing rather"interestingly pale, " as Amanda remarked; Debby hobbling about inpadded bedroom slippers; and Grandmother Clyde looking somewhat olderand grayer than usual, but calm and contained once more. 

"Where are the boys?" asked the Señora, noting Alec's absence withsome anxiety. 

"They went off early this morning loaded for big game, " said Uncle Joewith a twinkle in his eye. 

"Do you mean they carried guns?" Mrs. Clyde spoke with a shade ofworry in her tone; she had missed the twinkle. 

"Shady had a shotgun, I believe, but the boys carried nothing deadlierthan lariats. I believe young Trent takes one to bed with him. He'sbeen practising on the snubbing-post in the corral for hours everyday, --he's got so he catches it about once in so often, and he'stickled to death. " Uncle Joe chuckled. 

"Knight Judson can beat any of the Mexicans at lassoing, " Blue Bonnetdeclared. "He must be a wonder when he has both hands free. "

"He doesn't seem in any hurry to discard his sling, I notice, " UncleJoe remarked, winking at Blue Bonnet ostentatiously. 

"His wrist isn't well yet, " she insisted, ignoring the teasing glance. 

"Here they come, now, " exclaimed Kitty. "Alec looks as excited as ifhe'd killed a bear at the very least!"

"We've had a wonderful day, " Alec declared, full of enthusiasm, whenhe and Knight had greeted every one and slipped into their places. Both boys were ravenous; Blue Bonnet and her grandmother exchanged asignificant glance as Alec passed his plate for a second generoushelping. He looked already a different boy from the pale student whohad left Woodford only a few weeks before. 

"Guess what we bagged to-day?" he asked. 

"A bear!" Kitty said immediately. 

"Quail!" Blue Bonnet guessed. 

"Shady got some quail, but we didn't do any shooting, " replied Alec. 

"Maybe you and Knight lassoed some prairie-hens, " suggested Uncle Joe, laughing at his own joke. 

"Alec lassoed his first steer all right--made a neat job of it too, "said Knight enthusiastically. 

"Very amateurish work, " Alec protested, pleased nevertheless atKnight's praise. "The steer thought I looked so harmless that he tooka big chance--that's how I came to land him. "

"But what did you 'bag?'" asked Blue Bonnet, going back to theoriginal question. "Is it good to eat?"

Knight and Alec exchanged amused glances. "Never tasted them, " bothdeclared. 

"Where is it?" Blue Bonnet persisted. 

"'Tisn't 'it, '--but 'they'--and they're out in the barn, " said Alec, delighting in the mystery. 

Blue Bonnet was all impatience. "Oh, do hurry, everybody, and let's gosee, " she urged. 

The rapidity with which Knight and Alec ate the rest of their suppershould have given them indigestion, even if it did not. It wasimpossible to leave any of Gertrudis' raspberry tart; equallyimpossible to keep their hostess waiting when she was on tip-toe to beoff; mastication therefore was the only thing they could neglect--anddid. 

Blue Bonnet had felt all the weight of her sixteen years a few hoursearlier, but now she seemed to drop at least six of them, as she racedacross the yard, impelled by a curiosity that Kitty would have diedrather than display. 

Don and Solomon were sniffing excitedly about one of the mangers, emitting an occasional shrill bark; Blue Bonnet went straight to itand peered down. It was too dark to make out anything, but she couldhear a rustling in the hay, and a pathetic, low whine. 

"It's something alive!" she cried, and was about to put an exploringhand down to find the source of the whine, when she had a secondthought. "Will it bite?"

"Too little, " Knight assured her. He bent as he spoke and lifted twolittle furry bundles and laid them in Blue Bonnet's outstretched arms. 

"Puppies!" she cried delightedly. She bore them to the light, theother girls crowding about for a view of the wriggling mites. 

After her first good look at them, Sarah gave an exclamation ofsurprise. "Why, they're not dogs, " she cried. 

"Yes, they are, " said Alec, "--coyote pups!"

"Oh, the dears!" cried Blue Bonnet ecstatically. "Where did you getthem?"

"Shady shot the mother, " Knight explained, and then wished he hadnot, --Blue Bonnet looked so grieved. "She killed a calf a few nightsago, " he said in extenuation, "and Shady was 'laying for' her. Shemade for her hole after she was wounded and we followed, --that's howwe came to find the pups. Lucky we did or they'd have had a hard timeof it. "

"Poor babies, " said Blue Bonnet. "Let's go and show them toGrandmother and Debby--I reckon they never saw a real live coyotebefore. Here, Sarah, you carry one. " She generously held out one ofthe bright-eyed babies, but to her surprise Sarah drew back. "Why, youcan't be afraid, Sarah?"

"N-no, " Sarah replied, edging away as she spoke. "But I don't like totouch--live animals. "

"Well, I'd much rather touch live ones than dead things!" exclaimedBlue Bonnet. "Here, Alec, you take the poor baby--Sarah doesn't knowhow to mother it!"

Grandmother and Debby were rather lukewarm in their praise, BlueBonnet thought, when the coyotes were brought to them on the veranda. Grandmother did not look in the least delighted when the twosharp-nosed, long-haired puppies were dropped into her lap; andfinally Blue Bonnet gathered them both in her arms, declaring thatnobody knew how to appreciate real Texas babies except herself. 

"I'm going to keep them always, " she said. "And Don and Solomon willjust have to be reconciled. "

"Have you asked your uncle if he is willing for you to keep two suchpets?" her grandmother asked. 

Blue Bonnet looked over to Uncle Cliff and laughed. "Asked UncleCliff? Why, Grandmother, I brought him up and he knows better than tooppose me at this late day!"

Uncle Cliff smiled back at her whimsically. "I hope I'm a credit toyour training! Two new pets is quite a modest demand. I've known herto have a dozen or two at a time. One summer she had twin lambs, amagpie, a lizard, bunnies--"

"Don't forget the snakes, " Blue Bonnet interrupted. 

"Blue Bonnet Ashe--you never made pets of snakes!" gasped Debby. 

"Three of them; beauties, too, " Blue Bonnet replied. 

"Weren't you afraid of them?" Sarah asked wonderingly. 

"These were perfectly harmless; nobody should be afraid of such prettylittle things. But the magpie had fits over them, so they had to go, "Blue Bonnet remarked regretfully. 

"What became of the magpie?" asked Kitty. 

"Poor Mag died of curiosity, " said Mr. Ashe. "She sampled some cyanideof potassium I had put out for ants. We had a most impressive funeral. You must get Blue Bonnet to show you her grave. "

"I will some day. We chose Mag's favorite spot--under a dewberry bush. Now what shall we call these cherubs?"

"You've just called them 'Texas babies, ' why not call one 'Texas?'"Knight suggested. 

"And the other 'Massachusetts, '" said Sarah. 

Blue Bonnet looked at her in open admiration. "Your inspirations don'tcome often, Sarah, " she remarked, "but they're as apt as not to bepositively brilliant when they get here! Texas and Massachusetts thebabies shall be. Poor Massachusetts' name is as long as his tail, butmaybe he can bear up under it. "

"Let's go show them to the youngsters, " Alec suggested. "Pancho'stwins are straining their eyes for a peep. "

Blue Bonnet gave him one of the pups to carry and together theycrossed the yard to the Mexican quarters. A moment later Blue Bonnetwas sitting in the doorway of the little adobe hut, the coyotes in herlap, while all of Pancho's brood, not to mention Pancho and his fatMarta, were hanging about her in an eager, admiring circle. Everylittle "greaser" on the ranch adored the Señorita, and she wasgodmother to half the babies born on the place. Alec bade fair to bealmost as popular as she, for he was always ready for a romp and hadan unfailing supply of nuts in his capacious pockets. The visit nowended in a "rough-house, " Alec with his ever-handy lariat lassoing thefleet-footed boys and pretending to take them prisoner, while theydodged and ran and kept up a shrill chorus of baby Spanish thatdelighted his soul. 

Later he and Blue Bonnet walked to the stable and put the coyotes downfor the night; choosing the unused manger again as being secureagainst the impertinent investigations of Don and Solomon, and deepenough to prevent the venturesome babies from falling out. It wasalmost dark as they strolled back towards the house, lingering andchatting and drinking in the beauty of the night. The lovely southernsky was studded with stars; the breeze laden with perfumes that only aTexas prairie knows; and the air full of melody, --the deep laughter ofthe cowboys lounging about the bunk-house, and the sweet tone ofShady's fiddle as he played to the crowd on the house-veranda. 

Alec paused and drew a deep breath. "And you wanted to leave it!"

"I wonder at myself sometimes, " she confessed. "But I'm not sorry. Think how much richer I am this summer than last, with Grandmother andall the girls, --not to mention present company!"

"Thank you!" Alec laughed and made his bow. 

"You like it more because it is--different, than for any other reason. I reckon you have to know other places before you can properlyappreciate your own, " she went on thoughtfully. 

"This doesn't seem to add to my appreciation of--Woodford, " Alecrejoined quickly. 

"That's because you haven't been here long enough. After a few yearsyou'd begin to wonder how the elms look on Adams Avenue, and yearn fora glimpse of the Boston Common--just as I used to long for a sight ofthe prairie. But I'm glad you like it here--for it is a grand oldplace!"

"I wish Grandfather would rejoice because I like it, " he remarkedmoodily. "He seems to be sorry that I didn't go abroad with Boyd. AndBoyd's letters to him--which he always forwards--are full of ravingsabout automobiles and scenery and pictures. Pictures!" Alec pointed tothe meadow ahead of them where a million fireflies flashed their tinylanterns, "--I wish he could see this! And I wish--I wish I could makehim understand the bigness of it all. And how tired I am of sittingstill and letting other people _do_ things. I want to live. " The boy'svoice trembled as he ended. 

Again Blue Bonnet had a sudden sinking of the heart--could Alecmean--? She opened her lips to speak, but he went on gloomily:

"Grandfather doesn't seem able to understand. He has never beenwilling to admit that I am a weakling, and refuses to see that my daysare numbered in Woodford. I've been trying to get up courage enough towrite him about myself, but I can't do it--yet. " And then, as iffearing he had said too much, he added: "But don't say anything to theothers, please. It's too soon--I may feel different by the end of thesummer. Let it be a secret between us two--three rather, for I'vealready told Knight. " Then, before Blue Bonnet could gather herselftogether for a reply, he had started on a new tack. "I tell you, BlueBonnet, there's a fellow that dwarfs every other chap I ever knew!"His tone was now as eager and enthusiastic as it had been doleful. 

Blue Bonnet was puzzled, but deciding that Alec needed to have hismind turned from introspective subjects, she took him up at once. "Iagree with you. He's a giant for his age. "

"I don't mean his size, " returned Alec. "He's so big--mentally, youknow. And he's so alive, so--"

"Up and coming?" interpolated Blue Bonnet. "That's pure Texan, Ibelieve. "

"It describes him exactly. "

"What I can't understand is how such an expert horseman came to bethrown, " Blue Bonnet remarked wonderingly. 

"I suppose he was startled at seeing a blue bonnet out of season!"laughed Alec. "I'm so glad something happened to bring him my way. Itseems to give me a new lease on life just to be with him. "

"Uncle Cliff says he is 'greased lightning' with a lariat, " said BlueBonnet. 

"I should say he is. I could find it in my heart to envy him thataccomplishment, even if he hadn't any others. "

"Uncle Joe says you are getting quite expert yourself, " she threw outcomfortingly. 

"Oh, yes, I can lasso a snubbing-post that can't get out of the way!"he retorted. He still clung to his lariat and now swung it in his handrather impatiently. 

"Try your skill now. There's one of the girls waiting for us--lassoher and see how she acts!" Blue Bonnet urged mischievously. 

"Where?"

"There--just by the magnolia, " she whispered. 

It was almost dark, but Alec could manage to make out a dark figurestanding half within the shadow of the big tree. He crept silently afew steps nearer and paused, whirling the loop around his head. Thehair rope spread into a circle, hissed and flickered for a moment inthe air, then dropped straight over the victim. It was a good throw. Alec gave a twitch--not too hard--to the lariat, and the thing wasdone. Blue Bonnet clapped her hands and started forward with Alec tosee which one of the girls he had caught. Both suddenly stopped indismay. There was a struggle, a shrill scream, and a very angrySpanish oath. 

And as the two of them hastened up full of surprise and apologies, they saw--Juanita and Miguel both caught in the one noose. 

Stifling their laughter, Alec and Blue Bonnet released the embarrassedpair of sweethearts, and then the boy made a handsome apology. Juanitahung her head and was silent, but Miguel, after the first blazing upof his anger, cooled down and accepted the explanation in good part. 

Still weak with suppressed laughter, the two miscreants hurried on, waiting to be out of ear-shot before giving way to their wild mirth. As they drew near to the veranda they heard the crowd there singing tothe accompaniment of Shady's violin. 

 "Nita, Jua-a-an-ita, ask thy soul if we must part!"

came tremulously from Uncle Joe and the We are Sevens. 

It was too much. Blue Bonnet collapsed in a heap on the grass. 

"Oh, Alec!" she gasped. "Miguel ought to have been singing that, --onlyhe ought to have said--'Jua-a-an-ita, bless my soul if we can part!'"

CHAPTER X

ENTER CARITA

TWO days later Knight appeared at the table minus his sling, andannounced that this must be his last day at the ranch. There wereexpressions of regret from everybody, and from Blue Bonnet vigorousobjections. The boy quite glowed under the tribute. 

"I simply must go, " he protested firmly. "Though it's a big temptationto stay, I tell you. But it isn't fair to Uncle Bayard for me to beaway any longer. Those twelve boys keep things moving for him. I hopeyou will be able to come up for one of our Sundays, " he said to Mrs. Clyde. 

"Grandmother has missed her church more than anything else, " BlueBonnet remarked. "It's been pretty warm to drive to Jonah, and none ofthe Padres has visited the ranch since we came. "

"We have an outdoor service in a beautiful grove of trees, " Knightexplained, "and that setting and the boys' voices in the open air andall--well, it has spoiled me for stuffy meeting-houses. Can't you allcome up and stay over next Sunday?" His glance and the eyes of all theWe are Sevens were fastened anxiously on Mrs. Clyde's face. 

She thought for a moment. "It seems a stupendous undertaking, --for somany of us, " she said at length. Camping out in Texas was full ofunknown and rather dreadful possibilities, she secretly opined. 

"We'll take all the responsibility, Grandmother, " Blue Bonnet assuredher gravely. 

Mrs. Clyde did not meet her granddaughter's eye; that young lady'smethod of taking responsibility was not such as to inspire one withunlimited confidence. 

"I can send Miguel ahead with one of the cook-wagons, " Uncle Cliffsuggested. "You can have Pancho, too, if you like, --he cooked on theround-up this spring and didn't kill anybody. Lisa's too fat andGertrudis too old for that ride. "

"And we want Lupe for wrangler, " said Blue Bonnet. "A wrangler looksafter the horses, Sarah _mia_, " she explained, anticipating thequestion. 

"If we go, " said Señora, "let us go as simply as possible. Surely wedon't need such an army of men. "

"But, Grandmother, " Blue Bonnet protested, "there has to be a cook, and somebody to pitch tents, and one to look after the horses and--"

"I don't see the necessity. You miss half the pleasure of camping outif you have everything done for you. When I was a girl we used to campout in the Maine woods, and we girls took turns cooking and washingdishes, while the boys gathered wood for the fires, caught fish andlooked after the horses. To take a crowd of servants along would robthe life of all its simplicity. "

Blue Bonnet looked rather blank. Cooking and washing dishes did notseem altogether simple to her. 

"I can make caramel cake, " announced Kitty. 

"That's lovely--especially for breakfast, " said Blue Bonnet. 

"I don't like sweet things for breakfast, " said Sarah. 

"Beans and bacon are as good camp fare as one needs, " said Knight. "Itis pretty cool in the mornings and evenings, and one gets hungryenough to eat the dishes. "

"We'll agree to anything if Grandmother will only go, " said BlueBonnet eagerly. 

Grandmother, however, withheld her decision until she had held aserious conversation alone with Uncle Cliff. 

"Don't you think you are encouraging Blue Bonnet in habits ofextravagance?" she asked, smiling inwardly at the likeness of herquestion to some of Lucinda's. 

Uncle Cliff pondered for a moment. "That depends on what you call'extravagance. ' According to my definition it means spending more thanyou can afford. "

"Blue Bonnet is certainly spending a great deal this summer. It mustcost something to keep up a big place like this, so many servantsbesides all the guests. "

"Mexicans don't draw down princely salaries, you know, " he argued. "And we're not used to counting noses at table. Besides, Blue Bonnethas enough to do just about as she likes with. Miss Clyde and I hadsome talk about it last winter--when she put the poor child on anallowance. Three dollars!" Mr. Ashe made a comical grimace. "Why, Mrs. Clyde, I've been putting by Blue Bonnet's profits every year fornearly sixteen years, and they've been pretty tidy sums, too. Besides, she's going to have every penny of mine, some day. And now she's oldenough to enjoy spending, I don't quite see the use of making herskimp. " He looked very much in earnest and ready to "have it out" thenand there. 

"But the possessors of wealth should be taught the value of money, just the same, don't you think so?" Mrs. Clyde urged. 

"Surely!" he agreed. "And Blue Bonnet has a very fair idea of itsvalue, I think. She gives more people a good time on it than any one Iknow. You never knew her to stay awake nights worrying over somethingfor herself, now did you?"

"Blue Bonnet is not given to worrying over anything. Not that I wishher to. She is dear and warm-hearted and generous like her mother, but a little heedless, --Lucinda thinks. She needs to be taught thatwealth entails responsibility. "

"Lucinda!" was Mr. Ashe's mental ejaculation. He might have known thesource of Mrs. Clyde's arguments. Miss Clyde had undoubtedly soundideas on the up-bringing of the young, and any amount of New Englandthrift. He had unlimited respect for her strength of character; butalso his opinion as to why she was still _Miss_ Clyde. "Maybe I've aqueer mental twist, " he went on audibly, "but that's just what I don'tsee the need of. Poor folk have to worry about making ends meet; butif money is of any use at all it's to save one that kind of fretting. When one feels the 'responsibility of wealth, ' then it's a burden. I'dhate to think Blue Bonnet would ever get to that pass. "

Mrs. Clyde wished for Lucinda just at this moment; Miss Clyde couldhave met this argument with a worthy rejoinder, she was confident. "Don't you fear that thoughtless spending now may grow into futureextravagance?" she asked rather helplessly. 

"When the little girl begins to worry about bird-of-paradise aigrettesand pearl pendants for herself, I'll believe she's extravagant. Aslong as she spends only what she can afford and bestows it all uponothers, I'll not begin to fret, " he said decidedly. 

"Then you don't think this camping-trip an extravagance? She is doingso much for the girls already that it seems rather unnecessary to me. "

"It will be a wonderful experience for the girls--and they're just theright age to enjoy it most. A few years later they'll fuss about dirtand want springs on their beds. "

Grandmother Clyde smothered a sigh; she had reached the latter stage, but perhaps it was not her place to "reason why. " The conversationended for the present, and during her stay on the ranch was notresumed. 

As Uncle Cliff left the veranda after the conference, he was set uponby Blue Bonnet and Kitty and enticed to the lair of the We are Sevens, which chanced this time to be the summer-house in the Señorita'slittle garden. This rather shaky bower, overgrown by jack-beans whichheld together the would-be rustic structure, had once been the prideof Blue Bonnet's heart, but now, neglected--as was the garden sincethe advent of the ranch party--had become the residence of a large andgrowing family of insects. It served, however, as a very excellentspot for secret sessions such as the present one. A circular bench, very wobbly as to legs, had the advantage of bringing all the membersface to face in solemn conclave. It was here their captive was haled. 

"What says the noble Señora?" demanded Blue Bonnet, and then before hecould answer she exclaimed--"Uncle Cliff, you must help us out. Lifewithout that camping trip will be stale, flat and unprofitable. "

"Oh, Blue Bonnet, " said Sarah reproachfully, "how can you say thatwhen we are having the most wonderful time that ever was?"

"Sarah, don't weaken our case, " Blue Bonnet admonished her. "It's yourplace to look positively _pining_!"

"If you'll allow me to speak, " remarked Uncle Cliff, "I'll put an endto your suspense. The Queen Mother says she will sacrifice herself forthe weal of her subjects. "

"Hooray!" cried Blue Bonnet, and the cry was echoed even by Sarah. 

Alec and Knight, hearing the uproar on their way to the house, stoppedand begged permission to enter. 

"Come right in and sit down on the floor, " said Blue Bonnet cordially. "Alec, Grandmother says she'll go!"

"So that's what all the row's about?" asked Knight. "Say, but I'mglad!"

Alec's eyes shone. "Don't you think I'd better go ahead with Knight? Icould pick out a camping place and have everything ready for you. " Hehad been awaiting a favorable moment to bring forth his quietly laidscheme, and the present seemed auspicious. 

"I think that would be splendid, " cried Blue Bonnet enthusiastically, reading Alec like a book. "But you'll wait and go with us, won't you, Uncle?"

"Can't go this trip. Pete has gone up with some of the boys to cut outa bunch of beef-cattle. I'll have to see to shipping them. "

"Oh, Uncle, --we need you, " remonstrated Blue Bonnet. 

"And it's almost as good to be needed as it is to be wanted. Thankyou. "

"We want you even more than we need you, " she insisted. 

"You'll have plenty of men creatures to tyrannize over in camp. Howmany boys did you say there were, Knight?"

"There are twelve--and they know how to work, too. "

"They'll be worked all right, " said Uncle Cliff with a wicked twinkle. 

"We must all work, " said Sarah conscientiously. "I think we had betterbegin to plan things and get ready right away. "

"The first thing to do, " said Blue Bonnet, "is to make a huge lot ofpinoche. "

Sarah regarded her in astonishment. "Do you propose to live onpinoche?"

"No, goose, but with twelve boys in camp--not counting Alec andKnight, a pound won't go very far. And we must send to Jonah formarshmallows. "

"Hadn't you better include several tons of angel-cake and fiftygallons or so of ice-cream?" asked Kitty. 

"Just you wait, Kitty-Kat. When you see the use to which I put thosemarshmallows, you'll see that I'm the most practical member of theClub, " Blue Bonnet prophesied solemnly. 

"Grandmother, you're such a success, " she said later, as they two satdiscussing ways and means for the camping-trip. 

"A success?" Mrs. Clyde questioned. 

"As a grandmother, you know. If I'd had you made to order I wouldn'thave had you a mite different! I hope our trip isn't going to be toohard for you. I promised Aunt Lucinda to take care of you, and Isuspect sometimes that I'm not quite living up to the contract. "

"We elderly people must guard against getting 'set in our ways. 'Camp-life is certainly a good corrective for that. " Mrs. Clyde smiledrather ruefully. 

"It surely is, " Blue Bonnet laughed. "It would never suit AuntLucinda. But she isn't sixty-five years young!"

"Nor fifteen years old. "

"Was she ever? Somehow I can't imagine her different. It must give onea very--solid feeling, to be as sure about everything as Aunt Lucindais. But she misses a lot of fun!"

Early the next morning Alec and Knight rode away; Knight looking verysoldierly and capable now that his arm no longer reposed in itsscarlet sling; Alec with his blankets in a business-like roll behindhis saddle, and both boys provided with a "snack of lunch" to eat onthe way. Alec's eyes were shining with anticipation; even Strawberrypranced more joyously than usual as though she knew a good time was instore. 

The We are Sevens accompanied the travellers as far as Kooch's, andsent them off from that point weighted with injunctions and messagesinnumerable. That ride, even Sarah admitted, was a "grand andglorious" success; the air was fresh and sweet, Comanche verytractable, and everybody in the best of humors. The girls returned tothe ranch full of plans for the camping trip, and for the rest of theday, and for several days following, made out exhaustive lists ofeatables, bedding and utensils such as would have provided amply for aregiment of soldiers. In the midst of the preparations Sarah wascaught red-handed packing her drawn-work among her effects. 

"She'll have to be watched, girls, " said Kitty. "White linendrawn-work on a camping-trip! Next she'll be slipping in white piquéskirts and dancing slippers. "

"I suppose you'll object to my taking handkerchiefs, too?" Sarah'slook was a mixture of irony and indignation. 

"We ought really to bar all hankies except bandanas, " said BlueBonnet, "but we'll stretch a point for Sarah's sake. She can't helphaving aristocratic tastes, you know. "

Sarah was secretly of the opinion that drawn-work was no more out ofplace than the many boxes of pinoche and marshmallows that Blue Bonnetpacked away in the huge "grub-boxes, " but she yielded with her usualgood grace. 

By Wednesday all was pronounced in readiness for the start. Miguel wassent ahead with tents and supplies in one of the big cook-wagons usedon the round-ups; with help from Alec and Knight he was to have a campready for the rest of the party when they should arrive on thefollowing day. 

"I wish Grandmother were not so set on the 'simple life, '" remarkedBlue Bonnet, "for I should like to take Juanita along. It's a pity toseparate her and Miguel just now, when things are progressing sonicely. "

"How do you know?" Kitty looked up quickly. 

Blue Bonnet bit her lip. She and Alec had agreed not to tell of theincident of the lasso, and she had kept the secret, though she burnedto tell the romance-loving We are Sevens. "Just by signs, " sheanswered evasively. 

But Kitty could read signs, too, and privately longed to shake themystery out of her hostess. Suspecting the trend of little Miss Why'sthoughts, Blue Bonnet went on hurriedly: "How shall we go--in thebuckboard or on horse-back?"

"Horse-back!" exclaimed all four of the others. 

"Did I hear you speak, Sarah?" Kitty inquired. 

"You did if you were listening, " replied Sarah calmly. 

"I believe Sarah and Comanche have formed a real attachment for eachother, " said Blue Bonnet who secretly exulted in Sarah's growingspirit. 

"It must be a patent attachment then, " laughed Kitty, "--somethingthat keeps Sarah on!"

"Grandmother will have to go in the buckboard--Uncle Joe's going todrive and--" Blue Bonnet did some hasty calculating, "I had betterstay with Grandmother--it's smoother riding with two in a seat. Firefly will hate being led, but I reckon some disciplining won't hurthim. "

They were up before dawn in order to complete the first stage of thejourney before noon. As they gathered about the lamp-lighted table forbreakfast, yawning and rubbing their eyes, Blue Bonnet gave an amusedlaugh. 

 "'In _summer_ I get up at night And dress by yellow candle-light. '"

she quoted. 

"I think it would have been a good plan to have had breakfast beforewe went to bed, " said Sarah. "Thank you, Mrs. Clyde, I will takecoffee, I think it will wake me up. "

"Never mind, " said Blue Bonnet. "You can just alter the lines a bit--

 "'In camp it's quite the other way, We'll all go straight to bed by day'--

and make up for the loss of our beauty sleep. And you'll see somethingworth getting up for later. Sunrise on the prairie, Kitty, makes theMassachusetts article look like your pink lawn when it came back fromthe wash. "

They were several miles from the ranch when Uncle Joe raised his quirtand pointed to the east. "There she comes!" he warned. 

The whole crowd came to a standstill in the middle of the road in ahush that was almost reverent. Blue Bonnet drew a deep breath. Therolling prairie with the long grass stirred by the breeze; thepeaceful herds just waking into life; the fleecy clouds glowing frombuff to rosy pink--she loved it all. 

At eleven every one was ravenous and a halt was made for lunch. Fromthat point the journey was hardly so pleasant; the road began toascend sharply into the sturdy little range of hills that Texansproudly call mountains, and being less frequented than the countyroad, was rough and full of surprises in the way of snakes andinsects. Sarah was just beginning to wonder if she could surviveComanche's next fright, when a loud "Whoa-o-o-pe!" sounded fromsomewhere above and ahead of them. Blue Bonnet answered immediatelywith the ranch-call which she and some of the cowboys had adaptedyears ago from one of Uncle Joe's old-time songs:

[Illustration: O Ho ye ho ho!]

She had a strong, carrying voice, and the cheery summons of theTwickenham ferryman rang clearly on the air. 

The next minute three riders emerged from the trees in whose shadethey had been waiting, and galloped to meet the campers. 

"It's Alec and Knight, " Kitty called from the front. "And there's agirl with them!"

Blue Bonnet shot a quick glance at the approaching trio, and then gavea bounce of delight. That erect little figure, just about her ownsize, with the two pig-tails flying out behind her as she rode, couldbe no other than--Carita Judson. 

Carita was not so quick at discovering her unknown friend; she gave abashful, inquiring look at each one of the girls in turn. But as soonas she met Blue Bonnet's eye, full of an eager welcome, she rodestraight to the side of the buckboard and held out a slim, brown hand. "You are--you must be--a Texas Blue Bonnet!"

"And you're Carita, --I'm so glad!" Blue Bonnet took the outstretchedhand in both her own and gazed with frank pleasure into the girl'ssmiling face. 

Knight came up beside them and presented his cousin to Mrs. Clyde andthe other girls, and after a short but merry halt they prepared tomove on. Camp was still at some distance and they must get settledbefore nightfall. 

Sarah came up to the buckboard just as the others were starting. "Doyou mind changing places with me, Blue Bonnet?" she asked. "I'm tiredof riding. "

The look Blue Bonnet gave her was ample reward for what Sarah fearedwas almost an untruth on her part. She scrambled out of the saddle ina manner that Blue Bonnet would have smiled at ordinarily, but nowregarded with sober eyes. The other girls, without giving a thought toher natural wish for a few words with Carita had ridden on in a gaywhirl of conversation; Sarah with a thoughtfulness that Blue Bonnetwas beginning to believe unfailing, had been the only one to read herunspoken wish. 

"Isn't Sarah the dearest?" she whispered to her grandmother. 

And Mrs. Clyde, mindful of a former comment of Blue Bonnet's, smiledwith amusement as she replied--"Not half bad--considering herbringing-up!"

Carita had lingered behind the others and now as she saw Blue Bonnetmount Comanche, she rode back and joined her. They were the last ofthe procession and practically alone. 

"It's so wonderful, " Carita's small dark face was alight withpleasure, "--to think of seeing you after--everything!"

They smiled into each other's eyes. Carita did not in the leastresemble the Woodford girls. She wore a queer one-piece garment ofblue denim, not designed for riding, which pulled up in a bunch oneither side of the saddle, showing her feet in thick boyish boots, andan inch or two of much-darned stocking. On her head was an old feltsombrero, sadly drooping as to brim and dented as to crown, securedunder her chin by a piece of black elastic. Below it her small face, brown and freckled as it was, was not without a singular attraction. Her eyes were big and soft, her lips scarlet as holly-berries; and thelong braids were very heavy and of a glossy chestnut. In spite of herclumsy costume she rode her wiry little pinto as Western girlsride--thistle-down in the saddle. She was a bit of the prairieherself, and Blue Bonnet saw it and loved her. 

"When did you come?" Blue Bonnet asked her. 

"Yesterday. And we're to stay over Sunday. Won't we just have to cramthe days full?" Carita's eyes were wistful. "For fear we sha'n't havemuch time alone, I want to tell you how much it has meant to me--yourletters, and the dress and the Christmas box and everything. I can'tbegin to tell you the--difference they have made. We've always hadboxes you know--father has no regular salary. But nothing ever camethat was half so wonderful. Last winter wasn't a bit like others--itwas full of excitement!"

Blue Bonnet smiled, but she felt nearer tears than laughter. Such alittle thing to mean so much! For the second time she had a feeling ofthankfulness that she was--not poor. Money was certainly worth whilewhen it could give such pleasure. If Miss Lucinda could have read thegirl's mind at this moment, she might have felt some doubts as to herniece's ability to profit by the last winter's lesson in New Englandthrift. Blue Bonnet's only regret was that her purse which had beenslipped into the missionary box, had not contained several times asmuch!

"I was sure we'd know each other, some day--I felt it!" Carita wenton in her eager way. "And I believe Knight's meeting you that day wasprovidential!"

"It was certainly providential for Sarah and me, " Blue Bonnet laughed. "We'd have had a pretty spill if it hadn't been for him. But as 'all'swell that ends well, ' we can consider that everything has been for thebest. "

"That sounds like father. " It seemed to Blue Bonnet that Caritasmothered a sigh. "Mother and I aren't always sure that _everything_is for the best. But father never has the least bit of doubt. " Thenwith a quick return of animation--"I know you'll love the camp. Knighthas picked out the loveliest spot for your tents. There--look! You cansee the Spring, and that gleam of white through the trees--that's CampJudson!"

CHAPTER XI

CAMPING BY THE BIG SPRING

"OH, Blue Bonnet, do hurry!" cried Debby as Blue Bonnet galloped intocamp. "It's the most wonderful place, --we can't wait for you to seeit. "

Blue Bonnet slipped from the saddle and flung the reins to Miguel. 

"Show me everything!" she cried; and then not waiting to be shown, went from one tent to another in her usual whirlwind fashion. 

"Our sleeping-tent, " said Kitty; they were all trooping after thelate-comer, chattering busily and explaining the most obviousarrangements. "That one's for you and the Señora; this one is thedining-room--see the table and benches Alec and Knight made! Thekitchen is under that awning. Isn't that the darlingest stove?"

"And the little creek right handy!"

By the time she had completed her survey, Blue Bonnet was moreenthusiastic than any one else. How she loved camping out!

The spot the boys had chosen for them was a beautiful one. Under twogiant live-oaks whose branches interlaced overhead in a leafy canopy, the sleeping-tents were pitched, between them stretching an awningthat formed both a dining-room and a lounging-place by day. The sitehad been used as a camping-ground before and still retained manyconveniences installed by former campers; the underbrush had all beencut away, and the ground packed hard and level. For the kitchen, acanvas stretched between the camp-wagon and a convenient sycamoreserved as sufficient protection from sun and arboreal insects. Thelittle sheet-iron stove, set up on a flat boulder, boasted an elbow inits pipe that could be adjusted to suit the direction of the wind. 

A thread of a creek, tumbling down the hillside, ran not ten yardsfrom the wagon, and at one point a tiny wooden trough had beeninserted, giving the effect of a spout where kettles could be quicklyfilled. Alec and Knight had labored diligently to have all attractiveas well as convenient, and really deserved great praise for thecompleteness of all details. 

"Everything is perfect!" Blue Bonnet declared. "But we must have thebuckboard seats in the--er--living-room. Uncle Cliff sent all three sothat we could use them as easy chairs, --especially for Grandmo--why, where is she?"

"Here, dear, " Mrs. Clyde came up with a tin dipper in her hand. "I'vebeen having a drink, --such a drink, Blue Bonnet!" She held out thedripping cup and Blue Bonnet drank from it thirstily. 

As she finished she met the Señora's eyes over the brim. "Oh, Grandmother, I ought to have done that--for you!" She shook her head. "I wonder if I'll ever think in time?"

Mrs. Clyde smiled and pushed the hair back from the girl's hot brow. "Where is Carita?"

"She rode on to tell her mother we had arrived. She'll be over later. "Blue Bonnet glanced around the group. Every one looked warm, dusty, tired. And there was supper to get and beds to make! "What shall we dofirst, Grandmother?" Her manner was not exactly eager. 

"First, we must all wash and brush up, for we are invited out todinner!" Mrs. Clyde departed to suit the action to the words. 

"Invited out--?" Blue Bonnet gazed at the girls incredulously. 

"The boys of Camp Judson, represented by Knight, have invited us overthere--"

"And we didn't waste any time in accepting!"

"Wasn't it thoughtful of them?" Blue Bonnet beamed on every one. "Nowaren't you glad we brought the pinoche?"

"Let's go and dress, " Debby urged. 

"Dress?" echoed Blue Bonnet. "What are you going to wear--your pinkpanne velvet or your yellow chiffon?"

"Why, Blue Bonnet, " said Sarah, "you know we haven't any clothes withus but these!"

Blue Bonnet groaned. "Then why is that worldly-minded Debby talkingabout dressing for dinner?"

"I meant wash and comb our hair, " Debby protested. 

"Where's the wash-basin, Blue Bonnet? I saw you with it when we werepacking, " said Sarah. 

Blue Bonnet clapped a hand to her brow. "I think I put it in with thefrying-pan. "

"Are you sure it isn't in the bread-box?" Kitty asked. 

"I wouldn't be sure it isn't. " Blue Bonnet began a hasty search in thecamp-wagon. Box after box was rummaged through, utensil after utensilpicked up hopefully, only to disappoint when brought to the surface. 

"There's no help for it, " declared Debby, "we'll have to go and washin the creek. "

"Why, there may be campers below, " said Sarah in a shocked tone, "andthey wouldn't like to--"

"You needn't draw a diagram, Sarah, " interrupted Blue Bonnet. "A wordto the wise, you know. I'll polish off with cold cream. " And shevanished. 

Sarah, armed with towel and soap emerged from her tent a few minuteslater and made her way through the willows to the creek. Blue Bonnetspying her called tauntingly: "Campers below!"

"I'm only going to wet one corner, " Sarah went on calmly. 

"Which corner--northeast or southwest?"

"Of the towel, of course. " Then a minute later she called, "Girls, come quick!"

There was an immediate stampede to the creek. 

"What is it--lions?" asked Amanda. 

Sarah pointed without speaking. There, bending over an old tree-stump, admirably fashioned for a wash-stand, was the Señora calmly washingherself--in the basin. 

"I found it here all ready for us, " she explained. "And see--here's anail on this little tree ready for a mirror, and branches just made tohang towels on. "

"Alec and Knight haven't left a thing for me to see to, " remarked BlueBonnet. "I'm going to stop worrying. "

"Oh, you were worrying, were you?" asked Kitty. "We'll know thesymptoms next time. "

The washing-up that ensued was very animated, if not thorough. Takingturns at the basin the girls, wincing under the cold water, "polishedoff" the top layer of dust; brushed ruffled locks and retied ribbons;dabbed talcum on noses and straightened creased middies. They werejust putting on the finishing touches when the sound of cow-bells, rung lustily and long, came from the direction of the other Camp. 

"That must be the dinner-bell, " said Blue Bonnet. "I hope they won'texpect us to have dainty appetites just because we're girls!"

A moment later Alec and Knight appeared to escort them in state. Midway they were met by Mr. And Mrs. Judson, --the latter with twosmall boys tugging at her skirts, and a third not far in the rear; astate of things that was later found to be invariably the casewhenever Mrs. Judson ventured forth. 

Blue Bonnet decided that she was going to like the whole Judsonfamily. She liked the Reverend Mr. Judson with his delicate face andkind, nearsighted eyes. She liked him particularly because he lookedso unministerial in his soft shirt and blue overalls. She liked Mrs. Judson, with her sweet, tired face looking out from a cavernoussun-bonnet. Mrs. Clyde's discerning eye read in the patient worn facea history of privation and self-denial; and surmised that theenthusiasm of the missionary was paid for most dearly by thisuncomplaining partner. 

It was to the tiniest toddler that Blue Bonnet was drawn most of all;she adored babies, and this chubby two-year-old was irresistible. Sheheld out her arms to little Joe, but, to her surprise, he held offshyly. He scanned the row of ingratiating faces slowly, and not untilhis eyes rested on the kindly round countenance of Sarah did he showany response. 

"Pitty lady!" he cried, holding out his arms and making a charge ather. 

Sarah's face flushed pink with surprise and pleasure; and then with arush she gathered Joe in a close hug. She had not realized until thenhow she had missed the little clinging arms at home. 

"He spurns you, Blue Bonnet!" gasped Kitty. 

"I reckon he can tell who has had experience with babies, " Blue Bonnetremarked. The glance she gave Sarah was almost envious. "Well, pittylady, " she said at length, "you might leave a few kisses for somebodyelse!"

But Joe was chary and clung tightly to the lady of his choice; whilethe other girls secretly marvelled at any one's preferring Sarah toBlue Bonnet. 

Carita made up for her brother's lack of appreciation; running to meetthe girls, she drew Blue Bonnet's arm through her own and gave it anaffectionate squeeze every few minutes. 

"I hope the other girls won't mind if I monopolize you a little bit, "she whispered; "they've had you so long and I'm to have such a shorttime. "

This sort of incense no one could have been proof against; and BlueBonnet was presently glowing. 

"Welcome to Camp Judson!" said Knight proudly, as they neared a secondgrove of trees. 

"Oh, how lovely!" Every one came to a standstill while they took inthe pretty scene. 

A model camp was Camp Judson. On a high flat knoll to the right was along row of tiny white tents placed with military precision at regularspaces from each other, and each surrounded by a narrow trench. Amongthe trees gleamed other tents, and occasionally a gay quilt hung toair. Under one huge oak was the dining-room with a red-white-and-blueawning for a roof. Here were two long tables made of smooth boardslaid on barrels, with rude benches running their entire length. Theywere guiltless of cloth and spread with tin dishes, for simplicity wasa law as well as a necessity in this Camp. But a rustic basket ofgraceful ferns adorned one table, and the sun, hanging low in the sky, threw a pattern of quivering light and shade on the bare boards. 

The girls had rather dreaded having to meet a dozen boys all at once. But they found the ordeal not half so bad as they had expected. Theyoungest boys were already gathered about the smaller table awaitingthe signal to be seated; while the second table was reserved for theJudsons and their guests. Standing beside it were three tall ladswearing towels pinned about them for aprons. 

"Smith, Brown and Jones--the three props of the world!" explainedKnight, with a wave of his hand; and the girls acknowledged theintroduction without knowing which was which. "Keep your eye on thewaiters, ladies and gentlemen, " Knight continued, "and report allincivilities to the management. There's a fine for every cup of cocoathey spill down anybody's neck, and another for every spider theydon't see first!"

Everybody stood beside the benches for a moment while Dr. Judson saida simple grace. Blue Bonnet noticed that even the smallest boy therebent his head at once, without even so much as a nudge from hisneighbor. There was a second of absolute quiet after the pleasantvoice finished the short invocation; then a shoving of benches, arattle of dishes; and the meal progressed amid peals of laughter andan incessant clucking as of chickens at feeding-time. 

"Talk about chattering girls!" Blue Bonnet challenged Alec with anamused glance. She found herself seated between him and Knight, anarrangement that suited all three admirably; while Carita smiled ather across the narrow table. Some of the older boys were beside Kitty, Debby and Amanda, and all three girls seemed to be well entertained. Sarah, with a small Judson on either side of her, was occupied chieflyin alternately kissing and feeding the youthful pair. Steaming_frijoles_ in a huge earthen bowl; bass from the Spring, fried withslices of bacon; baked potatoes, cocoa and doughnuts formed the menu, which the hearty appetites of all transformed into a banquet; and noone felt compelled to refuse a second or third helping from motives ofpoliteness. 

"Where's the Spring?" Blue Bonnet asked suddenly. "The only creekI've seen is about as wide as my hand. "

"Just a short walk from camp, " Knight replied. "I'm saving that toshow you in the morning. "

There fell a moment of silence. 

"Did I hear you sigh?" Alec was looking at Blue Bonnet inastonishment. She had never looked happier or prettier in her life;sun and wind had painted a rose-blush on her cheeks; the blue eyeswere positively luminous. Yet he had distinctly heard her sigh. 

She nodded. "I had to. I'm just too full for utterance--no, no!--I'lltake another doughnut! I didn't mean that literally. But I'm full ofcontent, --I'd like to purr. "

Alec laughed. "It's the best fun I've ever had. I believe I must bepart Indian, and this is the only time I've ever been able to obey'the call of the wild. ' It makes me sorry for all the misguided folkthat spend all their lives in houses. "

"Look at Grandmother, " Blue Bonnet whispered. "Who would ever havethought that a Colonial Dame would look so natural eating beans with atin spoon? I wish Uncle Cliff could have come, he's a born camper. "

"Why didn't Mr. Terry come to dinner?" Knight asked. 

"Uncle Joe!" Blue Bonnet's spoon dropped with a clatter. She hadn'teven thought of Uncle Joe! "Mrs. Judson, " she stammered, "will youplease excuse me? I'll be right back. " Hardly waiting for Mrs. Judson's surprised "Certainly, " she sprang lightly over the bench andvanished through the trees. 

The We are Sevens, used to Blue Bonnet's methods, went onunconcernedly with their dessert; but the Judsons looked mildlyamazed. 

Blue Bonnet found Uncle Joe smoking contentedly before a cosy gypsyfire on which a coffee-pot was steaming. She burst upon himbreathlessly. 

"Uncle Joe--I forgot, --you're invited out to dinner!"

He smiled at her over his pipe. "I ain't got a dinner-coat, Honey. "

"But, Uncle Joe--it was horrid of me I know--"

"No uncomplimentary remarks, please, " he interrupted; then seeing thatshe was really distressed he went on seriously: "Don't you worry aboutUncle Joe, Blue Bonnet. He's used to looking out for Number One. I hadto help Miguel hobble the horses, and that's a job that won't wait forany man. Now I've got tortillas and bacon and coffee, and I'm thatcomfortable I wouldn't stir for a whole company of Texas Rangers!"

As she reluctantly departed Uncle Joe looked after the slim figurewith quiet delight. "Same old Blue Bonnet. Boston folks can't get anyhigh-toned notions into that little head!"

As Blue Bonnet slipped back into her place, she found an animateddiscussion in progress. 

"We're trying to decide on a name for our camp, " Debby explained. 

"We've run through Ashe, Clyde, Trent and the rest, but they'retoo--exclusive, " said Kitty. "We want one that will includeeverybody. "

"Why not 'Camp We are Seven?'" asked Knight. 

"Too clumsy, " declared Blue Bonnet. 

"Use initials then, " urged Knight. 

"Camp W. A. S. --sounds rather like a has-been, " remarked thebright-faced boy beside Kitty. 

Blue Bonnet flashed him an appreciative smile. "That would never dofor a crowd as--ahem--up-to-date as we try to be!"

"Let's have something beautiful, " said Kitty. 

"And romantic, " added Debby. 

"If you want something typical of this country, " Dr. Judson spoke up, "--there's an expressive phrase often used hereabouts. Those of youwho know the habits of the 'greasers' don't need to be told why theircountry is called the 'land of _poco tiempo_. ' It means literally'little time'--but with the Mexicans it usually means 'after a while'or even 'by and by. ' 'Always put off till to-morrow what should bedone to-day' is their version of our old motto. "

"That just suits me!" cried Blue Bonnet. 

"I love Spanish names, " exclaimed Kitty. 

_Poco Tiempo_ the camp was straightway christened; and, as they laterproved, its inmates had no difficulty in living up to the name. 

CHAPTER XII

POCO TIEMPO

"I RECKON we'll all sleep without rocking, " Blue Bonnet smileddrowsily in on the girls who were disrobing for the night. She hadstolen from Grandmother's tent for a last word, but lingered forseveral before departing. "How's your bed, Sarah?"

"A bit bumpy, " the honest girl admitted. 

"Mustn't mind a little thing like that, " Blue Bonnet admonished her. 

"They're not very little--just you wait and see. " Sarah squirmed aboutseeking a level spot for her body. 

Alec and Knight, who had spent hours stuffing the bed-ticks withSpanish moss, would hardly have felt repaid could they have seen herdiscomfort at that moment. 

Observing her Blue Bonnet remarked: "I'm glad we brought the canvascot for Grandmother. I don't mind bumpy beds myself--it isn't right tobe too comfortable when you're camping out. "

Kitty stood, mirror in hand, ministering unto a blistered nose, and asSarah gave a final grunt before closing her eyes, she called suddenly:"Sarah Blake, don't you dare go to sleep 'til we've drawn lots. "

"Lots?" Sarah blinked sleepily. 

"To see who's to get breakfast. After that we'll take turns, two at atime. "

"But there are five of us, " protested Debby. 

"Grandmother says to count her in. We'll give her Sarah for arunning-mate, --she's about the only one that can keep Sallykins inorder. "

Sarah woke up at that to give the speaker a surprised and grievedlook, at which Blue Bonnet burst into a laugh. "I'll label my nextjoke, Old Reliable, " she said. 

Kitty looked about her for something which they could use for lots. 

Nothing seeming appropriate, she suddenly tweaked three bright hairsfrom her own curly head, arranged them in lengths and held them outfor the others to draw. 

"Shortest gets breakfast; next lunch, longest dinner, " she announcedtersely. 

"Hooray for us!" cried Amanda, catching Blue Bonnet around the waistand hopping about on one foot, the other being unshod. "Lunch for us. Let's think up something easy. "

Kitty made a grimace at the short hair left in her hand. "Breakfast!Debby, I call that hard luck. "

"The others may call it harder, " prophesied Blue Bonnet. 

"Never mind, the Señora and Sarah will make up for it at dinner-time, "said Kitty. 

"Night-night!" said Blue Bonnet, preparing to leave. With her hand onthe tent-flap she paused. "Shake out your shoes before you put them onin the morning!" she said; and with this dark warning fled. 

Camp Judson had awakened, had had a fiercely contested water-fight, had breakfasted, tidied up, and most of its inmates scattered in questof adventures, before the tired girls of _Poco Tiempo_ gathered forthe morning meal. Kitty and Debby, enveloped in capacious ginghamaprons, and appearing somewhat flushed and nervous, stood waiting toserve. 

Mrs. Clyde gave the two cooks an approving smile. "Everything lookscharming, " she said as she took her place at the head of the board. 

The table here was spread with white oilcloth, and the dishes of blueenamelled-ware showed bright and cheerful against the immaculateexpanse. Bowls of steaming oatmeal porridge stood at each place, andhuge mugs of cocoa. But it was at none of these that Blue Bonnet wasgazing; her eyes were fastened in wonder on a pitcher of real milk andanother of real cream. 

"Where did that come from?" she demanded. 

"The Spring!" declared Kitty. 

"Miguel rode to the Circle Y ranch and got it early this morning, "Debby confessed, "and they're going to let us have it every morning. "

"It's a jarring note, " Blue Bonnet declared. 

"All right, you can have all the 'condemned milk' you want, " saidKitty, "--we've a dozen cans of it. "

But Blue Bonnet was already helping herself generously to the "jarringnote" and seemed to enjoy it as much as any one. Every one wasexceedingly polite and made no mention of lumps in the porridge; andfinally the anxious puckers in Debby's forehead began to smooththemselves out. There was a moment of veritable triumph for the cookswhen they came in with the nicely browned bacon and a plate heapedhigh with golden corn-bread. 

"Who was the artist?" the Señora asked in pleased surprise. 

"I didn't know you knew how, " Sarah commented. 

There was a moment's hesitation, and then Blue Bonnet, who had caughta glimpse of Uncle Joe's face, pointed an accusing finger at him. "Fess up, Uncle Joe!"

Much annoyed at himself, Uncle Joe tried to deny the accusation, butKitty's face confirmed the suspicion against him, and in the end he"fessed up" rather lamely. 

"Have to do something to earn my board and keep, " he protested. 

"Amanda and I get lunch, you know, " Blue Bonnet suggested tactfully;and Amanda telegraphed her approval of this gentle hint. 

"Well, this camp is well-named, " said Knight, appearing suddenly witha half-dozen boys in his train. "Is this breakfast or lunch?"

"Breakfast, and a very good one, " Mrs. Clyde remarked. "Won't you joinus?"

"Don't tempt my merry men, " Knight begged comically. "They've neveryet been known to refuse food, and though it's only an hour sincebreakfast, I've no confidence in them. "

"Won't you please hurry?" Alec asked eagerly. "I can't wait for youall to see the Spring. "

"We're ready right now, " said Blue Bonnet, jumping up impulsively. "Come on, girls, it's a glorious morning for a tramp. "

"Haven't you forgotten something, Blue Bonnet?" her grandmother asked. 

Blue Bonnet looked puzzled. "Do you mean hats? I'd much rather gowithout one, if you don't mind, Grandmother. "

But it was not hats that Grandmother was thinking of; gradually itdawned on Blue Bonnet that the other girls were not making ready forthe excursion, but were gathering up the dishes and clearing thetable. She flashed a reproachful look at them. 

"You might let those wait, " she protested. 

Grandmother smiled. "You do surely belong to the 'land of _pocotiempo_, ' Blue Bonnet. "

"But the dishes will keep--"

"And so will the Spring!"

The girl gave a discouraged sigh; it was a pity Grandmother had notbeen brought up in Texas; then she would have understood what were thereally necessary things in life. She nodded wistfully at the boys. "Grandmother believes in every girl's doing her duty, " she said. 

"We'll have the manager hold the performance, " said Knight cheerfully. "We'll be back in half an hour, --Carita can go by that time, too. "

Blue Bonnet brightened visibly at this, and turned resolutely to thehated tasks. 

"Debby and I will wash the dishes; Sarah can 'red up, ' and you andAmanda do the beds, " Kitty suggested. 

Aunt Lucinda's training stood Blue Bonnet in good stead here. Thegoing over the rather bumpy beds got in that half-hour left Amandabreathless with admiration. 

"You can do things beautifully when you want to, Blue Bonnet, " sheremarked. 

"When I have to, you mean, " Blue Bonnet replied. 

"Where's the broom, do you know?" asked Sarah. 

"Sh!" Blue Bonnet drew her into the tent and out of every one'shearing. "There isn't any broom, Sarah. "

"But I put one in the wagon myself. "

"And I _threw it out_!"

"Blue Bonnet!" Something like horror was in Sarah's blue eyes. 

Blue Bonnet met her gaze defiantly. "Did you ever see a picture of theWitch of Salem, Sarah?"

Sarah gave a bewildered nod. "What has the Witch of Salem--"

"Wasn't she riding a broom?" Blue Bonnet persisted. 

"Yes--but--"

"Well, in my opinion that's the only good use a broom was ever put to!It has no place in a respectable camping party. "

Sarah said no more; but when, a few minutes later, Amanda and BlueBonnet looked out to learn the source of an odd sound, they beheld theindomitable Sarah, armed with an antiquated rake, gathering up theleaves and litter on the hard dirt "floor" of the dining-room. 

"Who would have thought to see our Sarah grown rakish?" asked BlueBonnet, --and then dodged the pillow sent by Amanda's indignant hand. 

By the time the allotted half-hour was up, _Poco Tiempo_ was a modelof neatness and order. The girls, booted and hatted in spite of BlueBonnet's objections, were ready to the minute, and when the youngscouts appeared they set out at once, exactly--as Blue Bonnetremarked--like the third-graders at recess. 

Grandmother had settled herself comfortably with a book, --Mrs. Judsonwas coming over later for a chat, --and so it was with a free mind anda soul ready for a carnival of pleasure that Blue Bonnet stepped forthon the joyous expedition. 

"I reckon it is better, " she admitted to Alec, "to have everythingdone first, instead of having them to do when you're tired. "

"Oh, wise young judge!" he laughed. "We'll make a New Englander of youyet. "

"That reminds me of something Cousin Tracey said once. He thought Iwas developing a New England conscience, and said it was anexceedingly troublesome thing to have around. I believe him, --it'smuch more fun to develop Kodak films. There now!" she broke offimpatiently, "--if I haven't left my camera in the tent. And I wantpictures of the Spring. "

"Never mind, we'll be up here every day, " said Alec. "There's a jollylittle rustic bridge where you can gather the crowd for a grouppicture. Here we are!"

He and Blue Bonnet had walked faster than the others, and so werefirst to see this most beautiful of springs. Blue Bonnet gave onelook, and then something rose in her throat, stifling breath andspeech. Alec watched her appreciatively. 

"If he speaks to me now, he's not the boy I've always believed him, "the girl was saying to herself. She dreaded the first word that shouldbreak in on that moment of perfect beauty. 

Below them the giant spring surged up, a great emerald in a setting ofwoods and hills. Clear as air, the water boiled up from the bowels ofthe earth, revealing every fish and pebble in its mirror-like depths. Shrubs overhung it; wild cresses and ferns clustered about it; belowthe surface long tresses of pinky-coral grasses floated and waved inthe bubbling current. 

A voice shattered the blissful moment of peace. "Isn't she a beauty?"

It was a sandy-haired youth with Kitty who had clambered roughly intothe picture. Blue Bonnet hated him fiercely for a few seconds. Thenthe rest came up with a babble of voices and exclamations and sheresigned herself, with a sigh, to the fact that the gift of silence, being golden, is given to but few. 

Knight gave her a questioning glance and she glowed back at him. "It'sperfect--almost too perfect. "

"There's a wee spring up higher, --the camp creek flows from it. Do youfeel equal to the climb?" he asked her. 

She gave eager assent, and, after lingering a few minutes for theothers and finding them too slow for the pace she liked, Blue Bonnetfollowed Knight up a steep winding path that circled the hill. 

He carried a "twenty-two" rifle swung across his shoulders, and in hisbelt a rather formidable looking knife. 

"For use or ornament?" she asked, indicating the weapons. "You looklike Dick Danger. "

"Strictly for use, " he assured her. "The gun has brought down many atoothsome 'possum, and the knife serves to cut anything from firewoodto alpenstocks. Shall I cut you one to assist your feeble steps?"

They halted while he selected a sapling for the purpose, trimmed andsharpened it at the end. 

"Alpine travellers put sharp iron points on their staffs, Uncle says, "he explained, "so that by thrusting them in the ice and snow they keepfrom slipping. We don't need them for just that purpose, but they arehandy on steep paths--and to kill bugs with!"

She accepted the "alpenstock" gratefully and soon found it useful forboth purposes. 

"When we get back to camp I'll get Sandy to carve your initials init--he's quite a genius at carving, " Knight said. 

"Is Sandy the--sandy one?"

"Precisely. "

"Then I don't think I like him. "

"Oh, but you will when you know him better, " Knight protested. "He'stremendously clever, --a born orator. He won a medal last year in adebate. "

"That accounts for his talking so much, " Blue Bonnet laughed. "He'salways at it. "

"But unlike most incessant talkers, he says something, " Knight urgedfor his friend. "We'll get him to recite some evening, then you canjudge how talented he is. "

"Does he do 'Curfew shall not--?'" she asked mischievously. 

"Grief, no!" Knight's disgusted tone sent Blue Bonnet off in a fit oflaughter. To her surprise the ripple of her laugh came back in agleeful "ha, ha!" that had something witchlike about it. She turned astartled face to her companion. 

"We've reached the 'Whispering Grotto, '" he explained. "The echo isfamous. " He pushed aside a low-growing bough, and brushing by it BlueBonnet found herself in a lovely little cave-like spot, in the centreof which was a tiny spring. It bubbled up somewhere back in the hilland had made a long tunnel, coming to the light just here. 

"Oh, for a cup. I'm thirsty as--as Tantalus!" sighed Blue Bonnet. 

"A Texas girl crying for a cup?" Knight asked teasingly. 

"That wouldn't have happened before I went to Woodford. I've beengoing through what they call--being civilized. It's mostly learningnot to shock the New England sense of propriety. "

"I'm not a New Englander!"

Knight's eyes were daring her; and it was fatal. What Sarah would havesaid if she could have seen Blue Bonnet's method of getting a drink ishard to conjecture. Hardly had she time to spring to her feet whenvoices were heard close at hand. 

"I can hear Sandy. " She turned eagerly to Knight. "Let's go on--Idon't feel ready for a crowd. "

"There's a lovely view from the top of the hill, " he suggested. 

Her only answer was to push on, plying her alpenstock eagerly in herhaste to elude the others. Pausing only when the top of the hill wasreached, she sank at length on a fallen tree-trunk. The view was allKnight had promised for it, overlooking a quiet valley. 

"Let's call it 'Peaceful Valley, '" she said. 

"It may have a different name on the map, but no one can prevent ourchristening it what we like, " he agreed. 

Blue Bonnet was content to rest for a while here. There was no sign oflife anywhere, except a solitary bird wheeling about far above theirheads. 

"A swallow-tailed kite, " Knight said as the bird dropped suddenly intoclearer view. "Graceful, isn't it?"

All at once the big kite alighted on the dead branch of a tree nearthem. 

"What glorious wings!" breathed Blue Bonnet. 

"Would you like one for your hat?" Knight asked. 

"Oh, wouldn't I!" she cried eagerly. 

Quick as flash Knight swung his rifle about, aimed and fired. BlueBonnet put her fingers in her ears with an exclamation of alarm. Thebird toppled as if to fall, then righted itself with a lurch andfluttered out from the tree. Blue Bonnet gave a sigh of relief. 

"I was so afraid you had hurt him!" she cried, --and the words diedaway in a gasp of distress. The kite, pitching headlong, had fallenalmost at her feet. 

She dropped on her knees beside it; but the bird was still. Knight, bending over her, was suddenly filled with surprise and dismay; shewas crying like a child. 

"It was so mean and vain of me, " she said with quivering lips, "--towant him just for a hat, when he was having such a beautiful time. "

Knight was pale with hatred of himself. 

She looked up at last and smiled mistily through her tears. "I reckonyou think I am pretty much of a baby. But I can't bear to seethings--die. "

"It's only a big hawk, " he said to comfort both himself and her. 

She looked up hopefully. "And hawks are mean birds, aren't they, --thatkill little chickens and other birds?"

He hesitated, then said unwillingly: "Some hawks do. But this is adifferent kind. It lives on snakes and insects--"

"Then it is a good bird!--that's what Uncle Cliff calls them. " Herface clouded again and she turned towards camp. 

"You don't want one of the wings then?"

She shuddered. "Oh, no!" Then she paused. "I will have--I saw somefeathers fall. Will you give me one? I want it for a reminder. "

Knight picked up one of the tiny barred wing-feathers and handed it toher. "A reminder?"

"I'm never going to wear things like that again--wings and birds andall those cruel ornaments. I never realized before--And whenever I amtempted I shall look at this. "

Knight bent, picked up another of the feathers and laid it away in hisfly-book. "I need a reminder, too, " he remarked. 

"But you never wear birds in your hats, " Blue Bonnet said wonderingly. 

"My reminder shall be: 'Think before you shoot, '" he said quietly. 

CHAPTER XIII

AROUND THE CAMP-FIRE

THERE was no sign of the other trampers when Blue Bonnet and Knightreached the little grotto; and descending to the Big Spring they foundeven that charming spot deserted. 

Blue Bonnet looked around in surprise. 

"Do you suppose we've missed them on the way down?" Raising her voiceshe gave her ranch-call--"Ho, ye ho, ho!"

"--ho ho!" the hill sent back; but no feminine or masculine voiceanswered the well-known notes. 

Blue Bonnet, child of the open, then looked at the sun and the shadowsand gave an exclamation of astonishment. "It's past noon! They've goneback to camp. My, I'll have to hurry--it's my turn to cook lunch. "

She darted impetuously down the hillside, and Knight found himselfcompelled to move briskly in order to keep up with her. They went toofast for conversation, but once Blue Bonnet paused long enough to sayover her shoulder--"You'll come to lunch, won't you?"

"Catch me refusing now I know who the cook is!" he replied gaily. 

The path opened at last on the open space before _Poco Tiempo_. Therewas sound of voices and laughter, and yes--the clink of dishes! BlueBonnet turned a rueful face to Knight--"Do you hear that? They won'tsay a thing to me!"

"I am armed, --trust me to protect you, " he declaimed theatrically. 

They had to pass through the "kitchen" first, and there the clutter ofempty pots and pans told their own story. From the dining-room theothers caught sight of the tardy pair and a wild hubbub at once arose. 

"Tramps!"

"Set the dogs on them!"

"Why don't you work for a living?"

Knight's eyes twinkled as he looked from Blue Bonnet's amazedcountenance to the teasing faces about the table. Lunch was evidentlynot only ready but largely consumed. 

"What are you eating so early for?" Blue Bonnet demanded. 

"Early!"

"Twenty minutes past one!"

"No--!" Blue Bonnet gasped, subsiding on the end of the bench andfanning her hot face with her hat. "Now, isn't that the funniestthing?"

"I'm glad you see the point of your own joke, " retorted Kitty. "Wehave decided to give you a week's notice to get a new place. "

"I engage her on the spot, " said Knight. "It's all my fault. "

"We won't give her a reference, " said Kitty. 

"You needn't--if you'll just give me food, " said Blue Bonnet. "Alec, make room for Knight beside you, will you? We're both starved. Whomade the muffins?"

"Guess, " said Kitty, relenting and passing her the nearly empty plate. 

Sarah intercepted it. "I'll get you some hot ones. " And she rosehastily. 

Blue Bonnet laughed. "Now I know! Grandmother, did you help Sarah?"

Mrs. Clyde nodded. "The girls came back so hungry I thought we hadbetter not wait for the chief cook. No one knew where you were. "

"I'm going to wear a cow-bell after this, " Blue Bonnet declared. "Sarah, if I could make such muffins I'd insist upon cooking everymeal. "

"I reckon you don't need any protection, " Knight said in an undertone. 

"Oh, there's safety in numbers. Wait till Amanda catches me alone! Wetwo will have to get dinner now. " She buttered her third muffin andthen glanced happily around the table. "I've a lovely scheme, " shehinted. 

"Did you ever see any one so bowed down with penitence?" asked Kitty;adding promptly, "What's the scheme?"

"It's to invite Alec and Knight to get down logs, make us a hugebonfire and--"

"That's just like Blue Bonnet, " Kitty broke in, "--she'll let you dothe work and she'll do the _rest_!"

"--and then invite them to a party, " Blue Bonnet went onimperturbably. 

"'She'll do the grand with a lavish hand, '" quoted Alec. "We're yourmen. A Party--with a big P--is what our souls have been pining for. Where shall we build the festive pyre?"

"In the open space between the two camps. There'll be no danger to thetrees there and plenty of room to sit around it. I'll tell Miguel tobring up one of the wagon horses to drag logs, --I want a perfectlymammoth fire. "

"You ought to have been a man, Blue Bonnet, " Debby remarked, "--youwould have made such a wonderful general. Your ability to put otherpeople to work amounts to positive genius. "

But Blue Bonnet had already gone in search of Miguel, with Alec andKnight in her train. For the rest of the afternoon the "General"demonstrated that she could not only put other people to work, butcould work herself, to advantage. While the boys--whose forces hadbeen augmented by the addition of Sandy, Smith, Brown and Jones--gotdown logs and built them into a miniature log cabin, Blue Bonnet madegreat preparations for the Party. She spread all her Indian blanketsat a proper distance from the bonfire-to-be; distributed thebuck-board seats judiciously, planning to add the dining-room benchesas soon as supper was out of the way; whittled great quantities oflong willow wands to a sharp point, maintaining great secrecy as tothe use to which the latter were to be put; and stacked many boxes ofthe delectable pinoche in a convenient spot. 

Hardly had these preparations been completed when Amanda announcedthat it was time to begin cooking dinner. Blue Bonnet looked at heraghast. 

"I think it's maddening, " she declared. "We are in a continual stateof washing up after one meal and getting ready for another. And thisis what Grandmother calls 'simplicity'--! It would be aheap--much--simpler if I could just say--'Lisa, we'll have dinner atsix. ' That would end it, --and what could be simpler?"

"What shall we have?" asked Amanda, considering that subject more tothe point. 

"Baked potatoes, then we won't have to peel them, --I'd as soon skin arabbit. And Gertrudis cooked a leg of lamb, so that we'll only have towarm it up. "

"Shall we try hot bread?" asked Amanda. 

"Certainly not! Hot bread twice to-day already--we'll all haveindigestion. We've stacks of loaves, and bread and maple syrup is goodenough camp fare for any one. If we're going in for the simple life, let's be simple. "

"That reminds me of something we translated in the German class, " saidAmanda. "'Man ist was er isst'--and it means 'one is what one eats. 'And another German said 'Tell me what you eat and I'll tell you whatyou are. '"

"Do you mean to tell me that if I live on angel-cake I'll grow to beangelic?" demanded Blue Bonnet. 

"Hardly!" laughed Amanda. "It would take a good deal more than that!No offence, Blue Bonnet, --I like you best when you're--the otherthing. The Germans are always arguing about something or other. Weused to take sides in class and nearly come to blows. "

"You should have taken French, " said Blue Bonnet, before she thought. 

"You didn't think that last March!" Amanda teased; and the next momentcould have bitten her tongue out for the thoughtless speech. BlueBonnet did not smile; it was evident that the memory of the day whenall the members of the French class except herself had "cut" was stilla bitter one. 

"I'll wash the potatoes, " Amanda offered in amend for having touched apainful chord. 

"All right!" Blue Bonnet beamed acceptance of the kind intention andhanded over the pan without hesitation. "I'll make up a hot fire, andwe'll get everything started and the table set, --then you and I aregoing to the Spring. "

"Oh, are we?" asked Amanda blankly. One never knew what scheme lurkedin the back of Blue Bonnet's head. 

"For table decorations. I saw some ferns and wild honeysuckle near thebank, and it won't take much time to gather enough for the table. "

"Decorating the table isn't 'simple, ' is it?" Amanda asked ratherprovokingly. 

"If you know anything simpler than a wildflower, I'd like to be shownit, " retorted Blue Bonnet. "Come on, we must do some tall hustling. "

The "tall hustling" got the table set in a rather sketchy fashion;hurried the potatoes into a scorching oven; placed the already cookedroast in the top of the same oven at the same time; and saw BlueBonnet and Amanda headed for the Spring, bearing a fruit-jar and thecamp's only carving-knife, just as Uncle Joe came up the bank with afine string of speckled trout. 

"All ready to fry, Honey, " he said, holding them up proudly. 

"Hide them quick!" cried Blue Bonnet in alarm, "shooing" him backtowards the creek. 

Used as he was to Blue Bonnet's impetuosity, this move of hers filledhim with amazement. "What's the matter, --they're perfectly goodtrout!" he urged. 

"They're lovely. But I wouldn't fry one for ten million dollars! Keepthem for breakfast, Uncle Joe, --Sarah will know how to do thembeautifully. "

With an understanding chuckle, Uncle Joe went off to cache his stringof beauties in a cool place along the creek; and Blue Bonnet andAmanda continued their quest for ferns. 

As they were returning, crowned with success, they met the Señora justback from a stroll with Mrs. Judson. The three other girls werealready sitting suggestively about the board. 

"There, " said Blue Bonnet triumphantly, as she deposited the fruit-jarin the centre of the table with its graceful ferns and honeysuckletrailing over the oil-cloth, "feast on that!"

"I call that a pretty slim dinner, " said Kitty. 

Blue Bonnet, disdaining the insinuation, departed rather hastily tothe kitchen, drawn thither by a strong odor and a still strongersuspicion of disaster. The sheet-iron stove was red-hot. Catching up acloth she flung open the oven door, and then backed abruptly away fromthe cloud of acrid yellow smoke that rolled thickly into her face. 

"Oh, Blue Bonnet!" wailed Amanda. "Everything's burned to a cinder! Weshouldn't have gone off. "

Blue Bonnet's only reply was a violent fit of coughing. The smokecontinued to pour in dense billows from the oven. "Grab the pans, quick!" she managed to choke out. 

Amanda made a valiant dive through the smoke, and had just time toseize the pans from the top and bottom of the oven, when she, too, wasovercome, and in the paroxysm of coughing that followed threatened toburst a blood-vessel. Finally with crimson faces and streaming eyes, both cooks gazed ruefully down on the black marbles that had beenpotatoes, and the charred drum-stick that had once been a leg ofspring lamb. 

"Keep back--no trespassing!" called Blue Bonnet as the other girls, scenting fun as well as the odor of burning things, came running fromthe dining-room. "This is our funeral and we don't want any mourners!"She waved them back peremptorily, at the same time screening the ruinswith her apron. 

The discomfited We are Sevens returned to their seats, and a momentlater there came the sound of spoons being vigorously thumped on thetable. 

"We want dinner!" came imperiously from the hungry girls. 

Amanda looked imploringly at her partner. "What shall we do?"

Blue Bonnet thought hard for a moment. All at once her brow cleared. "Here, take the meat, go find a gopher-hole and push that bone downinto it as far as it will go. The potatoes can't be burned all theway through, --we'll scrape what's left into a bowl. And I'll tellUncle Joe I've changed my mind, --we'll have the trout for dinner. And, Amanda, you'll hurry back, won't you, and put the fish in the pan--Isimply can't touch 'em!"

Each sped to fulfil her allotted task, and in an incredibly shortspace of time a family of gophers was sniffing about a strange objectblocking their front door; and a pan of fragrant trout sputtered ontop of the little stove. As Blue Bonnet set the great platter ofperfectly browned fish in front of her grandmother, there was aflattering "ah!" of anticipation that repaid--almost repaid, her forthe previous bad quarter of an hour. Canned pears and the cookies thatshould have been saved for future emergencies, completed a dinnerwhich was voted "not half bad" by the other girls, who secretlymarvelled at getting any dinner at all. No one noticed that neitherBlue Bonnet nor Amanda partook of potatoes, and there proved to beample for the rest. 

"I'll wash the dishes, Amanda, " Blue Bonnet offered, when at last thatnight-mare of a dinner was over. "I ought to walk over red-hotplowshares, or wear a hair-shirt or something as a penance for my sinsof this day. Lacking both plowshares and shirt, I'll substitutedish-washing. And you may bear me witness--I'd take the hair-shirt ifI had my choice!"

It was a very weary Blue Bonnet who turned the dishpan upside down andhung the dish-cloth on a bush to dry. The long tramp of the morning, the preparations for the bonfire party, and then the exhaustingexperience of getting dinner, had tired even her physique, which hadseldom known fatigue. 

"I wish we could dis-invite the company, " she said to Amanda. 

"So do I, " groaned her partner. "Fancy having to sit around a bonfireand sing 'merrily we roll along'--! It makes me ache all over. "

Later, when the inmates of both camps were gathered in a great circleabout the fire, singing, jesting and story-telling, both girls forgottheir weariness and might have been heard singing the same "merrily weroll along" with great zest and vocal strength. 

The bonfire did its builders proud and without any preparatory sulkingor coaxing burst almost at once into pillars of soaring flame. Therewas a backing away at first on the part of the spectators as theintense heat began to scorch the circle of faces; then a gradualdrawing near again. It was not until the flames had died down and thelogs were a mass of glowing coals that Blue Bonnet handed around herwillow-wands. Each one was now tipped with a white ball, puffy, roundand mysterious. 

To most of the boys this was an innovation, and they had to be shownhow to hold the white globules over the coals until they splutteredand swelled to bursting. 

"Now eat them!" she commanded. There was a chary tasting and then anecstatic cry--"Marshmallows!"

The rapidity with which the tin boxes were emptied might have appalleda less generous provider than Blue Bonnet; but she had relied uponUncle Cliff to fill her order for marshmallows, and consequently feltno fear of "going short. "

When little Bayard had consumed his ninth "moth-ball" as he persistedin calling the sweets, his mother rose to take her brood home. Mr. Judson bent to lift Joe who had fallen asleep in Sarah's arms, andthen turned to Blue Bonnet. "Good-night, " he said, holding out hisfree hand and smiling down into the girl's tired face; "this is thefirst time I ever partook of toasted moonshine, and I've enjoyed myinitiation. "

Carita kissed her impulsively. "It's the loveliest party I've everbeen to, " she whispered. 

Blue Bonnet looked wistfully after the departing group. "Aren'tfamilies the nicest things in all the world?" she asked Sarah, as shesank on the blanket beside this member of a numerous clan. 

"The very nicest. " And Sarah, whose arms still felt the warmth oflittle Joe, stared into the fire with eyes that saw in the coals thepicture of a family in far-off Woodford. 

There were a few more songs; an eighth or ninth rendition of

 "Meet me, dearest Mandy, By the water-melion vine"--

for the benefit of Amanda, who hated it, and then the rest rosereluctantly to depart. 

"It's the swellest thing in the bonfire line I've ever attended, "Sandy assured Mrs. Clyde; and she could excuse the phrase because ofthe undoubted enthusiasm of the speaker. 

Half a dozen of the boys tramped away in a bunch, and there floatedback to the group about the fire the rhythmic refrain of "Good-night, ladies!" until it finally died away in a sleepy murmur. 

Only the older boys had lingered and they, after making arrangementsfor a horse-back ride on the morrow, slowly straggled away. 

"Where's Blue Bonnet?" asked Alec; he was one of the last, loiteringfor a final word with his hostess. 

"She was sitting by me a little while ago, " said Sarah, lookingtowards the Navajo. 

The spot was in shadow, but as they looked in that direction, a logfell, and a slender flame sprang up. In the light they saw BlueBonnet, curled up on the bright blanket, with her head pillowed on herarm. 

She was fast asleep. 

CHAPTER XIV

A FALLING IN

"HOW'S the Sleeping Beauty this morning?" was Alec's salutation toBlue Bonnet, when he appeared early next day in advance of the otherpicnickers. Blue Bonnet asleep at her own party had been a spectaclehe would not soon forget; it was almost as funny as being absent fromher first tea, on that memorable day in Woodford. 

"The Sleeping Beauty could find it in her heart to envy Rip VanWinkle; a nap like his is just what I crave. But no, --Sarah must needshave breakfast at cock-crow, " Blue Bonnet complained. 

"Why, Blue Bonnet, it was after eight o'clock when I called you, "returned Sarah in a grieved tone. 

"Sarah didn't want breakfast mistaken for lunch again, " said Amanda. 

"My prophetic soul tells me that we are going to conduct ourselveslike a model Sunday-school class to-day, " Blue Bonnet remarked. 

"What makes you think so?" asked Amanda, in whom the memory ofyesterday's trials was still undimmed. 

"'Well begun is half done, ' you know. And this beginning isobnoxiously perfect. " Blue Bonnet was wiping off the oil-cloth as shespoke; dishes were already washed, beds done, and all without a hitch. 

"I hope our picnic won't prove to be of the Sunday-school variety, "said Kitty. 

"I'm sure our Sunday-school picnics at home are always very nice, "Sarah said reprovingly. 

"Every one to his taste!" was Kitty's airy rejoinder. 

"You can make up your mind that this picnic won't be like any otheryou ever attended, " Alec assured them. "Knight has a scheme up hissleeve that will bear watching. I wonder, Blue Bonnet, if Mrs. Clydewould mind letting us take coffee?"

Blue Bonnet reflected. "To-morrow is Sunday and we're privileged tohave it for breakfast. If we have it to-day instead I'm sure she won'tobject. What else shall we take?"

"Only some bread, some lump sugar and a tin of milk, please, " saidAlec modestly. 

Amanda gave a sudden exclamation of joy. "Then we won't be back tolunch, --oh, Blue Bonnet, that lets us out to-day!"

They fell upon each other rapturously. 

"I think we are the ones who should rejoice, " said Kitty; but herremark met with the silent scorn it deserved. 

They mustered a troop of twelve, all mounted, for Knight's picnic. Riding by twos, they cantered decorously as long as the eyes of theirelders followed their course; but when a turn in the road freed themfrom observation, there was a spurring and an urging of the wiryponies, and away they went, recking little of the grade whether up ordown. 

It became a game of follow-my-leader, with Knight and Blue Bonnetheading the procession and putting their horses through a performancethat would have lamed anything but a Western cow-pony. Knight finallyled the way to one of the "race-paths" that abound in the hillyregions of Texas, and there began a tournament that for years lived inSarah's memory as the most reckless exhibition of daring ever seenoutside a circus-ring. 

"Who made this race-track?" she asked Knight in one of the infrequentpauses in the performance. 

"Nature!" He laughed at the look of incredulity with which Sarah metthis assertion. In truth she had good reason to doubt his word; thesmooth broad road encircling the hill, a full quarter of a mile long, edged on either side by a dense growth of cedars, seemed unmistakablyto show the hand of man in its creation. 

"It's the solemn truth I'm telling you, " Knight insisted, "--I swearit by the mane of my milk-white steed!"

Sarah gave one glance at the dark yellow buckskin pony he rode, andthen clucked impatiently to Comanche. She objected to having her faithin people imposed upon. 

Knight was still laughing when Blue Bonnet came up and challenged himto a race. "My reputation for truth-telling is forever lost inSeñorita Blake's estimation, " he told her. 

"What do you think of Sarah, anyway?" It would be curious to know justhow a Western boy regarded Old Reliable. 

"She's very nice, " he said, with an utter absence of enthusiasm, "--but not exciting. "

Blue Bonnet smiled. "And Kitty?" she continued. Perhaps it wasn'tpolite in a hostess to discuss her guests, but she just had to askthat. 

"She's very pretty and vivacious, " he replied with an increase ofwarmth. "She lacks only one thing to make her irresistible. "

"And that?"

"Having been brought up in Texas!"

If Knight had expected a blush to follow his outspoken compliment hewas disappointed. Blue Bonnet's hearty laugh showed a very healthyabsence of self-consciousness in her make-up. 

"My Aunt Lucinda thinks that is my very worst drawback, " she declared;and then chirping to Firefly, she was off at a break-neck pace, hatbobbing, brown braid flying, her eyes alight with the excitement ofthe race. 

[Illustration: "THEY ALL GATHERED GYPSY-FASHION ABOUT THE FIRE. "]

The climax of the day was the gypsy picnic. When Blue Bonnet beheldthe camp-fire with the pail of coffee steaming away over the bed ofcoals, and saw the feast spread out informally on the ground, withwild grape leaves for plates, she gave an exclamation of delight. 

"Isn't it heavenly?" she cried. 

Alec laughed. "I believe, Blue Bonnet, that your idea of heaven is tolive in a wickiup and subsist on mustang grapes and wild berriesindefinitely, --now isn't it?"

"Exactly--except that I'd add some of the bacon Knight is preparing togive us. That's the way the cowboys cook it. "

Knight had cut a dozen or more twigs having a forked branch at thetip; on the end of each he placed a slice of bacon and then handedaround the "forks" ceremoniously. "I'm not going to offer you anythingso dainty as toasted moonshine, " he explained, "but it's a heap moresubstantial. "

They all gathered gypsy-fashion about the fire, toasting the bacon andtheir faces impartially; then transferring the crisp curly brownstrips to the big slices of bread, devoured them with exclamations ofapproval that were most grateful to the arranger of the feast. Evencanned cream failed to detract from the flavor of the coffee, and theyconsumed great quantities of the fragrant beverage, even Sarahpartaking most intemperately. 

Only a lot of ponies inured to the hardships of the round-up wouldhave remained patient through the frolics of that day, and some ofthese wiry ponies looked rather drooping when the picnickers turnedtowards camp. 

Mrs. Clyde, who had been watching the road rather anxiously as theshadows began to lengthen, brightened at once when Blue Bonnet'scheery call sounded through the trees. 

"Oh, Grandmother, we've had the most gorgeous time in the world!" BlueBonnet cried, as she flung herself out of the saddle. "Did you eversee such a beautifully mussed-up crowd in all your life?"

"If that is an evidence of a 'gorgeous time' you must certainly havehad one, " Mrs. Clyde smiled as her glance travelled from one rumpledand spotted We are Seven to another. 

"These are the only skirts we brought and mine is all spluttered upwith bacon, " mourned Sarah. 

"I think you will all have to go to bed while I wash them, " the Señorasuggested laughingly. 

"Grandmother, please don't let Sarah play upon your sympathies. Shedoesn't appreciate how becoming a little dirt is to her peculiar styleof beauty. She looks almost--human. " The look of pained surprise Sarahturned on her sent Blue Bonnet off in a fit of merriment. "Oh, for apicture of that expression!" she cried. "And that reminds me, --I toldall the boys to be at the Spring in fifteen minutes. There is plentyof light for a snap-shot and I've just a few films left. "

"Oh, Blue Bonnet, haven't you done enough tramping to-day?" hergrandmother exclaimed. "You ought to rest. "

Blue Bonnet shook her head. "I can't rest till I get that picture. Iwant the boys and the We are Sevens on the little rustic bridge. Now, Sarah, don't you dare tidy up till I get you just as you are. I wantyou to pose as Terrible Tom the Texas Terror. "

That Sarah had her own opinion as to who the Texas Terror might be wasshown by her expression as she relinquished her design of brushing herhair, and followed the other girls up the hill to the Big Spring. 

The boys were already assembled and were now grouped on the bridge inattitudes meant to be artistic and fetching. 

The rustic bridge--rather more rustic than substantial--was suspendedjust over a pretty waterfall, which slipped down a smooth runway ofeight or ten feet into a pool all foam and spray; a charming spot fora group-picture. It required both skill and patience to get every oneposed and the camera focussed; Blue Bonnet had just completed thesepreliminaries, when Alec upset everything by insisting that he shouldbe the photographer and she a member of the group. The rest supportedhis contention that she should be in the picture, and in the argumentthat followed, the chances for any picture at all grew slim. 

Just then Uncle Joe appeared, and was at once pressed into service. Blue Bonnet gave explicit directions as to the precise moment at whichthe bulb was to be pressed, and then proceeded to join the rest whowere in the agonies of trying to look pleasant. 

"Do hurry, Blue Bonnet, " urged Sarah nervously, "I can hear the bridgecreaking. "

A roar of derision followed this declaration and some of the smallerboys began stamping on the old timbers for the sheer joy of seeingpoor Sarah quake. At the precise moment that Blue Bonnet stepped fromthe bank to her place by the rail, there was a loud report, followedby a scream. 

Uncle Joe, looking up from the reflector, saw the bridge parted neatlyin the middle, and the entire party shooting the chutes in a mostinformal manner. By the time the first boy had finished the descent, Uncle Joe was in the water fishing out the gasping victims. The poolwas not deep, but the swift fall carried the smaller lads under thesurface, and they came up too dazed to see the hands held out to seizethem. Knight and Sandy found their feet at once, and with Uncle Joeformed a dam against which the others were caught like salmon in ariver-trap. 

Sarah was fished up by her blond braids and came up gasping, "I toldyou so!" before she opened her eyes. 

"That's about as busy a spell as I've had for some time, " Uncle Joedeclared as he hauled out the last of the small boys and thenclambered up the steep bank. 

"You showed great presence of mind, Uncle Joe--except for one thing, "said Blue Bonnet. "If you had just taken a snap-shot when the bridgebroke I'd be quite happy. "

"And if a few of us had drowned while he was doing it--" Kitty beganironically. 

"You'd have missed being in the picture, poor souls! Well, since we'reall alive, let's go break the news gently to the grown-ups. " BlueBonnet looked around the drenched, shivering group and then burst intopeals of laughter. 

In truth they were a sorry looking lot. Soaked to the skin, with hairand clothes dripping and bedraggled, they all looked at each other asif surprised and grieved to find themselves part of so undignified acompany. 

Grandmother's expression when the We are Sevens hove into sight, sentBlue Bonnet off into another gale of merriment. 

"We've been shooting the chutes, Grandmother, " she said with dancingeyes. 

"Without a boat, " added Kitty. 

It took Sarah to tell the story in all its harrowing details, and atits conclusion Mrs. Clyde looked sober. 

"Were you really in danger?" she asked Blue Bonnet. 

"Not a bit, " Blue Bonnet declared. "Sarah was the only one who camenear drowning and that was because she _would_ talk under water. "

Fifteen minutes later the little sheet-iron stove was red-hot, and ona hastily strung clothes-line about it hung an array of drippinggarments that almost hid it from view. 

"There's one comfort about all this, " said Kitty, "our skirts andmiddies have had a much-needed bath. "

"I'm afraid they won't be very clean, --cold water won't take greaseout, " said Sarah mournfully. "And I'd like to know--how are we goingto iron them?"

They were all sitting in a circle about a blazing bonfire of UncleJoe's building, with their streaming hair spread out to dry. Dressing-gowns and bedroom slippers had made it unnecessary to go tobed while their wardrobe hung on the line, and now that they were warmand comfortable, they were disposed to look on the adventure of theafternoon as more of a lark than a misfortune. 

"Do you recall a prophecy you made this morning, Blue Bonnet?" askedKitty. 

Blue Bonnet shook her head. 

"Your 'prophetic soul' told you, if I remember rightly, that we weregoing to conduct ourselves like a model Sunday-school class to-day. "

"Well, if anybody would promise me as much fun in Sunday-school asI've had this day, I'd never be absent or tardy!" laughed Blue Bonnet. 

Sarah looked pained. "It's Sunday to-morrow, " she remarked. "I wonderwhat Dr. Judson will take as the text of his sermon. "

Blue Bonnet gave her a long, curious glance. "Do you really wonder, Sarah, about things like that?"

Sarah raised honest, serious eyes. "Why, of course, Blue Bonnet. Don'tyou?"

"No, " she confessed, "but I do wonder--at you!"

As they sat silent for a moment about the blazing logs, Blue Bonnethad an inspiration. 

"Grandmother, " she asked abruptly, "are you very hungry?"

"Why--is it your turn to get dinner?" Mrs. Clyde smiled; she wasshaking the water from her granddaughter's long hair, and spreading itin the warm rays of the fire. 

"No, Amanda and I were to get lunch. But are you?"

"Not at all. Mrs. Judson and I had an excellent dinner at noon. "

"Well, I've a splendid idea. There are heaps of hot ashes down underthe logs. We can bury some potatoes there, --the cowboys cook them thatway and they are delicious. Then with some devilled-ham sandwiches wecould sit right here and eat, and have no tiresome dishes to wash upafterwards. "

"Hear, hear!" cried Kitty and Debby. 

"It's easy to see whose turn it is to wash dishes, " laughed Amanda. 

"It's right handsome of you, Blue Bonnet, " Kitty remarked gratefully, "--especially when it wasn't your turn to officiate. I'll make thesandwiches and Debby--you get the potatoes. "

That buffet supper was later pronounced the most successful meal everprepared in _Poco Tiempo_. 

"This is truly Bohemian, " remarked Mrs. Clyde, as with a newspaper forboth plate and napkin, she joined the group about the fire, "--muchmore so than the studio-luncheons they call Bohemian in Boston. "

"Fancy anything trying to be Bohemian in Boston!" exclaimed BlueBonnet. "They haven't a thing in common. "

"They both begin with a B, " said Sarah. 

The girls were too surprised to laugh. 

"Is that a joke, Sarah?" asked Kitty in an awestruck tone. 

"Of course not, --they do, don't they?" she returned. 

As the girls collapsed at this, she looked up in puzzled surprise. "I'd like to know what's so funny about that, " she remarkedplaintively. 

"There comes Mrs. Judson, " exclaimed Debby. 

There was a hasty wiping of blackened fingers on newspaper napkins asthe girls rose to greet this unexpected guest. The little figureapproaching them seemed slighter than ever, and the gingham dressfairly trailed over the long grass. The face was hidden in theinevitable sunbonnet. 

"Hello, everybody, are you dry yet?" called a cheerful voice. 

"Carita!" exclaimed Blue Bonnet. "We thought you were your mother. "

Carita looked down at her loosely fitting garment and laughed. "I hadto wear this while my dress dried. Knight said I ought to hang out asign--'room to let. ' Mother made me wear the sunbonnet because my hairis still wet. But I said I could dry it by your fire as well asanywhere else. " She tossed away the cavernous bonnet and the chestnutlocks fell in a cloud about her shoulders. With her dark eyes and skinframed by the long straight hair she looked like a young Indian. 

"Have a potato?" asked Blue Bonnet, spearing one with a stick andpresenting it to the guest. 

"Thank you. " Carita took it as if this were the usual fashion ofserving this vegetable, and ate it with the ease born of longexperience. Suddenly she gave an exclamation. "Oh, I nearly forgot. Alec sent over something. The boys couldn't come for they've nothingto wear but blankets--they're rolled up like a lot of mummies aroundthe fire. But Alec and Knight and Sandy have been writingsomething, --I think it's a letter. "

"It's a poem!--oh, Blue Bonnet, you read it aloud. " Kitty handed overthe verses and in the flickering light they gathered close about BlueBonnet as she read:

 THE BRIDGE

 "We stood on a bridge in Texas, Near a camp far, far from town; We stood there in broad daylight, -- 'Cause there wasn't room to sit down. 

 "We posed on that bridge so rustic, To be snapped by Uncle Joe, And we smiled and looked real pleasant, Yet one heart was filled with woe. 

 "For a stream, both swift and deadly, Flowed beneath the bridgelet there, And the creaking of the timbers Gave this timid maid a scare. 

 "As sweeping eddying 'neath us The deep, dark waters rolled, She could seem to see our finish-- Dashed beneath the waters cold. 

 "Yet the bridge still held, but trembled, --Gleamed the torrent chilly, vast, -- And the weight of one Blue Bonnet Broke the camel's back at last!"

"Who did it?" cried Blue Bonnet. 

"All three helped, " said Carita. "But I think Sandy did most. "

"He must be cleverer than he looks, " said Blue Bonnet. 

"Why, don't you think he looks clever?" exclaimed Kitty, "I do. "

"It wasn't clever of him to have sandy hair, " Blue Bonnet declaredperversely. 

"As if he could help it!" said Sarah. 

"We must write a 'pome, ' too, " said Blue Bonnet. 

"We?" exclaimed Debby. "I never found two words to rhyme in all mylife. You and Kitty are the only ones who ever 'drop into poetry. '"

"The muse must be partial to red hair, " said Amanda. And though Kittysniffed insultedly at this insinuation, her bright head was soon bentover a pad beside Blue Bonnet's, and after much chewing of theirpencils and shrieks of laughter at impossible rhymes, the two of themfinally evolved the following:

 WE ARE SEVEN

 "You marvel that a simple band Of maidens, young and fair, Should linger ever on the land, Nor for the water care?

 "If you should ask in dulcet tone Why for the earth they sigh, They'll weep, they'll shriek, they'll give a groan, -- But they will answer why. 

 "'Last night we were a happy bunch, Last night about eleven--' Quoth you--'But why this sorry lot? How many members have you got?' They'll answer--'We Are Seven. '

 "'But seven are not all alive?' 'Yea, yea, thou trifling varlet, Though here we number only five, -- Two caught a fever scarlet. 

 "'And o'er us five whose courage great Brought us to far-off Texas, There seems to brood an awful fate, And trials sore to vex us. 

 "'To-day the bridge on which we stood And posed above the rippling wave, Alas! was made of rotten wood And plunged us in a watery grave. '

 "'Then ye are dead! All five are dead! Their spirits are in heaven!' 'Tis throwing words away, for still These maidens five will have their will, And answer--'We Are Seven!'"

"I wonder what Mr. Wordsworth would say to that?" said Debby, whenthis effort had been heard and elaborately praised. 

"He's dead, " remarked Sarah. Then, ignoring Debby's snicker shecontinued: "It's very good, Blue Bonnet, --but you shouldn't have saidthat two had the scarlet fever. There's only one, really. "

"Poetic license!" Kitty claimed fiercely. 

"I think you are the cleverest girls I ever heard of!" Caritaexclaimed. "I'm going to run right over with that poem--I can't waitfor the boys to see it. "

Snatching up her bonnet Carita ran back to the other camp; while thegirls, quite tired out by the excitement and varied adventures of theday, prepared to go to bed. As they neared the tents there came afamiliar sound from the direction of Camp Judson. It was the loudjangle of cowbells. 

"Do you suppose those boys are going to eat at this time of night?"asked Sarah. 

"Of course not, Sallykins, " said Debby. "Don't you understand?--that'sthe boys applauding our poets!"

CHAPTER XV

SUNDAY

"FOR once in my life, " said Blue Bonnet, with a long-drawn sigh, "I'mready for a day of rest. "

"Please don't begin to rest till you've done the dishes, " beggedKitty. 

Blue Bonnet tossed her head scornfully. "I wouldn't trouble troubletill trouble troubles you, Kitty-Kat. If you can go to church with asclear a conscience as mine, I'll take off my hat to you. One lapsedoesn't make a sinner!"

"One?" Kitty echoed, and would have continued scathingly had not Sarahinterrupted with--

"I don't see how we can go to church with such looking clothes. "

"Sarah's regretting the white piqué skirt you wouldn't let her bring, "said Kitty. 

"Why, Sarah, " Blue Bonnet turned a pained look on the serious youngperson, "I would never have believed you would be one to stay awayfrom church for lack of an Easter bonnet. "

"I didn't mention Easter--nor bonnets either, " Sarah declaredindignantly. "The idea, --to hear you girls talk any one would think Iwas completely wrapped up in clothes!"

"Everybody is, you know--except savages, " returned Blue Bonnet. 

Sarah's expression at this caused Mrs. Clyde to rise hurriedly andvanish within her tent. Freed from this restraint Kitty went onwickedly:

"Anyway, Dr. Judson has been a missionary in Africa and I'm sure he'dexcuse you if--"

Sarah left the table with great dignity, leaving the other girls weakwith laughter. 

Carita appeared a little later with her denim dress looking fresh, clean, and wrinkleless. 

"It looks as if it had just been ironed, " Sarah silently commented. When Mrs. Clyde called to the girls that it was time to go over toCamp Judson, Miss Blake was nowhere to be found. 

The church service was held in the "Druid's Grove, " a place of mingledshade and sunshine, where a little tumbling creek was the onlyaccompaniment to the hymns, and the birds trilled an obligato. An oldtree-stump served as pulpit, and here Dr. Judson talked rather thanpreached to his youthful congregation. 

Blue Bonnet, listening to him, unconsciously let her eyes wander, asthey always did in the church at Woodford, in search of the memorialwindow 'Sacred to the memory of Elizabeth Clyde Ashe' that wasinseparably linked in her mind with religious service. Instead of thefigure of the Good Shepherd with the lamb in his arms, the branches ofthe live oaks here formed a Gothic arch, in the shadow of which satMrs. Judson with little Joe asleep on her lap. The look on themother's face was full of the same brooding tenderness that the artisthad given to the eyes of the Shepherd of Old. 

When they rose to sing, the young voices rang out clear and joyous, quite unlike the droning that too often passes for singing in agrown-up congregation. 

 "Bright youth and snow-crowned age, Strong men and maidens meek: Raise high your free, exulting song! God's wondrous praises speak!

 "With all the angel choirs, With all the saints of earth, Pour out the strains of joy and bliss, True rapture, noblest mirth!"

The stirring verses, sung with a will by every one, seemed to soar tothe very tree-tops, making the branches sway with the rhythm andspirit of the hymn. 

Blue Bonnet heaved a sigh of regret as they rose to leave the grove. "It's so sweet, --I wish it could last all day. "

"I don't remember ever having heard you make a remark like that aboutchurch before, " remarked Kitty. 

"I don't care much for anything that's held indoors, " Blue Bonnetconfessed. "And I don't like preachers who make their voices soundlike the long-stop on an organ. Now that last hymn we sang makes mefairly bubble inside. "

"Don't let Sarah hear you say that. She seems to think one ought todraw a long face on the Sabbath, --a sort of 'world-without-end'expression, you know. I believe she thinks it almost wicked to behappy on Sunday. "

"Well, Sarah may be as blue as she likes, --this is the kind of a daythat makes me feel bright pink!"

"Where is Sarah, anyway?" asked Kitty. "I haven't seen her sincebreakfast. Surely she didn't miss the service?"

"No, I saw her sitting by a big tree 'way at the back, " said Amanda. 

"It isn't like Sarah to take a back seat--at church, " remarked BlueBonnet. "I believe she must be cross because we teased her thismorning. "

Grandmother and Sarah were already deep in preparations for dinnerwhen the others straggled into camp. The well-cooked meal of muffins, fried ham, potatoes and stewed dried fruit they served met withvisible as well as audible approval. 

"Picnic lunches are more fun, but this kind of a meal ismore--filling, " said Blue Bonnet. "Let's eat all we can now and havejust bread and milk for supper--we've two cans of fresh milk in thecreek. "

"Blue Bonnet seems to have developed a sudden liking for 'jarringnotes, ' doesn't she, girls?" asked Kitty. 

When dinner was done and the dishes washed, they all sought thebuck-board seats in the lounging room. 

"If we only had a book now, it would be fine to have Grandmother readaloud, " remarked Blue Bonnet. 

"You wouldn't let Sarah bring any books, " Amanda reminded her. 

"Nevertheless, methinks Sarah looks as if she had one up her sleeve, "said Debby. 

"Not up my sleeve, " Sarah confessed, "--but in my bag. I'll go getit, --it's 'Don Quixote, ' in Spanish and English both. "

"Did you bring the drawn-work, too?" asked Kitty. "My, Sarah, but youare a first-rate smuggler!"

"Now that suspicion has raised its snaky head, I'd like to know--whyis Sarah, long after the dishes are done, still wearing that apron?"Blue Bonnet had sent a random shot, but to her surprise Sarah flushedto the roots of her blond hair. 

She rose hastily to go in search of "Don Quixote, " but the other girlswere too quick for her. They pitilessly tore the shielding apron fromher shoulders, and the newly sponged and pressed middy jacket andkhaki skirt stood revealed in all their guilty freshness. 

"They've been ironed!" gasped Kitty. 

"What do you think of that for selfishness, --not to let a soul knowshe had an iron?" demanded Debby. 

"I got it over at Mrs. Judson's. And none of you said you wanted aniron, " said Sarah. 

"And do you mean to say that our Sarah, daughter of the ReverendSamuel Blake, wilfully broke the Sabbath by ironing?" Concentratedhorror appeared on Kitty's saucy countenance. 

"She probably thinks 'the better the day the better the deed, '" saidBlue Bonnet. 

"If Mrs. Judson could press Carita's dress, I don't see that it wasany worse for me to press mine, " Sarah protested. "I'm used to lookingrespectable at church. "

"It's no wonder you refused to sit by so unrespectable a crowd as therest of us!" exclaimed Blue Bonnet. 

Mrs. Clyde was laughing inwardly, but she came to the aid of theunhappy Sarah. 

"I think good nature has ceased to be a virtue, Sarah, " she declared. "Hereafter you have my permission to resort to violence if necessaryto protect yourself. Quiet down, girls, --remember it is Sunday. "

Much relieved, Sarah brought forth the contraband book and the longpeaceful afternoon was spent in listening to the various mishaps thatbefell the valiant Don and his faithful Sancho Panza. 

"If it weren't for setting a dangerous precedent, I'd tell Sarah howglad we all are that she defied the authorities and did somesmuggling, " remarked Kitty. She and Debby had gone to the creek tobring up the milk for supper, and now made a pretty picture as theycame up the willow-grown path, bearing the tall cans. 

"You look like somebody-or-other at the well, " Blue Bonnet declared asKitty came into sight. 

"Are you sure you don't mean thing-a-ma-bob?" laughed Kitty. "If youmean Rebecca, I don't agree with you. I'll wager Rebecca never wore amiddy blouse or carried a tin milk-can!"

That evening the inmates of both camps again sat about a big bonfire. But this time the frolics and rollicking airs had given way to adecorous singing of patriotic songs, stirring hymns and a pleasant"sermonette" by the pastor of this youthful flock. 

Long after this Sunday was past, Blue Bonnet remembered it as one ofthe sweetest Sabbaths she had ever spent; and she could never decidejust what part of the day she had liked most, --the hour in the Druid'sGrove; the afternoon when Grandmother with her pleasant voice had readaloud from "Don Quixote;" or the evening, when they sat about theglowing logs, alternately singing, and listening to Dr. Judson. 

"I'm going to ask Sandy to recite, " Knight whispered to her as therefell a silence. 

"Get him to do 'The Bridge!'" Blue Bonnet said with dancing eyes. 

"I'm sure he'd rather do 'We are Seven, '" he replied, laughing. 

"I wish he'd recite the 'Hymn of the Alamo, '" said Alec, who hadoverheard the conversation. "Ask him to, Knight, --he'll do anythingfor you, and that's a fine poem. "

"Alec wrote an essay on the Alamo, " Blue Bonnet explained to Knight, "and it won a prize--the Sargent prize--in our school this year. "

Alec squirmed with a boyish dislike of hearing himself praised; butKnight slapped him on the shoulder enthusiastically. 

"Bully for you, old chap! Tell the fellows the story of the Alamo, will you? Uncle Bayard likes them to hear historical things likethat--can't hear them too often. "

Alec looked horrified at the idea, but Blue Bonnet joined Knight inurging him. "You tell the story of the fight and maybe Sandy willfinish with the Hymn. "

Sandy promising to do his part, Alec finally yielded. Sinking far backin the shadow where his face could not be seen by any of the greatcircle of listeners, and his voice came out of the blackness with adecided tremor in it, the boy told, and told well, the story of thefrontier riflemen in their struggle for the liberation of Texas fromthe yoke of the Mexican dictator. 

How the Texas lads thrilled at the recital of heroism, and thrilled atthe mention of such names as Travis and Crockett! It was not a newtale; not a boy there but knew the story of that handful of men--lessthan two hundred of them--who, barricading themselves within the Alamofortress, for ten days defied the Mexicans, over four thousand strong;only to be massacred to a man in the final heartrending fall. 

Alec's voice lost its tremor and ended with a patriotic ring that madeBlue Bonnet glow with pride--pride in the heroes he told of, and inthe friend who told of them. 

"It just needs Colonel Potter's poem to add the right climax to thatbit of history, " Dr. Judson declared; and Sandy stood up at once. 

Sandy was used to "talking on his feet;" and he stood in an easyposture, tossing his light reddish hair back from his broad forehead, and with one hand resting lightly on the alpenstock he had beencarving for Blue Bonnet. 

Listening to him, Blue Bonnet lost all her early prejudice against theclever lad, and responding to the unbounded enthusiasm and the trueorator's ring in the boyish voice, thrilled warmly to the spirit ofthe lines:

 HYMN OF THE ALAMO

 "Arise! Man the wall--our clarion blast Now sounds its final reveille, -- This dawning morn must be the last Our fated band shall ever see. To life, but not to hope, farewell; Yon trumpet's clang and cannon's peal, And storming shout and clash of steel Is _ours_, --but not our country's knell. Welcome the Spartan's death! 'Tis no despairing strife-- We fall, we die--but our expiring breath Is freedom's breath of life!

 "Here, on this new Thermopylae, Our monument shall tower on high, And 'Alamo' hereafter be On bloodier fields the battle-cry!" Thus Travis from the rampart cried; And when his warriors saw the foe Like whelming billows surge below, -- At once each dauntless heart replied: "Welcome the Spartan's death! 'Tis no despairing strife-- We fall--but our expiring breath Is freedom's breath of life!"

As Sandy resumed his seat amid a hush that was a greater tribute thanapplause, Blue Bonnet turned to Knight with glowing eyes. 

"And to think those brave fellows did all that for Texas! Aren't youproud to belong to this state?"

"You'd better believe I am!"

"We've had some heroes in Massachusetts, " Alec reminded them. 

"And they were all _Americans_--and so are we. " Knight's bigger way oflooking at the matter settled what threatened to grow into anargument. 

"That Sandy boy's a wonder, " Blue Bonnet exclaimed. "I take back everyuncomplimentary remark I ever made about him. Appearances are sodeceiving. "

"'All that glitters isn't gold, '" said Knight, looking like his uncleas he gravely quoted this ancient maxim. 

"It's a pity it isn't, --Sandy would be a millionaire with that hair ofhis!" Blue Bonnet laughed. 

"I mean 'handsome is as handsome does, '" said Knight, "--that isn'tquite so dangerous a quotation. I expect to see Sandy President someday, or at least a senator. "

"Can't you imagine the newspaper headings: 'Senator Red-top ofTexas'--?" laughed Blue Bonnet. 

"He's hoping to go East to college this fall, " Knight remarked moreseriously. 

"It's queer, " said Alec, "how all the Western boys long to go East andall the Eastern fellows think they're just made if they can comeWest. I'd like to trade him my chance at Harvard for his health andstrength. "

"Can't you arrange that trifling exchange for Alec?" Blue Bonnet askedKnight. 

He shook his head. "Sandy won't take anybody's chances, --he's the sortthat makes his own. "

"Some of us aren't allowed to. "

Alec's voice had suddenly grown moody, and Blue Bonnet thought it timeto change the subject. In a moment her clear, sweet voice was leadingthe rest in "The Flag without a Stain. "

"How do you like a Texas Sunday?" Blue Bonnet found herself besideSarah as they walked back to _Poco Tiempo_, and put the questionrather mischievously. 

"It's been very nice, most of it, " Sarah returned in a stiff manner, very unlike her usual one. 

"What part didn't you like?"

Sarah made sure that the others were not listening, then answered in atone Blue Bonnet had never heard from her before:

"I didn't like being made to feel that whatever I do is the wrongthing. I never seem to please you any more, Blue Bonnet. "

"Why, Sarah!" Blue Bonnet stopped still and gazed at Sarah inconsternation. Sarah paused, too, and in the faint rays from the firethe two girls looked at each other steadily for a moment withoutspeaking. Finally Blue Bonnet blurted out:

"I wish you'd tell me just what you mean. "

"I mean that I've come to the conclusion that I should have stayed inWoodford. I don't seem to fit in here. " Sarah's voice shook a little. 

"Sarah!" was still all Blue Bonnet could stammer. It was all so suddenand unexpected; a bolt from a clear sky. 

"Please don't think I'm thin-skinned and can't stand a littleteasing, " Sarah continued, "for I'm sure I can--I always have had to. But lately I haven't said a thing that hasn't made one or other of you'hoot' as Kitty says. And everything I've wanted to do you've thoughtridiculous. Lately the boys have begun to laugh at me; even those Ihardly know. "

This time Blue Bonnet said nothing; she was overcome by the thoughtthat all Sarah had said was quite true. She hastily reviewed the pastfew weeks, and as one by one she remembered various incidents, theforce of Sarah's complaints struck her anew. 

Kitty's dare and that wild ride; the ban put upon Sarah's Spanishbooks and the much-loved drawn-work; and, lately, the almost concertedeffort of all of them to convert everything Sarah said and did intosomething unwarranted and absurd. By the time Blue Bonnet had reachedher own action of that very morning in tearing the apron forciblyfrom Sarah's shoulders, she was dumb with shame. This was the way shehad rewarded her friend for a loyalty that had been unswerving throughall that dreadful week in Woodford, when the other girls had sent herto Coventry; for all her sweet thoughtfulness that had proved itselfunfailing!

She suddenly threw her arms impulsively around Sarah's shoulders andfaced her squarely. 

"I've been downright horrid, " she said earnestly. "And a rude, selfishhostess. I haven't any right to expect you to forgive me, Sarah, dear, but if you can find it in your heart to give another chance, I'll showyou I can and will be different. "

"It isn't serious enough to talk of forgiveness, " Sarah said in herhonest, straightforward way. "All I want to know is, that you'renot--sorry--I came. "

"Sarah, don't say that! You make me hate myself!" Blue Bonnet shookher almost fiercely. "You mustn't think it either. I'm glad, glad, glad you came! I've meant you to know it, and I've wanted you to havea splendid time, and here all the while--" she stopped and swallowedhard. 

Sarah's face lighted up happily and she did what was for her anunprecedented thing, --she drew Blue Bonnet to her and gave her ahearty hug. 

"That's all I wanted to know, " she said. "Please don't imagine Ihaven't enjoyed myself, Blue Bonnet. It's been the most wonderfulvisit! I'm queer, I know, but I can't help liking the things I like, and if only the girls would stop trying to make me over--"

"I'll make them!" Blue Bonnet declared; and at this threat they bothlaughed, and the storm was over. 

CHAPTER XVI

THE LOST SHEEP

"OH, Carita, do you really have to go to-day?" Genuine regret was inBlue Bonnet's eyes and tone. 

Carita sighed. 

"Yes, Grandfather expects us back at the farm to-night, and Mothernever disappoints him. He's getting old and she doesn't like to leavehim alone much. We may come up again before the summer isover, --Father has to be here for several weeks yet. "

"But we'll be gone, --we're to leave on Wednesday, you know. Did everdays fly so before? I haven't seen half enough of you, Carita. "

"You seem to belong to so many people, " Carita said rather wistfully, "I've been afraid to claim too much of your time. But there are othersummers. Maybe when you come back from the East next year you can cometo the farm, --it isn't much of a journey on the cars. "

Blue Bonnet lost herself a moment in reflection. "When she came backfrom the East"--why, she hadn't even decided that she was going Eastagain--yet. 

"And you can come to see me--at the Blue Bonnet ranch, " she said. 

Carita shook her head. 

"Railroad fares are pretty high. We have to be very careful sinceFather lost his health. That's why we came back from India, you know. The doctors said that this climate was best for his trouble, and whenGrandfather offered us a home on the farm we were so glad. ButFather's not having a church--only once in a while when he fills apulpit for a few weeks at a time--keeps us a little short. I reckonyou don't know much about--being short. You have everything you want, don't you?"

"Everybody seems to think that; they forget that I haven't a mother orfather--or any brothers and sisters, " Blue Bonnet said very simply. 

Carita threw her arms impulsively about her friend and gave her a warmkiss. "How mean of me to forget! I wish you were my sister. Boys don'talways understand. But you have so many people to love you, you can'tever get lonesome. And having lots of money must be so nice, and to goaway to school, and have pretty clothes and go to parties and travel, why--" Carita's breath failed her. 

"I ought to be mighty thankful. And I am most of the time, " BlueBonnet replied. "But the people who love you always expect a greatdeal of you, and it's very hard to live up to their expectations. Besides, going to school isn't all fun, I can tell you. "

"I wouldn't care if it weren't all fun, if I could only go. Fatherteaches me at home, but we have so many interruptions. There aredishes to wash, babies to mind, Grandfather to wait upon, till neitherof us knows whether we're doing arithmetic or grammar. " Carita rose. "I must hurry back to camp--Mother's packing. "

"You never forget what's expected of you, do you?" Blue Bonnet asked, with a mixture of wonder and admiration. 

"It wouldn't do for me to forget, --I'm the eldest, you know. Motherdepends on me. " Carita spoke as though it were the most natural thingin the world for a fourteen-year-old girl to be "depended upon. "

"Nobody ever depends on me--for a very good reason!" Blue Bonnetlaughed. "Somehow it's so much easier for me to forget than toremember. It's the only thing I do with shining success. "

"You'll learn to be responsible when you have children of your own, "Carita said as sagely as if she were forty instead of fourteen. 

Blue Bonnet's eyes shone. 

"I'm going to have a whole dozen!" she declared. 

"I wouldn't, if I were you--it would be so hard on the eldest, " Caritareminded her. 

And Blue Bonnet, noticing the care-worn look in the eyes of her"missionary girl, " decided that being the eldest of a big family mighthave its disadvantages. 

"Grandmother, I wish there were something I could do for Carita, " shesaid later that morning, as she and Mrs. Clyde found themselves alone. 

"You have already done a great deal for her, " her grandmotherremarked. "Mrs. Judson has told me how much your letters and presentshave meant to Carita. "

"But that was so little, --and it was just fun for me. She has all workand no play, and I don't think it's fair. "

"Perhaps you can do something for her, later on. But you must becareful how you assume responsibilities, Blue Bonnet. You seem to havetaken upon yourself a great many already. "

"What ones?" Blue Bonnet questioned in surprise. 

"In the first place--you've me!" Grandmother smiled. 

"That's so, --I'm responsible to Aunt Lucinda for you. And whatothers?"

"How about the We are Sevens whom you've brought so far away fromtheir homes? And Alec?"

Blue Bonnet's eyes opened. 

"I hadn't thought of them in that way. But I reckon you're right. Andthere's Solomon, too. "

Grandmother's mouth twitched. "You must be sure you can do your fullduty by the responsibilities you have before you assume new ones. "

Blue Bonnet looked very serious. "Seems to me life has a heap ofcomplications. Now there's Alec, --he's worse than a complication. He'sa downright puzzle. "

"Has he said anything more about his trouble?" Mrs. Clyde asked. 

"Just hints. But they sound as if he were hiding something pretty bad. Sometimes I wish he would come right out with it, and then again, I'mafraid. If he keeps on looking dark and broody every time theconversation turns on the subject of health, I'm going to write theGeneral about it. I think _that's_ my duty. "

"But Alec looks wonderfully well, bigger, broader and better in everyway than when he left Woodford, " Mrs. Clyde insisted. 

"I know he does. But when I remarked to Knight how well Alec looked, and said I thought he ought to get rid of his foolish notion abouthimself now, Knight looked queer and asked, 'Do you think it a foolishnotion? I think he's dead right. ' And Knight's a sensible boy andwouldn't say that unless he thought so. "

Mrs. Clyde's eyes reflected Blue Bonnet's look of perplexity. "Haveyou talked with your uncle about him?"

"No. Just after I talked with you Alec asked me not to mention thematter to any one else. That shuts out Uncle Cliff. I'm sorry, for I'msure he'd suggest the right thing. There comes Miguel with the horses. You don't mind our riding a little way with the Judsons do you?They're nearly ready to start. "

"No, so long as you are back for lunch, " said her grandmother. 

The boys had all gone hunting early that morning, and only the girlsof _Poco Tiempo_ were on hand to escort the departing guests. Mrs. Clyde said good-bye to Mrs. Judson with genuine regret, and kissed allthe small Judsons warmly at parting. 

The whole family was packed into the two seats of the heavyfarm-wagon, the mother driving with one of the boys beside her; Caritain the back seat holding Joe and, at the same time, keeping a watchfuleye on the two lively youngsters by her side. Bedding and campequipment were heaped high in the wagon-box. 

"You look like a picture of 'Crossing the Plains, '" Blue Bonnetexclaimed. 

"Play you're the Injuns going to scalp us!" begged Carita's brotherHarry, his big dark eyes shining with eagerness. 

Blue Bonnet gave a shrill "Ho, ye ho, ho!" that passed for awar-whoop, and in a minute they were all off, the farm horses ratherstartled at the carryings-on; the small boys wild with excitement; andthe We are Sevens tearing madly down the road "ki-yi-ing" at the topof their voices. 

Mrs. Clyde turned with a smile to Dr. Judson, who stood looking ratheramazedly after his departing family. "Blue Bonnet is alternately fiveand fifteen, " she remarked. 

"She is decidedly refreshing, " he returned. "I hope you will try tokeep her a child as long as possible. "

"I don't need to try!" she replied with a laugh. 

The parting between the "emigrants" and the Indians was not such ashistory records of leave-takings between these sworn enemies. Caritahad to wink hard to keep back the tears when she said good-bye to BlueBonnet, and the little Judsons set up a loud wail when their formerpursuers waved them farewell. 

"It's a shame Carita has to go back and slave on that old farm, " BlueBonnet declared, as she looked after the little figure holding on tothe baby with one hand and waving her handkerchief in the other. 

"It seems selfish of us to be having a whole summer of fun when she'sonly had two or three days, " said Sarah. 

"Sarah talks as if it's downright wicked for any of us to be having agood time, " Kitty retorted. "Maybe you think one of us ought to changeplaces with Carita?" she challenged Sarah. 

"Sarah is the only one of us that's unselfish enough to do such athing!" Blue Bonnet exclaimed warmly; and Sarah sent her a gratefulglance. 

They were in a part of the country that Blue Bonnet called "the otherside of the hills, "--a land of sheep-ranches, for the most part;rather barren and level, unlike the rolling green prairie of thecattle-country she loved. They could see the Judson's wagon windingits way across the plain, until only a blur of dust marked its coursetowards the horizon. 

"Let's hurry, " said Blue Bonnet, "I promised Grandmother we'd surelybe back for lunch. "

"It isn't your turn to cook, is it?" asked Kitty. 

"No, --it's my turn to eat!" And Blue Bonnet, urging Firefly, was offat a lively clip towards camp. 

"Please stop, Blue Bonnet, " panted Kitty after a few minutes of thissort of going. "I've a dreadful pain in my side. "

Blue Bonnet good-naturedly fell back with her, and the rest swept pastthem with a chorus of taunts for being "quitters. " Both girls lookedafter Comanche and his rider with something like wonder in their eyes. Sarah was riding like a veteran; it was plain that she and Comancheunderstood each other at last. 

"Sarah's coming on, isn't she?" said Kitty. 

"Coming?--I think she's arrived!" Blue Bonnet exclaimed. 

"She can thank me for picking out Comanche for her, " remarked Kitty;she preferred herself to be the object of Blue Bonnet's approbationand could not be roused to much enthusiasm on Sarah's account. 

"Considering your motive, Kitty-Kat, I'm not so sure Sarah owes youany gratitude, " laughed Blue Bonnet. Suddenly she gave an exclamation. "Why, there's a lamb, --I wonder if it's dead. "

"Where?" asked Kitty. 

Blue Bonnet pointed to a spot some distance off the road, but Kitty'scity-bred eyes could make out nothing. Just then there came a feeblebleat, and in a second Blue Bonnet had slipped from the saddle andhanded the reins to Kitty. 

"Hold Firefly a minute, please. That _is_ a lamb!"

Kitty obediently held the unwilling Firefly, while Blue Bonnet hurriedin the direction of the bleat. A moment later she stooped, and whenshe straightened up, there was a small woolly object in her arms. 

"It's too little to travel and the mean old mother's gone off withthe flock, " Blue Bonnet said, coming up with the deserted baby. 

"What are you going to do with it?" demanded Kitty helplessly. 

"I'm going to find the flock. It's been driven along here and insidethat fence. I'm going to let down the bars and cross the field. Yousee the little shanty over there?--I believe there must be a shepherdsomewhere about, and I'll give him the lamb. He isn't a very goodshepherd or he'd have been looking out for poor little lambs. Shadyused to herd sheep and he's told me lots about it. "

"And what shall I do?" asked Kitty. "I'm afraid to hold Firefly, --henearly pulls me off the saddle. "

"Then tie both horses to the bars here and help me with the lamb. "

Kitty offered no protest. This was so like Blue Bonnet. It was alwaysa stray dog or a lost baby, or an old woman at the poor-house thatenlisted her ready sympathy; Kitty ran over a long list in her mind. Of course it had to be a lost lamb or a calf in Texas; the wonder wasthere hadn't been more of them. 

Hastily tying both ponies to a fence-post with a scrambling knot ofthe reins that would have brought down Blue Bonnet's wrath upon herhapless head, Kitty hastened across the close-cropped meadow. Itseemed to her they trudged miles, taking turns carrying the lamb, before they reached the little shack. A stupid young fellow, half-asleep, lay sprawled in the shade. 

"Here's a lamb we found by the road, " said Blue Bonnet, proffering herwoolly burden. 

Without uttering a word the sleepy youth took the lamb from her; butBlue Bonnet, observing his manner of handling it, saw that he was wisein the ways of sheep, and she was content to leave her charge withhim. 

"Flock's over there, " he said at length, pointing vaguely with histhumb. 

"All right. Come on, Kitty. " As they turned away she said in anundertone: "Shady says the herders are alone so much they almostforget how to talk. "

"He's evidently forgotten how to say 'thank you, '" Kitty said crossly. "Why, Blue Bonnet--where are the horses?"

"You ought to know. Where did you tie them?"

Kitty's startled eyes rested on the post beside the bars. "To thatpost there. Oh, Blue Bonnet, some one must have stolen them!"

"Stolen? Who'd steal them, I'd like to know? This comes, Kitty Clark, of letting you hitch a horse!" Blue Bonnet was straining her eyes fora sight of the runaways. 

"This comes, Blue Bonnet Ashe, of following you on every wild-goosechase you choose to lead me!" Cross, tired and out of patience, Kittyflared up in one of her sudden outbursts, and Blue Bonnet took fire atonce. 

"If you think I'm going to let a poor creature starve to death ratherthan disturb your comfort, you're much mistaken!" An angry glancepassed between them. 

Sarah, the pacifier, was several miles away by this time; and even shewould have felt her resources sorely taxed to meet this emergency. Miles from camp and no horses!

Kitty stalked into the road and started to walk, holding her head highand swinging her arms as though _she_ didn't mind a little matter offive or six miles. Blue Bonnet, with the training of a lifetime, stopped to put up the bars before setting out on the long tramp. Itwas already noon and the sun glared down, unbearably hot. Before shehad gone a mile Blue Bonnet looked about for a mesquite bush, andfinding one sank down in its shade. Kitty kept doggedly on. 

"Oh, Kitty!" Blue Bonnet called after her. "I've heard of people whohadn't sense enough to come in out of the rain, and I think it's aheap sillier not to have sense enough to come in out of the sun!"

Kitty wavered; and was lost. Turning back she threw herself besideBlue Bonnet with a groan. 

"My feet are one big blister, " she moaned, her anger swallowed up inthe anguish of the moment. 

"We can't possibly walk, " said Blue Bonnet. "And I've an idea. If thatcloud of dust I saw on the road towards camp was Firefly andRowdy--and it probably was--the girls will soon be after us. "

And so it proved; except that it was Alec and Knight instead of thegirls who came riding furiously down the road in search of them. WhenAlec heard Blue Bonnet's ranch-call he threw his hat in the air with awhoop of relief. 

"We've been looking for your mangled remains all along the way, " hedeclared, as they reached the girls. "We had the fright of our liveswhen Firefly and Rowdy came trotting into camp minus their riders. "

"You thought we'd been thrown?" Blue Bonnet asked. 

"I would have thought so if there had been only one, but it didn'tseem likely that both of you could have come a cropper, " Knightreplied. 

"Is Grandmother worried?" Blue Bonnet asked hastily. 

"She doesn't know. The girls didn't tell her anything except that youand Kitty had loafed along the way. She didn't see the horses. Butwe'd better hurry back. "

Each boy had led one of the errant ponies, and now the girls mountedand lost no time in getting back to camp. 

"I'm so sorry--" Blue Bonnet began to speak as soon as she came withinsight of her grandmother, "--I didn't mean to be so late. "

"I can't quite understand, Blue Bonnet, why you and Kitty could notcome back with the other girls. It is long past noon. " Mrs. Clyde hadbeen worried, and required more of an explanation than an apology. Blue Bonnet's tired face and dusty, dishevelled clothes spokeeloquently of adventure. 

"I stopped to pick up a lamb, --its mother had gone on with the flockand left it to starve. Shady says lots of sheep don't care about theirchildren. That's why he likes beef-critters best, --cows always makegood mothers. And Kitty and I found the shepherd and gave him the lambto take care of. "

The annoyance faded from Grandmother's face and her eyes softened. 

Uncle Joe, who had been an interested listener, spoke up--"Say, Honey, why didn't you bring the lamb home?--fresh meat is just what we'vebeen needing. "

"Uncle Joe!" Horror rang in Blue Bonnet's voice. "Do you think I'dhave eaten that poor little darling?"

He scratched a puzzled head. "Why seems like I've known you to eatnice young roast lamb, Blue Bonnet. "

"That's different, " she insisted. 

"The only acquaintances Blue Bonnet is willing to have roasted are herfriends!" said Kitty; and Blue Bonnet generously let her have the lastword. 

CHAPTER XVII

SECRETS

"THERE'S only one thing nicer than going camping, " Blue Bonnetdeclared. 

Her grandmother looked up. "And that is--?"

"Getting home again!" Blue Bonnet laughed happily. 

They were in sight of the ranch-house now, and could see the girls andAlec dismounting at the veranda steps. Don and Solomon leapingexcitedly about the group, suddenly caught sight of the approachingbuckboard and raced madly to meet their mistress. Even the horsesseemed glad to be home again and tired as they were with the longday's travel broke into a trot. 

Benita's brown face beamed at them from the doorway, and over hershoulder peered Juanita, with eyes only for Miguel. 

Kitty had sunk immediately into one of the deep veranda chairs. 

"I had to see how it feels to sit in a real live chair with a backonce more, " she explained. "And next I want to look at myself in amirror that's more than three inches square; and have a drink out ofa glass tumbler; and put on a clean white, fluffy dress!"

They each did all these things as eagerly as if they had been maroonedon a desert island for many months; even Grandmother Clyde wearingfresh white linen, and Alec, for the first time on the ranch appearingin a starched shirt. Whereupon the girls broke into deafeningapplause. 

"Letters, letters for everybody!" cried Blue Bonnet bursting into theliving-room with a great bundle of mail. "Three for you and one forme, Grandmother, --postmarked Turino. Heaps for you, Kitty, ditto forSarah, Amanda, Debby, Alec, --all Woodford must have joined in around-robin. Hurry and read them and then everybody swap news!"

A long silence ensued, as profound as it was rare, while each girlpored over the precious home letters. It was Kitty who looked upfirst. 

"Susy didn't catch the fever, --and Ruth's all over it. And she's hadto have all her hair cut off, and she's dreadfully thin and doesn'tseem to get her strength back as she should, Father says. He thinksshe has fretted over having to miss the ranch party, --and nowonder!--it would simply have killed me. Susy's been a regular trumpand hasn't complained a bit, but every one knows it's been a dreadfuldisappointment, especially when she was perfectly well and could havecome if it hadn't been for Ruth. "

"It's a downright shame!" Blue Bonnet declared. 

"Father says if Ruth doesn't feel better soon she'll probably have tostay out of school this fall, " Kitty continued. 

"Then I should say she hadn't suffered in vain, " exclaimed BlueBonnet; Grandmother was deep in her letters. 

"But think how mean it would be to have one of the We are Sevens outof school. You know how you love to 'have things complete, '" Amandareminded her. 

"Yes, but--" she began; then feeling her grandmother's eyes upon her, failed to finish. It was odd how the girls took it for granted thatshe was going back with them. And she was not at all sure, herself. 

The girls had not noticed her hesitation, and were already exchangingother bits of home news and gossip. Alec alone was silent. BlueBonnet, stealing a look at him saw that he had finished his lettersand was staring moodily out of the window, unmindful of all the gaychatter about him. 

"Did you get bad news, Alec?" she asked him, later that evening, as heaccompanied her to the stable to see Texas and Massachusetts. 

"That depends on the way you look at it. Boyd is coming back fromEurope to take the West Point examinations--"

Blue Bonnet smothered an exclamation: she had seen that coming. 

"--and Grandfather says that since the Army seems out of the questionfor me, he thinks I had better hurry home and take the Harvard exams. He seems set on it. "

"And you don't want to?"

"It isn't to be thought of. " Alec's mouth was very determined. 

Now why, if West Point was disposed of, could he not take the nextbest--or in her opinion the very best--thing that offered? It was onthe point of Blue Bonnet's tongue to put the question, when Alec spokeagain. 

"I've been putting off writing Grandfather, --what I told you a whileago, --thinking I might feel different after a time. But I'm moreconvinced than ever now. I had a long talk with Knight's friend 'Doc'Abbott, and he gave me a thorough going over, as he called it--"

"And what did he say?"

"He agrees with me, absolutely. There's no Harvard or any othercollege for Alec Trent--"

"Oh, Alec!" Blue Bonnet was trembling. To hide it she bent and pickedup little Texas, stroking one of his silky ears. The coyotes had beenplaced in the empty rabbit-hutch, and were growing prodigiously. 

"Well, it's better to know the truth and face it, isn't it?" Alecasked, as if rather resenting her tone. 

"Yes, but--I can't see how you can speak so lightly about it. It's sodreadfully--serious. "

"Lightly?" echoed Alec. "You're mistaken, Blue Bonnet. I know it's amighty serious business for me. Why, if I could view it lightly, Icould sit down and write Grandfather about it this very minute--"

"Well, if you don't, I'm going to!" she declared. 

"Will you? Oh, Blue Bonnet, that's just what I've been hoping you'ddo!" The relief in Alec's tone was unmistakable. "He's mighty fond ofyou, and I'm sure he'd consider that it came better from you than fromme. And it will be a lot easier for you to do it, under thecircumstances. "

Easier! Blue Bonnet bent hastily and put Texas back in the bunny-houseso that Alec might not see her face. If he had not been absorbed inhis own thoughts he must have seen what a shock his words had been toher. It was so unlike Alec to put upon a girl a task he felt too hardfor himself, --a sort of cowardice of which she would never havebelieved him capable. It took her some seconds to steady her voicebefore she could answer:

"I'll write to-morrow. "

"You're a trump, Blue Bonnet! I seem to get deeper and deeper intoyour debt, " he said earnestly. 

Blue Bonnet fastened the little door of the rabbit-hutch, leavingTexas and Massachusetts to one of their frequent naps, and then walkedback to the house in silence. Alec, observing her, believed her to becomposing her letter to the General. 

"The first of August to-day, just think how our summer is flying!"remarked Amanda next morning. 

"Just three weeks to Blue Bonnet's birthday, " said Sarah, who wasengaged in making some mental calculations. 

"Sixteen! Just think how old I'm getting!" Blue Bonnet's smile showedher not at all depressed at the prospect. 

Uncle Joe cleared his throat gruffly. Why on earth did everybody keepharping on Blue Bonnet's growing up?

"I reckon you'll be having some howling celebration?" he asked rathercrossly. 

"You wager we will!" Uncle Cliff replied, all the more cheerfullybecause he guessed the reason for Uncle Joe's irritation. "A sixteenthbirthday only comes once in a lifetime. "

Mrs. Clyde, feeling an unusual sympathy with Uncle Joe, was silent. 

"We must have some sort of a party that's--different, " exclaimed BlueBonnet. 

"Everything's different in Texas, " Sarah remarked, and the usual laughfollowed. 

"We can't have a dance without any boys, " Blue Bonnet reflected. 

"No boys?" exclaimed Uncle Joe, with a return of his twinkle, "Well, for a ranch that keeps a baker's dozen of cowboys--"

"All Mexicans except Sandy and Pete!" exclaimed Blue Bonnetscornfully. 

"I'll agree to furnish a boy apiece for the festive occasion, " saidUncle Cliff; and Blue Bonnet, exchanging a glance with him, knew hewas nursing a well-laid scheme. "Now, listen, " he continued. "I'vebeen thinking over this thing--had time to think this last week!--andI've got it all figured out. My idea is to have an all-day affair, areal old-fashioned Spanish tournament. "

Blue Bonnet clapped her hands. "Oh, Uncle Cliff, you do think of themost glorious things!"

"In the morning, " Uncle Cliff went on, "we could have a steer-ropingcontest--the Mexicans adore that--and Señorita Ashe bestow the prizes. And then--"

"Some bronco-busting, " suggested Uncle Joe. Blue Bonnet turned paleand Uncle Cliff kicked his foreman under the table. 

"None of that, " he said briefly. "Too crude for our select company. "

"A bull-fight, then, " Uncle Joe persisted, "--that's Spanish, and themost seeleck ladies adore the ring. "

"Oh, no!" cried Blue Bonnet, before she caught the gleam of mischiefin the speaker's eye. 

"We might have some races in the pasture, " Alec suggested. 

"Sure!" exclaimed Uncle Cliff. "And end with a grand fête in theevening, --and give everybody a holiday. "

"Won't it be a great deal of work?" Mrs. Clyde inquired. 

"Heaps. But these greasers never have enough to do, --we'll make themwork for once, " Mr. Ashe replied. 

"What shall we wear?" Of course it was Kitty who asked. 

"Oh, girls, I've the loveliest plan, --you don't mind, do you, Grandmother, if I get out my Spanish costume again?"

Grandmother smiled at a sudden recollection. "No, dear. I think itwould fit this occasion admirably. "

"But we haven't Spanish costumes!" said Debby and Amanda in a breath. 

"Get them!" Blue Bonnet exclaimed. "Any old-fashioned, bright-coloredgown will do to begin with, and a lace scarf for mantilla--"

"But where are we to get the gowns, --they don't grow on bushes, "demanded Kitty. 

"There is such a thing as a post, Kitty, and an express company. Andyou know your attics at home are full of lovely old things. "

"Then we'll have to send right away to get them here in time. "

The girls rose as if there were not a moment to lose, and, later inthe day, Shady rode to Jonah with a well-filled mail-bag. 

Blue Bonnet spent the entire morning over the composition of herletter to General Trent. When she sat down soberly to write Alec'sgrandfather a plain statement of facts, she found she had no facts totell, --only a host of vague fears and hints that Alec had uttered fromtime to time. It was hardly to be wondered at, therefor, that herepistle when finished was pervaded with mystery of a veiled sort thatmade the General knit his brow, fall into a brown study, and thenstalk off to the telegraph office. 

It was Uncle Cliff who received the message and the matter aroused nocomment. It said simply:

 "With your permission will come to Texas. Arrive August twentieth. Prefer Alec should not know. "

A telegram just as brief was despatched in reply; and no one was thewiser except Blue Bonnet and Grandmother Clyde. Blue Bonnet was muchelated. Telling bad news at long range was something she did notapprove of, and it promised to be a far easier solution of the problemto have the General see and learn for himself. It was not easy, however, to keep the matter from Alec, and Blue Bonnet, who had neverhad a secret of such importance before, had trouble more than once tokeep from blurting it out. 

The air for the next few days was full of mystery. Preparations forthe birthday went forth apace, and the question of gifts was theimportant topic of the hour. Isolation from shops threw the girlslargely upon their own resources; besides, it was known that Mrs. Clyde did not favor anything but the simplest of gifts. Sarah, whosedrawn-work had progressed steadily in spite of all obstacles, enjoyeda small triumph, being the only one prepared with a suitable present. 

"Now they'll leave me in peace while I finish it, " she thought with asigh of relief. 

But it was not altogether peace that Sarah enjoyed, for the othergirls took it into their heads to fashion something for Blue Bonnetwith their own hands, and sought Sarah's room as the one spot securefrom the eyes of the curious. 

"What are you going to give Blue Bonnet?" Debby asked Alec one day. 

He laughed mysteriously. "I'm aiming to surprise everybody as well asBlue Bonnet. It isn't much of a present, and the surprise is the onlything about it worth while. "

Blue Bonnet was obligingly blind and deaf, in these days. Lettersflying back and forth, packages by mail or express, she ignoredreligiously. 

"It's a real midsummer Christmas, " she said to her grandmother oneday, when all the other girls had shut themselves up in Sarah's room. "I thought there never could be anything so exciting and thrilly asgetting ready for Christmas in Woodford, but this is running itclose!"

"The mistress of the Blue Bonnet ranch is a very important personagethese days, " said Grandmother. 

"She always has been made to feel important here. That's why it was sohard at first when I came to you and Aunt Lucinda. " Blue Bonnet drew alow hassock beside her grandmother, and leaned cosily against her inthe way they both loved. "You see, having my own way ever since I wasold enough to have a way, didn't make it very easy to obey orders. Mywishes didn't seem to count much with Aunt Lucinda. "

"But they do count, dear. Your aunt is very fond of you, Blue Bonnet, and would grant any reasonable wish if she had it in her power. "

"Oh, I understand her better now. It didn't take me very long torealize that she was running that ranch--that's a figure of speech, Grandmother, --and it was my turn _to be run_. "

Mrs. Clyde stroked the brown head lovingly. "I saw the struggle, dear, and I know it was not easy. The things that are worth while don't comewithout effort. "

Blue Bonnet smiled understanding into her grandmother's eyes. "I know. And I'm so glad I wasn't what Uncle Cliff calls a 'quitter. ' Stickingit out was pretty hard, but it's made me feel more--worthy, somehow, to be sixteen!"

Mystery reached its highest point the next day when Kitty, who hadbeen absorbed in a bulky letter from home, suddenly gave a shrillscream of excitement, and summoning the other three girls, fled toSarah's room. The high-pitched chatter and ejaculations that issuedfrom that quarter made even Alec curious. Going around the house hehung on to the window-ledge and begged to be let into the secret. 

"We want to surprise everybody!" said Debby revengefully. 

Alec dropped to the ground and walked away in high amusement. Let themkeep their secret then; he was sure he knew a surprise worth two ofit. Then he betook himself to the Mexican quarters to note theprogress of his own gift for Blue Bonnet. 

CHAPTER XVIII

SOME ARRIVALS

THE birthday celebration really began on the day before the birthday. Uncle Cliff had driven to the railway station early in the day, andlong before it was time for him to be back, five pairs of eyes begansearching the road for a sight of the returning buckboard. The We areSevens, observing Blue Bonnet to be as expectant as they, becameapprehensive lest their great secret should have leaked out. For herpart, Blue Bonnet had become so used to seeing the girls impatient forthe arrival of the mail, that their frequent running to the veranda topeer down the road, occasioned her only amusement. 

How little they suspected what a valuable package that buckboard wouldcontain!

This was the twentieth of August. Every time Blue Bonnet thought ofthe great surprise in store for Alec, she grew first excited, thenafraid. How would he take his grandfather's arrival? One minute shewas sure he would be overwhelmingly glad, for Alec had a deepaffection for the "grand old man. " The next, she was afraid he wouldthink she had shirked her bargain by throwing on him the burden oftelling the General his own bad news. Well, this time she had trulydone her best, let the results be what they might. 

"Do what is right let the consequence follow!" she sagely remarked toSolomon, and he put up his paw as if to say: "Shake on that!"

She was in her garden picking flowers for the table. Indoors was adelightful flurry of preparation: from the kitchen came a clatter ofpans, and a variety of appetizing odors; above the cackle of Lisa andGertrudis rang the merry laugh of Juanita as she waited on the busycooks; while Miguel could be seen haunting the region of the backdoor. 

Out on the long-disused croquet-ground, which Uncle Joe had levelledand tamped for Blue Bonnet years before, Alec and several of thecowboys were working, converting it into a dancing ground, and hangingChinese lanterns on long wires strung between the surrounding trees. 

"It's certainly worth while having a birthday on the ranch, " BlueBonnet thought happily. All this bustle of preparation to celebratethe birthday of a Texas Blue Bonnet!

Hark! Wasn't that the rattle of wheels? Yes, --there came the buckboardat last. Blue Bonnet sprang up excitedly. Had Alec heard? She shot alook in the direction of the croquet-ground. 

Alec had heard; had glanced at the cloud of dust that marked theapproaching team, and then--had gone calmly on with his work. He waslooking for travellers on horseback, and the buckboard's arrival wononly slight notice from him. He would let the girls spring theirsurprise on Blue Bonnet and have the hubbub over before he intruded. 

"Alec!" called Blue Bonnet in a fever of excitement; but he merelywaved to her indulgently and went on fitting a candle into a socketwith exasperating slowness. 

With her arms full of flaming poppies, Blue Bonnet flew to the houseand reached the veranda just as the other girls poured from the door, and the buckboard came to a standstill. There was the General, andbeside him--Blue Bonnet gasped as she saw--was a boyish figure withclose-cropped hair. 

The poppies fell to the ground in a brilliant heap, and the momentthat Susy and Ruth alighted Blue Bonnet gathered them both in anecstatic hug. But not for long was she permitted a monopoly. Thesenewly arrived two-sevenths were passed from hand to hand, or, moreliterally, from arm to arm, and caressed and exclaimed over until Mrs. Clyde came to the rescue of the tired girls. 

The General's arrival had become of quite secondary importance. Hestood talking to the Señora until Blue Bonnet at last turned to himapologetically. 

"I'm very glad to see you!" she said. 

General Trent took her outstretched hand and smiled down into theeager flushed face. "You are very good to say so. A mere man isdecidedly _de trop_ on such an occasion!"

"No, you're not! Only I was expecting you and I wasn't expecting Susyand Ruth, --so I rather lost my head. How did you happen to bring thegirls?"

"I didn't bring them, really. Dr. Clark wanted them to have a changeof air, and when Mrs. Doyle heard I was coming here she asked if Iwould mind playing escort to her girls, --a change of air spelt onlyTexas to them, it seems. My delight may better be imagined thandescribed, and--here we are. Ah, Miss Kitty, you see me at last!" Hepaused to shake hands with the young lady, and then the others cameshyly up with greetings. 

"You didn't know I had a surprise up my sleeve, did you?" Blue Bonnetchallenged the girls. 

"You must wear long sleeves!" laughed Kitty, tilting her chin to lookup at the tall military figure. 

The General laughed with the rest but Blue Bonnet could see himlooking about with some impatience. "Where's Alec?" he asked finally. 

"We'll go find him. Take everybody indoors, will you, Grandmother?I'll be back in a minute. " Looking particularly small and slight, BlueBonnet moved off with her tall companion towards the croquet-ground, where Alec, all unconscious of their approach, stood on a step-ladderadjusting one of the paper lanterns. 

"How is the boy by this time?" General Trent asked. 

"I--I don't know, " Blue Bonnet stammered. It was quite true; she hadgiven up trying to guess the state of Alec's health. 

The horizontal line between the General's eyes grew deeper: it wasplain that the girl shrank from telling him the worst. 

Alec had started to descend the ladder when he caught sight of theapproaching pair. For a second he stood transfixed with surprise; thenwith a real cowboy "whoop" of joy, took a flying leap from his perch, cleared various obstacles with a bound, and literally fell upon hisgrandfather. 

"How splendid of you to come, sir!" was all he could exclaim for someminutes. 

Finally the General took him by the shoulders and held him off, looking him over from head to foot. Blue Bonnet saw a look ofincredulous wonder grow in his eyes, as he took in the increasedbreadth of the boy, the erect carriage and the red that glowed throughthe sunburn of his rounded cheeks. 

"Why, boy, how you've grown!"

"Have I?" asked Alec eagerly. "Never felt so well before in all mylife!"

Well? Blue Bonnet felt her face grow hot. How could Alec say thatwhen he had let her--even urged her--to write that letter to hisgrandfather? If it was a joke, it struck her that Alec must havedeveloped rather poor taste in jokes. She could feel the General'seyes upon her, questioning mutely. She could not meet his glance yet, and said with elaborate carelessness:

"I reckon you two would like to have a little talk, and the girls arewaiting for me. " She sped back to the house, and soon forgot herindignation in the joy of the We are Sevens' reunion. 

"It seems too good to be true!" she exclaimed, gazing happily from onegirl to another, as the seven of them lounged about the living-room, three on the broad couch and the rest distributed impartially betweenthe floor and the window-seat. Such complete informality had neverseemed permissible in the sedate Clyde mansion; but somehow thesesurroundings seemed to invite one to be as comfortable andunconventional as possible. 

Suddenly Blue Bonnet's eyes danced. "Doesn't this remind you of myfirst tea-party?" she asked demurely. 

"Well, I should say not!" Kitty exclaimed. "We all sat around yourgrandmother's drawing-room with manners as stiff as our dresses, waiting for our hostess--"

"And wondering what you would be like--" added Sarah. 

"Were you prepared to see the wild Indian I proved to be?"

"Fishing!" sang Kitty. 

Susy looked from Blue Bonnet to Kitty and laughed. "My, this soundslike old times!"

"Stop talking about old times, please, " begged Ruth, "and tell usabout the new ones. I want to be told all about the round-up, and Iwant to see the 'vast herds' and the cowboys, --and the blue bonnets!"

Blue Bonnet's laugh rang out. "Blue bonnets in August! Come in Marchand I'll show you a sea of them, --and a round-up, too. The cattle andthe cowboys you shall see to-morrow, --and some steer-roping that willmake your hair stand on end. "

Ruth ran her hand through her boyish, close-cut locks and made themstand literally on end. "It isn't much of a trick to do that!" shesaid with a grimace. 

"Never mind, maybe it will come in curly, " said Sarah the comforter. 

"You can trust Sarah not to see the thorns for the roses, " said BlueBonnet, sending the comforter an approving glance. 

"What turtle doves you all are, " laughed Susy. 

"Oh, it's Sarah and Blue Bonnet who do all the cooing. The rest of usare still just geese. " Kitty's voice had a tinge of envy that did notescape the notice of the rest. 

"Go play us something, Blue Bonnet, " suggested Ruth tactfully, "--thatcowboy piece we all like. "

"Invalids must be humored, " remarked Blue Bonnet as she went to thepiano. 

In a minute the little rollicking air that she had played at her firsttea-party, had set them all to dancing and humming as on that historicoccasion. 

"Aren't Kitty and Blue Bonnet as chummy as they used to be?" Ruthasked Amanda under cover of the music. 

"Yes, by spells. They had one tiff--the second since they've knowneach other, --and ever since we've lived in dread of the third, haven'twe, Sarah?"

"You have, " Sarah returned. "And I have too, in fact, though I try notto be superstitious. Besides they've had the third--and it's all overnow. "

"They have? When?" Amanda sat up in surprise. 

"While we were camping. Kitty told me about it and said it was all herfault. The last one wasn't, you know. First it's one and then theother that's to blame. "

"Kitty and Blue Bonnet aren't going to stop at three tiffs, you maydepend on it, " Ruth said wisely. "They're going to have three timesthree and then some. Because Kitty is Kitty, and Blue Bonnet is--BlueBonnet!"

As the gay music ceased Grandmother Clyde looked in at the door. "Itis time for the travellers to rest. They must be fresh for the greatoccasion to-morrow, " she said, nodding to Susy and Ruth. 

Blue Bonnet glanced over to the couch where Ruth reclined among thepillows. Her face, with its crown of short dark hair, looked very thinand white. 

"I reckon the girls had better go to your room, Grandmother, --it'sabout the only place where they can be quiet. Benita is putting twocots in the nursery, but it's never quiet in there till we're allasleep. "

Ruth rose regretfully, "I'll go rest if I must. But I hate to missanything that's going on. If you only knew how deadly dull it has beenin Woodford! I think the inhabitants have learned to appreciate the Weare Sevens, for the place has seemed empty without them. And everybodywants to know when the Texas Blue Bonnet is coming back. "

They all looked towards Blue Bonnet. "I--why--there's Uncle Clifflooking for me, " she said, and left the room precipitately. 

"Blue Bonnet's usual way of avoiding an answer, " thought Kitty. 

"When does the Fall term of school begin?" asked Sarah. 

"The tenth of September, --and that means we must leave here about thethird, " said Susy. "Only two weeks of this for us, girls!"

"We'll see that they are two busy weeks, " Kitty promised. 

Blue Bonnet drew Uncle Cliff into a secluded spot on the side veranda. "You just saved my life, Uncle Cliff. "

"Were you being talked to death, Honey?"

"No, --but I just escaped a pitfall. People do ask themost--uncomfortable questions. "

"Suppose you tell me what sort?"

"Well, Ruth says people want to know when the Texas Blue Bonnet isgoing back to Woodford. "

"So that's come up again, eh?" Uncle Cliff knitted his brow. "I reckonyou're doing some thinking along that line, Blue Bonnet?" He watchedher face anxiously. 

She nodded. "Yes, I--you see there isn't much time left. I must decidesoon. It's not going to be easy, Uncle Cliff. "

"No, --not for either of us, Honey. "

"And there's Grandmother, too, --and Aunt Lucinda. Other people seem tohave a lot to say about one's life, don't they?"

"They have a lot to say, Blue Bonnet, but the person who has the final'say' is yourself. You're old enough now to decide what you want to dowith your life. Sixteen to-morrow!"

"I know what I want to do with my life, Uncle, but I don't know yetjust how to do it. "

"Don't you think you could manage to do it on the ranch? We know nowwhere to get a first-class tutor, and--"

"Oh, as far as 'book-learnin''--as Uncle Joe calls it, --goes, I reckonI could get that all right, here on the ranch with a tutor. But books, I've found out, aren't more than half of an education. You know, life's mighty simple on the ranch, and I've grown used to doing thingsthe easiest way. But that isn't the big way. Aunt Lucinda says everywoman should have a vocation. "

Uncle Cliff squirmed. Blue Bonnet seemed to have assimilated a ratherbig dose of Aunt Lucinda. "But, Honey, " he protested, "a girl withplenty of money doesn't need a vocation. "

"Oh, she didn't mean that kind of a vocation. It's a sort of glorifiedway of doing your duty by your neighbor. And you know it isn't veryeasy to do your duty by your neighbor when the nearest neighbor ismiles away! Now, Aunt Lucinda is the most all-round useful person. She's helping to keep up a home for cripples in Boston, and issecretary of the Church Aid Society, runs Grandmother's house and--"

"Everybody in it!" added Uncle Cliff. 

Blue Bonnet slipped her hand into his with a sympathetic pressure. 

"I reckon I caught it from you, --liking to paddle my own canoe, Imean. But, though I don't love discipline, I've learned to appreciatewhat it can do. Now, look at Solomon--"

"--in all his glory!" laughed Uncle Cliff. 

At that moment the subject of the conversation was occupied in gnawinga very dirty bone on the forbidden territory of the veranda. 

"Oh, he has his lapses, " Blue Bonnet confessed, "--his forgettery isas active as mine. But he's hardly more than a puppy yet, and it'ssurprising how well he minds. He's getting pretty wild out here. Theranch has that effect I've observed. And that's why--"

"Say, Honey, " Uncle Cliff interrupted, "let's allow the subject ofgoing back to rest right where it is until after to-morrow, will you?I want to enjoy my ward's birthday, and I'd rather have a clear skywithout any clouds on my horizon. "

"That suits me, Uncle Cliff. "

"And while we're on the subject of the birthday, there's something Iwant to tell you, Blue Bonnet. I know it's usual to keep one's gift asecret, but--"

"Oh, I hope it's just some simple thing, Uncle. Grandmother's beenlooking pretty serious lately over what she thinks is our extravagantway of living. The Woodford girls have to be very careful aboutexpenses, you know, and she thinks it makes it harder for them to besatisfied when they see me have so much. "

"Don't you worry, young lady. I'm only taking a leaf out of yourbook, and instead of giving pleasure to just one person--i. E. BlueBonnet Ashe, --I'm going to distribute it over quite a crowd. Thetrouble is it won't keep till to-morrow. It's about due now. Jump onFirefly, will you, and ride with me to meet it?"

"Yes, everybody is resting, or supposed to be. Just wait till I slipon my riding-skirt and I'll be with you. "

A few minutes later Blue Bonnet and her uncle, after the fashion ofthe old days, cantered down the road together. 

Hardly had they disappeared when Kitty, also attired inriding-costume, stole quietly to the stable, and having found one ofthe Mexicans to saddle Rowdy, rode briskly out of the corral and offto the woods across San Franciscito. 

At the gate Uncle Cliff drew rein. "We'd better form a receptioncommittee right here. I think I hear your birthday present coming. "

Blue Bonnet looked down the road expectantly. What could it be?

Then, as they waited, there came the rhythmic pound of hoofs, a cloudof dust, and suddenly there swept into sight a company of riders withKnight and Carita in the lead. 

"Oh, Uncle Cliff, what a splendid birthday present!" And Blue Bonnet, with a glad "Ho ye, ho ho!" of welcome, galloped to meet theprocession. 

Sandy and the three "props of the world"--Smith, Brown and Jones, withtwo of the younger boys from camp--made, as Uncle Cliff had promised, a "boy apiece" for the We are Sevens and Carita; and the entire party, dusty though they were from the long ride, were incorrigibly cheerfuland apparently not at all tired by the trip. 

"Oh, I'm so happy!" cried Carita, as Blue Bonnet fell in beside herand led the way to the ranch. "I never dreamed I could come. But Mr. Ashe had made all arrangements, and Mother said she could get alongwithout me for the three days, --she's going to stay at the Camp. Justthink, if we hadn't gone up there again, I couldn't have known aboutit in time!"

"How lucky! Carita, I think you are the nicest birthday present thatwas ever thought of. "

Carita looked up in surprise. 

"Having you and Knight and the boys here is my birthday gift fromUncle, " Blue Bonnet explained. "Wasn't it downright grand of him toplan it?"

"It's sweet of you to want us, " Carita returned. "And your uncle looksas if he loved to do nice things. He has the kindest eyes I've everseen. "

"Except your father's, " Blue Bonnet added. "I think they must bothhave been cut out by the same pattern. "

Alec, who was in the secret, had assembled everybody on the verandaawaiting the arrivals, and the hubbub that ensued as the cavalcadedismounted and everybody exchanged greetings, convinced Susy, Ruth andthe General that life in Texas was quite as exciting as it had beenpainted. 

Mrs. Clyde, having been prepared by Uncle Cliff for this invasion, tried to view the proceedings as a matter of course, and was her usualcordial self. 

"Where are we going to put them all?" Blue Bonnet asked in anundertone. 

"Shady and Uncle Joe put up a tent as soon as you rode off, " hergrandmother explained. "The boys are used to camping out and there areonly two nights to plan for. Carita can share Sarah's room. Lisa hasenlarged the dining-room table, and we shall have room for all. I hopewe can make our guests comfortable. "

"Don't you worry, Grandmother. These guests will make the best ofeverything. People out here don't expect things to be--orderly, asthey are in Woodford. "

"Evidently not!" was Grandmother's unspoken thought. 

"Where's Kitty?" asked Blue Bonnet presently, missing one saucy facefrom the group on the side veranda where they had all gathered. 

"Didn't she go with you? We haven't seen her for an hour or more, "replied Sarah. 

"Here she comes now. " Alec rose and went to assist Kitty from herhorse. "Hello, Miss Unsociable, " he said. "Fancy riding all by yourlones! Been keeping a tryst?"

"Nothing so romantic, " she confessed. "I've been gathering theselovely wild vines to decorate the table with. See how pretty theyare!" She tossed the big armful of glossy green stuff down to him. Toher surprise and indignation Alec dodged her offering and let thevines fall in a heap on the ground. Kitty paused in the act ofdismounting and stared at him, speechless with surprise at this actfrom well-bred Alec. 

"I beg your pardon, Kitty, " he laughed. "I didn't mean to be rude, butI'm deadly afraid of that stuff. "

"Stuff!" echoed Kitty. She was off her horse in a minute, and givingthe reins to Miguel who had come up for Rowdy, she bent to pick up herinsulted treasure. 

Alec prevented her. "I wouldn't, Kitty, --though I don't suppose itmatters now. The mischief's done, I'm afraid, --that's poison ivy. "

"Poison ivy!" Kitty sprang back as if the vine were about to stingher. "I never saw any before, --and I wanted to surprise BlueBonnet--it looked so pretty. Oh, Alec, are you sure?"

"Sure?--positive. Dr. Judson pointed out lots of it around Camp, andwe learned to give it a wide berth. But say, every one isn'tsusceptible, Kitty. Maybe you're immune. "

"Oh, dear!" wailed Kitty. "What shall I do? Can't I be vaccinated orsomething to ward it off?"

"What's the trouble?" asked Uncle Joe, coming up in time to hearKitty's despairing cry. 

"Poison ivy, " said Alec, pointing to the vines. 

"Now that's bad. " Uncle Joe kicked the innocent looking heap of greensoff to one side. "I'll send up one of the boys to rake that up and getrid of it. Nasty stuff to have around, --'specially for folks withyour--coloring. " He eyed Kitty's milk-white freckled faceapprehensively. 

"If I get it and have to miss the party I'll never get over it!" Kittydeclared. 

"Oh, yes, you will--it only lasts a few days, generally, " said UncleJoe. 

Kitty dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief. 

"Here--don't do that!" Alec exclaimed hastily. "That might play themischief with your eyes. Go bathe your face and hands with witchhazel, that may help. And hurry out again, Kitty--your friend Sandy ison the side veranda. "

Kitty for the first time glanced towards the house and saw the latestarrivals. "Carita, too! Have they come to the party? Oh, what fun!That's what Mr. Ashe meant when he promised us a boy apiece for thedance. But oh, Alec--what if--?" Kitty could not finish. 

"Please don't get it, Kitty, --it would spoil the day for Sandy!"

CHAPTER XIX

BLUE BONNET'S BIRTHDAY

"SIXTEEN to-day!" was Blue Bonnet's first thought as she opened hereyes next morning. 

Could it be only a year since her last birthday? Less than a yearsince she had first seen Grandmother? Why, it seemed now as if shemust have known Grandmother and Aunt Lucinda all her life! She triedto remember how she used to feel before she ever left the ranch;before she had ever seen Woodford, or the We are Sevens, or--but thelist seemed interminable; she gave up trying to recall how the BlueBonnet of that careless time had thought and felt and spent her days. 

Was every year to bring as many new experiences, as many new facesinto her life? Surely not if she stayed on the ranch, and if shewent-- But Uncle Cliff had said that question was to be banished forthis day. 

Rising and dressing noiselessly, she stole out of the nursery for oneof her usual early morning romps. Being sixteen should not rob her ofthe right to be a child at this hour of the day!

"Wish me many happy returns, Solomon!" she cried as the dogs raced toher across the yard. "Don, this is the fifth occasion of this sortyou've attended, --you're getting on in years, too. Come on, I'll raceyou to the fence!"

Uncle Cliff watched her from the pasture, a chuckle of satisfactionescaping him at this evidence of untamed tomboyism. He met her as shecame up flushed and breathless. 

"Getting mighty dignified since you turned sixteen, aren't you?"

Her laughing face peered at him over the rough old logs. "Not so you'dnotice it!"

"I reckon I ought to thump you sixteen times and one to grow on. Butthat would make it necessary to climb the fence. How would you likekisses instead?"

"Give me the big one to grow on, anyway. " She held up her lips. "Andnow I must run in to Grandmother, --she must have the next. "

She found the Señora waiting for her in the living-room. 

"I'm so glad you're alone, Grandmother. I wanted you all to myself fora minute or two. " She went straight into the arms Grandmother held outto her, was folded close for a moment and received a second kiss "togrow on. "

[Illustration: "IT WAS AN EXQUISITE MINIATURE, PAINTED ON IVORY. "]

"While we're alone I want to tell you something, " Blue Bonnet saidearnestly, "--about this last year, I mean. I never have said justwhat I've felt. It has been the best of all years, Grandmother, andthe best of all the good things it has brought me--is you. "

"Thank you, dear. And you must know, Blue Bonnet, without my tellingyou how great a comfort you are to me. "

"Truly, Grandmother, --a comfort?"

"Beyond words, dear. " And Grandmother gave her another kiss to growon. "And now, Blue Bonnet, here is something for your birthday. "

Blue Bonnet took the dainty package and unwrapped it with fingers thattrembled a little. Within the paper was a box, and inside that, looking out from a frame of dull Roman gold, was her mother's face. Itwas an exquisite miniature, painted on ivory. The rose-tints of theflesh and the deep tender blue of the eyes that smiled up at her, madethe portrait seem a living thing. Blue Bonnet could not speak. Shegazed and gazed at the dear features until her eyes blurred and shehad to put up her hand to brush the tears away. 

"Oh, Grandmother--!" Her lip quivered and she could say no more. 

But Grandmother understood. 

"Your aunt had it done from a photograph while she was in Rome. Thepainter was a Boston woman--an old friend of ours who knew yourmother, Blue Bonnet. That is why the coloring is so true. The eyes areyour eyes--can't you see, dear?"

"Am I truly like her?"

"So like, Blue Bonnet, that sometimes it seems as if Elizabeth hadnever left me. "

"I'm glad, Grandmother. Oh, how I shall treasure this! How can I everthank you and Aunt Lucinda? There come the others, --I think I won'tshow them this just now. I'd rather let them see it one at a time. Somehow a crowd--"

"I understand, Blue Bonnet. "

It was well that she and her grandmother had made the most of thatquiet five minutes before breakfast; for it was the last peacefulmoment that day. 

As all the gay party trooped into the dining-room with its long tablelooking like a real banquet board, a big floral decoration was thefirst thing to greet all eyes. A long low basket of closely wovenfibres formed a centrepiece, and inside it, growing so densely thatonly a vivid mass of blue showed above the brim, were blue bonnets inbloom. 

"How sweet! Where did they come from?" Blue Bonnet demanded, lookingfrom face to face. 

"There's a card on the handle, " some one suggested. 

Blue Bonnet bent and read: "Blue Bonnet's namesakes wish her manyhappy returns of the day. " Looking up she caught Alec's eye. "You?"she asked. 

"Guilty!" he confessed. 

"You clever boy! You couldn't have given me anything I should love asmuch. How did you ever do it?"

"Easy enough. Planted the seeds and took care of them, --had a badscare for fear they wouldn't bloom in time. I've had them back ofMarta's cabin and she's been sitting up nights with them!"

They all crowded about the table for a closer view. 

"I'm so glad we can see some blue bonnets before leaving. That's beenthe one thing necessary to complete Texas!" exclaimed Kitty. 

"Sure you don't mean ivy?" asked Alec in an undertone. 

She wilted. "Sh! Please don't remind me of that, --I was almost happyagain!"

"No symptoms yet?" he asked. 

"None--yet. I live in hopes!"

"Let's wait till after breakfast before we give Blue Bonnet ourgifts, " suggested Sarah. "She'll enjoy them more, I think. "

"Not to mention our enjoyment!" laughed Kitty. 

The suggestion was followed, and at the conclusion of the meal, BlueBonnet kept her seat and opened the rest of her packages with the eyesof all the crowd upon her. Very simple were the gifts, as the Woodfordgirls had slender purses; but the love and good will that went withthe presents made up for their lack of material value. 

From Kitty there was a dainty sewing apron of muslin, with pretty bluebows on the pockets; from Amanda, a fancy-work bag, and from Debby acomplicated needlecase. A silver thimble from Susy and Ruth completedthese very feminine accessories. 

Alec's eyes twinkled as Blue Bonnet tried the thimble on her slenderfinger-tip. "If you're not a model of industry after this, BlueBonnet, it will prove you're rather slow at taking a hint!"

The girls joined heartily in the laugh against them, though theyprofessed entire innocence of any such intention as Alec implied. 

Sarah's gift provoked a chorus of exclamations. From the finedrawn-work, the hand-made tucks, to the tiny irreproachablebuttonholes, the waist was a triumph of the needlewoman's art. 

"It's the prettiest one I ever had!" Blue Bonnet declared. She wouldhave liked to jump up and kiss Sarah, the dear old thing! But witheight boys looking on, such a demonstration might appear done foreffect, she concluded; and so reserved that mark of affection for afuture occasion. 

When the girls had presented their offerings, Knight came up anddropped a paper parcel into her lap. On the card tied to the blueribbon that decorated it was written: "To the Good Samaritan from theOne Who Fell by the Wayside. " There was a laugh in Knight's eyes as hewatched her read the inscription and then unwrap the tissue-paperthat enclosed the object. 

Blue Bonnet lifted the lid of the long narrow box, took one look, andmet Knight's eyes with an answering laugh in her own. Inside the boxwas a shimmering red silk sash. Knight had kept his promise to himselfto buy Blue Bonnet the "fanciest thing in the sash line that Chicagocould boast"--even though it had taken the last penny of his pocketmoney. 

"It's a beauty!" she declared. 

"Knight must expect another spill to-day, " laughed Alec. 

Blue Bonnet looked about the circle with a bright, quick glance. "I'mnot going to try to say 'thank you' to everybody, --those two wordswould be quite worn out by the time I finished!"

"Come along, everybody, " said Uncle Cliff, "it's time for thefestivities to begin. "

As they left the dining-room, Carita slipped her arm about Blue Bonnetand whispered regretfully: "I wish I had a present for you. I didn'tknow in time or I could have made something. "

Blue Bonnet gave her an impulsive squeeze. "Why, Carita, you're abirthday present yourself!"

Blue Bonnet's promise to Ruth in regard to the steer-roping contest, proved almost literally true. This was the great feature of the day tothe Mexicans, and their delight in the sport knew no bounds. Theymade a brilliant picture as they stood or squatted about the corralgate, the women in their bright yellow, red and purple calicoes; andthe men in their tight trousers, serapes rainbow hued, gay sashes andenormous peaked hats. The scene was full of life, color and motion. 

Ruth's thin cheeks grew pink with excitement. "What's going to happenfirst?" she asked Blue Bonnet. 

"You see those steers inside the gate? Well, Pancho will drive one outand while it is running like mad, Josef--he has the first turn--willlasso, throw it, and tie its feet together with that short rope hehas. Then, one after another, the rest of the cowboys will do the samething, and the one that does it in the shortest time will get theprize and be declared champion of the Blue Bonnet ranch. "

"The world's record is thirty-seven seconds, " Knight added, "but ithas to be a hustler who can do it under a minute. "

"Look--there comes one now!" screamed Kitty. 

The contest was swift, breathless and soon over. The corral gate wasopened and through it driven a steer. Outside, mounted on a swiftcow-pony rode Josef, awaiting the signal to start in pursuit. On camethe steer with long frightened leaps, after him the vaquero withlariat whirling around his head. Suddenly the rope whistled, hissedthrough the air, dropped and coiled about the steer's front feet. Aquick movement on the part of both rider and horse; the lariattightened, and the steer pitched on to its side. Josef leaped from hispony, bent over his victim, and, in far less time than it takes totell it, had tied three of the kicking hoofs together. The cowboyrose, grinning, amid the cheers of the delighted audience; andremounting his horse, coolly rolled a cigarette. 

"Sixty-three seconds, " said Knight, who was time-keeper. 

One after another the cowboys took their turns, and every fraction ofa second shaved from Josef's record, sent the Mexicans wild withexcitement. It was Lupe who was finally declared champion, andreceived from Blue Bonnet's hands the silver-braided Mexican sombrerothat was the prize. 

"I wonder why Miguel didn't try, " Blue Bonnet remarked, as Lupe walkedproudly away with his trophy. "He's always been able to beat Lupe. "

"I asked Pancho where Miguel was, " said Alec, "and he said no one hadseen him to-day. Maybe Juanita objects to steer-roping!" They smiledwith a secret understanding. 

"How do you like the sport?" Blue Bonnet asked, turning to Ruth. 

"It's exciting, --but isn't it cruel, Blue Bonnet?"

"I reckon the steer thinks so, " Blue Bonnet confessed. "But thecowboys have to practise, you know, for at the round-up that's the waythey have to throw the calves to brand them. "

"Then I don't want to see a round-up!" Ruth declared. 

Next came races in the pasture, and in these the girls and boys werethe contestants. Blue ribbons were the awards pinned on the winners byBlue Bonnet herself, and the rivalry for them was intense. Leaningagainst the pasture fence which formed the "grandstand" General Trent, Uncle Cliff, Uncle Joe, Mrs. Clyde, Susy, Ruth and Blue Bonnet watchedand applauded; while the Mexicans, squatting about in characteristicattitudes, chattered and laughed like a lot of children. 

As Sarah swept by on Comanche to take her place at the starting-line, Ruth and Susy turned amazed and questioning eyes on Blue Bonnet. Shelaughed at their expressions of wonder. 

"Keep your eye on Sarah!" she bade them. "Comanche is one of theswiftest horses on the ranch, and he and our Sallykins are on the bestof terms. "

To Blue Bonnet's secret delight Sarah won the first race. As shepinned the blue ribbon to the winner's middy blouse, her own facebeamed the triumph that Sarah was too modest to betray. 

"Aren't you going in for any others?" Ruth asked, as Sarah returnedon foot and dropped on the blanket beside her. 

"No, I only rode in that race to keep the girls from calling me'fraid-cat. ' I'm sure Father wouldn't approve of horse-racing. "

Ruth laughed. "You are the same old Sarah! I was beginning to believethat the Blue Bonnet ranch had bewitched you. "

"Don't say 'bewitched, '" Blue Bonnet interrupted, "locoed is the wordwe use in Texas. "

The birthday dinner, served early as was the custom at the ranch, wasthe most animated of feasts, of which the birthday-cake with itssixteen blazing candles was the grand climax. It was fat Lisa herselfwho waddled in and deposited her masterpiece in front of the Señorita, and then lingered to see how it looked after cutting. 

"It's divine, Lisa, --a complete success!" Blue Bonnet cried, and thecook grinned delightedly. As Lisa turned to leave the room, BlueBonnet detained her to whisper--"Why is Benita waiting on tablealone?--where's Juanita?"

"Who knows?" returned Lisa with a shrug of her massive shoulders. "That _niña_ is run off and Gertrudis means to thrash her. "

"Oh, Lisa, she mustn't!" Blue Bonnet said in genuine distress. "TellGertrudis I'll come out and see her after dinner. "

She found Gertrudis slamming about the dishes in a most recklessfashion and muttering to herself angrily. To Blue Bonnet's plea inbehalf of the absent Juanita she returned only stormy answers. 

"No, Señorita, she is spoiled for lack of thrashing. Run off on theSeñorita's birthday! With a horde to wait on! And enough work forfifty lazy things like herself!"

No, Juanita should be thrashed if ever she could lay hands on her. Blue Bonnet could not sway her from her purpose, and finally gave uparguing and left the kitchen, vowing mentally to prevent the angry oldwoman from carrying out her threat. But in the excitement of theevening's festivities, she forgot all about it. 

What an evening it was! Not one of the boys and girls lucky enough tobe there would ever forget the scene. The broad verandas on which halfthe furniture of the house had been brought to form cosy-corners andlounging places; the soft gleam of Chinese lanterns strung among thetrees; the music of Shady's violin, augmented by a flute and cellofrom Jonah, to which they danced on the croquet-ground; and everywherethe We are Sevens, stately in trains and hair dressed high, trippingand laughing and flirting their fans in the manner fondly believed tobe that of high-born Spanish dames. 

Susy and Ruth had obligingly crammed their trunks with the attictreasures of the various Woodford families, and the costumes, whilenot strictly Spanish, were quite gorgeous and "partified" enough tosatisfy these finery-loving young folk. Among them they had managed tofit out Carita too, and she, in a yellow gown with velvetygold-of-Ophir roses in the dusky coils of her hair, looked like a realmaid of Andalusia. Blue Bonnet, in her red satin gown, which had notseen the light since the night it had been worn for the benefit of theBoston relatives, was a picture. 

Alec came up to her in the middle of the evening and made a low bow. "Señorita Blue Bonnetta, you look charming to-night, but it strikes meyou're carrying things with a high hand. Why, among all your humblesubjects, am I not favored with a dance or promenade? You've beenengaged three deep every time I've asked you. "

For a minute Blue Bonnet toyed with her fan without speaking. She hadpurposely avoided Alec for a reason she considered good andsufficient. There was an explanation due her from him, and that also, she was resolved, should be "good and sufficient" or she would notaccept it. And it seemed best, if there was to be any clash betweenthem, that it should not come on her birthday. She would not easilyforgive him for urging her to write that letter to the General. 

As she hesitated and a surprised look crept into Alec's eyes, therecame a great outcry from the direction of Marta's cabin, --shouts, cheers and bursts of laughter. 

"The Mexicans must be doing stunts, --let's go and see, " Alecsuggested. 

Gathering up her train Blue Bonnet hurried with him to the Mexicanquarters, where the noisy crowd had assembled. Half way there they metGertrudis, also headed for the scene of merriment. 

"It's that Juanita, they say, " she cried, "come back after all thework's done!" Her swarthy face was dark with anger; in her hand was awillow switch. 

"Hurry!" cried Blue Bonnet. "Let's get there first, Alec, --she meansto thrash Juanita!"

Running and tripping on her long dress Blue Bonnet reached the groupand at her appearance the Mexicans burst into renewed cheering. 

"The Señorita!" they cried and parted to make room for her. 

"What is it--what's all the noise about?" asked Alec. 

But, as the circle parted, revealing a tableau in the centre, he andBlue Bonnet needed no explanation. Standing hand in hand, in attitudesexpressing both embarrassment and triumph, were--Miguel and Juanita. 

"Ran off to Jonah and got married!" chuckled Pinto Pete. 

Blue Bonnet and Alec gazed at each other in stupefaction for a second, then Blue Bonnet glanced hastily about for Gertrudis. The change inthe old woman was instantaneous. She turned to Blue Bonnet with agrin. 

"That Miguel makes good wages!" she cried. The anger had faded fromher face, and instead of the switch, Juanita received her blessing. 

"What a mercenary old thing Gertrudis is!" exclaimed Blue Bonnet, as, after congratulating the happy pair, she and Alec walked back to thehouse. 

"She's a sensible woman, " Alec remarked provokingly. "Most of theMexicans are lazy old loafers, --but Miguel has a streak of realAmerican industry. "

"Well, " said Blue Bonnet, "I little expected my birthday party to beturned into a wedding!"

When the last candle had been blown out and all was quiet except forthe echo of music and laughter from the Mexican quarters, where thewedding festivities were continued almost till dawn, Blue Bonnetslipped into her grandmother's room for a last word before retiring. 

"The sixteenth has been the best birthday of all, " she said happily. "Are you quite tired out, Grandmother?"

And Mrs. Clyde, bending to kiss the glowing face upturned to her, replied: "No, dear. It has been a beautiful party. But I'm glad forall our sakes that Blue Bonnet Ashe has but one birthday a year!"

CHAPTER XX

CONFERENCES

IT was well on towards noon before any one in either the house or tentwas stirring. Blue Bonnet and Ruth were the first to open their eyes, and they carried on a conversation in whispers for some time beforewaking the others. 

Ruth looked around the six beds in the nursery and smiled. "It lookslike a ward in a hospital, doesn't it?"

"Pretty healthy looking invalids in them, " Blue Bonnet replied. "Lookwhat red cheeks Kitty has. "

Ruth raised herself and leaned on one elbow, peering at theunconscious Kitty. "Red as fire. Doesn't she look funny?"

"Makes her hair look pale!" laughed Blue Bonnet. All at once, as shestudied the face that looked a brilliant scarlet against the whitepillow, the smile faded from her face. "Ruth, come here, " she said ina queer tone. 

Ruth obediently stole from her bed and tiptoed to Blue Bonnet's side. 

"Look at Kitty _hard_. "

"Doesn't she look strange?" Ruth whispered. 

A sudden thought made Blue Bonnet start. "Ruth, were you fumigatedbefore you left Woodford?"

"Fumigated? Goodness no! They fumigate houses, not people. "

"Well, disinfected is what I mean, I reckon. Kitty's got a rash--andit's scarlet!"

They gazed at each other in dismay. Kitty stirred, moaned, and sat up. 

"What are you all talking about?--oh, girls, --I can't open my eyes!"

At her cry all the other occupants of the nursery woke up, and crowdedabout the anguished Kitty. 

"Oh, Susy, look at her, " cried Blue Bonnet. "Did Ruth look like that?Do you think it's scarlet fever?"

"Scarlet fever nothing!" wailed Kitty. "It's poison ivy, that's whatit is!"

"How can it be? What makes you think so?" Blue Bonnet demanded. 

Kitty's tale was soon told, and to her indignation it provoked alaugh. 

"It's no laughing matter, I tell you, " she exclaimed miserably. 

"You wouldn't say that if you could see yourself!" Blue Bonnetreturned. 

"You wouldn't think it so funny if both your eyes were swollen shutand your face burned like fire. " Kitty tried to look pathetic, butonly succeeded in looking funnier than ever. 

Stifling their laughter, but exchanging glances of amusement everytime they caught sight of Kitty's blotched and swollen countenance, the girls dressed and went to seek advice for the sufferer. Everythingin the shape of a remedy from soap-suds to raw beefsteak was proposedby somebody or other, and nearly every one of them tried before theday was over. Kitty kept her bed and Sarah constituting herself nurse, ministered unto the afflicted one. 

It was hard for fun-loving Kitty to be shut up in a darkened room withher eyes and face bandaged, while the sounds of merriment and laughterfloated tantalizingly in. Sarah was kept busy bearing the numerousmessages of sympathy, ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous, thatSandy and some of the other boys spent their time in composing. 

It was decided that the party from Camp Judson should remain overuntil the next day, since all had risen too late for the desired earlystart. Carita looked supremely happy when Knight yielded to BlueBonnet's arguments and reached this decision. She had so wanted tostay, and yet--there were so many reasons why she should go; and itwas a great relief to her conscience to have Knight assume allresponsibility for their prolonged visit. 

"Now maybe we can have another nice talk, " she said, sinking downbeside Blue Bonnet in the hammock on the side veranda. "We've hadonly snatches, so far. And it will be so long before I see you again. "

"What makes you think so?" Blue Bonnet asked rather abruptly. 

"Why, --you will be leaving in two weeks, the girls said. "

"Oh, they did. " Blue Bonnet was thoughtful for a moment, then burstout--"Carita, what would you do, if you were in my place, --about goingback East again?"

"What would I do?" Carita repeated wonderingly. "Why, Blue Bonnet, doyou mean that you're not sure about going?"

"I do mean--just that. The girls have taken it for granted all alongthat I was going back with them, but somehow I can't make up my mind. Every day the ranch grows dearer. And being shut up in a stuffyschoolroom, and having to get up and go to bed by the clock, andhaving a place for everything and everything in its place--Carita, itgoes against the grain!"

Carita gave a comical little sigh. "It's queer how things seem tobe--cut on the bias, isn't it? Now to go to school, and see and knowlots of people, and have libraries and hear music--why, I seemsometimes to _ache_ for it all. "

"It's a pity you're not Aunt Lucinda's niece. You'd do her credit. Nowthe only person I seem to suit through and through, is Uncle Cliff. He's been father and mother both to me, and I think that I owe himsomething in return. I can't bear to leave him all alone again. "

"I know. I should feel just that way about Mother. She needs me, but, if we could afford it, she'd be the first to send me away to school. If I could get enough education to teach, I could help her more in theend. "

"I reckon it's the end that makes everything endurable. It was thethought of getting back to the ranch that got me through last year. But I haven't let myself think what the end of this summer wouldbring. Every day on the ranch is complete in itself. "

"But think how it will seem after this--when the girls are all gone, and your grandmother--"

"It's Grandmother who counts more than any one, except Uncle Cliff. Ireckon I'll just have to be blindfolded and then choose!"

"There come Knight and Alec, " said Carita. "I shouldn't wonder ifthey'd been having the same sort of a conversation. They'd like tochange places with each other. Knight is wild to go East to college, and Alec would give anything for--"

"Knight's health and strength, --I know, " Blue Bonnet interrupted. "It's another case of the mixed-upness of things. I'm disappointed inAlec. "

Carita opened her eyes wide. "Disappointed? Why, I should think you, of all people, feeling as you do, would sympathize with him. "

"I do sympathize with him, and always have. That's why I was so gladUncle Cliff asked him out here. I was sure it would do him the worldof good--"

"And so it has, " said Carita. "It has done wonders for him, Knightsays, and that's why--"

"And that's why I don't understand how he could possibly--" BlueBonnet broke off as the subject of their conversation took the threeveranda steps in one leap and settled himself comfortably on therailing for a chat. Knight threw himself into a chair near thehammock. 

"What are you two plotting?" asked Alec. "You've had your headstogether like a pair of Russian conspirators. "

"We're only trying to make the most of every minute we're together. Atleast that's what I'm doing, " said Carita. "I believe you two aredoing very much the same thing. "

The boys smiled at each other: that was a girl's way of putting it, but it came very near the truth. 

"I reckon you two girls will have lots to write about this winter, "said Knight. "Carita used to wonder, all last year, how you looked, and what the We are Sevens were like, and what you all wore and didand ate and--" He broke off with a laugh at Carita's indignant denial. "I expect her mind will be in Woodford more than ever, after this. "

"But Blue Bonnet may not go back, " Carita began, when a look from BlueBonnet checked her. 

"Not go back?" In his surprise Alec nearly fell off the railing. "Here's news for the We are Sevens! Well, Blue Bonnet, I can't say I'msorry. " So far from being depressed at the prospect, Alec lookedhighly elated. 

Blue Bonnet was strangely still. Alec had said that very much as if hemeant it. And it hurt. After almost a year of close friendship it was, to say the least, hardly good taste to pretend he was glad she was nolonger going to live next door to him. She did not intend, however, tolet him see how she felt, and rose without glancing in his direction. 

"I must go see Kitty, " she said briefly. 

Alec looked after her with a perplexed expression in his eyes. "Isn'tBlue Bonnet a bit offish lately, Carita? She doesn't seem at all likeherself. "

"I think she's worried, " said Carita. "It is hard trying to pleaseboth her uncle and her grandmother, when one wants her inMassachusetts, and the other urges her to stay on the ranch. "

"So that's the trouble?" Alec looked somewhat relieved. 

"Poor Blue Bonnet must feel rather like the rag we saw Texas andMassachusetts worrying this morning, " laughed Knight, "each took acorner and pulled!"

"She ought to appreciate one fact, " added Alec, "and that is, she atleast can decide for herself. She isn't compelled to do what somebodyelse decides for her. "

"Just the same, I believe she would prefer having some one else doit, " said Carita. 

In spite of Carita's explanation, Alec was not wholly at ease in hismind about Blue Bonnet. He imagined that her manner to him for thelast few days had conveyed a vague reproach. But he had no chance thatday to talk with her alone. 

Early the next morning Carita and Knight and the other boys preparedfor the long ride back to Camp Judson. 

"You'll write me soon, Blue Bonnet, won't you, and tell me what youdecide to do?" Carita asked as she leaned down from her pinto for alast word with Blue Bonnet. 

"Indeed I will, " Blue Bonnet assured her. "I wish I knew now. "

"And you'll write often if you go back--all about school and the girlsand--"

"I'll write about everything, if--!"

And this was the word on which they parted. 

Sandy lingered behind the others long enough to slip an envelope intoBlue Bonnet's hand. "For Kitty, " he explained. "Tell her I'm mightysorry I couldn't see her to say good-bye. "

"Maybe it is only '_hasta la vista_, ' as the Spanish say, --'good-byetill we meet again, '" said Blue Bonnet. "You must surely come toWoodford and see us if you go to Harvard. "

"'Neither foes nor loving friends'--shall hinder me from doing thatsame, if--!"

And with this word, Sandy, too, galloped after the others. 

Alec was to accompany the boys as far as the ford. As he rode away onStrawberry, looking very straight and manly in the saddle, GeneralTrent gazed after him with an expression of pride in his eyes. 

"The change in the boy is hardly short of marvellous, Miss BlueBonnet, " he said at last, turning to her. "I should never havebelieved it if I had not seen him. I'm very grateful to you forwriting me that letter, though I confess you had me badly puzzled. "

Blue Bonnet had stood looking regretfully after Carita, but at theGeneral's words she turned with a brightened face. If he was grateful, then he must have forgiven her for bringing him to Texas on what wasevidently an unnecessary errand. 

"I was afraid you might think I had--rushed in, " she said. 

"Not at all!" he replied. "Though I did not quite understand--youweren't entirely clear, you know. "

Indeed she did know!

"But Alec has explained the situation, " the General continued, "and Iunderstand everything now. "

Blue Bonnet drew a quick breath of relief. "Then it's all right?"

"Yes, --and he need not have hesitated. I sympathize with him wholly. "

Sympathize? How queerly he said it. Again Blue Bonnet was swept out tosea. 

"I am going to talk with Mr. Ashe about the matter now. We must dowhat is best for the boy. " As General Trent walked to meet UncleCliff, Blue Bonnet stood staring after him, her thoughts in a whirl. 

"What's the matter? You look as if you had just been through anearthquake, " laughed Ruth, coming up and slipping her thin hand intoBlue Bonnet's. 

"I think I have, --and everything is upside down. " Blue Bonnet stilllooked dazed as she turned to go into the house. 

"Come in and see Kitty. The poor child is pretty blue. "

"She was pretty red when I last saw her!" laughed Blue Bonnet. "I'vesomething here to cheer her--a message from Sandy. She snubs himdreadfully, but he seems to enjoy it. "

They found all the girls gathered about Kitty's bed, evidently in themidst of a serious discussion. Silence fell as Blue Bonnet entered. 

"I can see out of one eye!" Kitty announced with forced gaiety. 

"Praise be!" said Blue Bonnet. "Now you can see what Sandy sent for afarewell message. " She held out the envelope. 

"Open it please, " said Kitty. "That boy is always up to mischief and Ican't take any more risks. I cut one of his dances the other eveningand he vowed vengeance. "

Blue Bonnet obeyed while the other girls looked on with unconcealedinterest. The envelope appeared to be empty, but when it wasvigorously shaken upside down, something fell on to the counterpane. They all dove for it, but it was Debby who finally caught and held itup. It was a tiny square of note-paper, in the centre of which a knotof ribbon secured something bright and shining. It was a lock ofSandy's silky red hair. Under it was written: "A coal of fire. Iforgive you. "

Kitty laughed for the first time since her affliction had come uponher; and the girls blessed Sandy for his nonsense. 

"May I borrow my granddaughter for a few minutes?" asked the Señora, looking in at the door. "Blue Bonnet, I've a letter here from yourAunt Lucinda. "

An odd look came into Blue Bonnet's face, --Grandmother's voice held ahint of something important. She handed Sandy's memento to Kitty andforced a smile. "Put this in your memory-book, Kitty. When Sandy ispresident, you can point with pride to that coal of fire--they'relikely, by then, to call it 'the fire of genius!'"

When she had left the room, Kitty looked out of her one good eye witha glance intended to be solemn. "Girls, I've a presentiment. "

"What about, --Sandy?" asked Sarah. 

"No, you silly, --except that he'll never be president! I'm thinkingabout Blue Bonnet, --I was just going to tell you when she came in. Idon't believe she intends to go back with us. "

Kitty's words produced even more of an effect than she had expected. For several minutes no one spoke, then Ruth said half irritably:

"If you can't have pleasanter presentiments than that, Kitty, I wishyou wouldn't have them. "

"I can't help it, " Kitty declared. "She won't say a word about it. Andevery time we get on to the subject, she either begins to talk aboutsomething else, or leaves the room. "

"I've noticed it, too, " said Sarah, quietly. 

The gloom on every countenance bore silent witness to the hold BlueBonnet had on the affections of the We are Sevens. 

"Woodford will be a stupid old hole without her, " Kitty declared. 

"Passing over your implied compliment to us, " said Debby, "I agreewith you. "

Grandmother handed Blue Bonnet Aunt Lucinda's letter without comment;but watched the girl's face closely as she read. A characteristicletter it was, showing the fine mind and cultivation of the writer, yet like her, too, precise and rather formal in its wording. She wasin Munich, enjoying the summer music festival. Nothing very importantso far, Blue Bonnet concluded, and began to breathe more easily. Butover the closing pages she sobered again. 

"There is a rather remarkable pianist staying at this same pension, "she wrote; "and she plays for us very often. Something in the charmand delicacy of her touch makes me think of Blue Bonnet's, when sheplays her little 'Ave Maria. ' I have talked with her about Blue Bonnetand she thinks with me that the child must have real talent for thepiano. Fräulein Schirmer is to teach music in a school for girls inBoston, this coming winter, and I think it would be an excellent planto place Blue Bonnet right in the school. She is old enough now toappreciate the atmosphere of culture and refinement in such aplace, --I am told that the first families of Boston send theirdaughters there--and she could have the advantage of attending theSymphony concerts. 

"Woodford has nothing much to offer in the way of musical advantages, and I think Blue Bonnet should develop her talent in this line. Shecould come to us for the week-end always, and in that way we shouldnot have to part with her altogether. But we can settle the matterwhen we are all in Woodford once more. "

Blue Bonnet sighed as she finished and let the letter drop into herlap. "When they were all in Woodford once more. " So Aunt Lucinda, too, took it for granted! She stirred a trifle resentfully. 

"One would think I had signed a life-contract!" she thought. 

Mrs. Clyde sought her granddaughter's eye anxiously. "Well, BlueBonnet, what are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking--not for the first time either, --of something I oncesaid to Alec. I wished, and keep on wishing--that there were two ofme, --so that one might stay here on the ranch with Uncle Cliff, whilethe other was with you and Aunt Lucinda in Woodford, being educated. "

Grandmother smiled and sighed in the same breath. "Suppose you leaveme and Uncle Clifford and Aunt Lucinda out of the matter entirely. Just think how it would have appealed to--your mother. "

The blue eyes turned swiftly from her grandmother's face to gaze outacross the wide sweep of prairie. There was a long silence. When BlueBonnet faced her grandmother again, her eyes were misty. 

"I wish she were here to tell me. Somehow I can't make it seem right, either way. Will you wait and let me sleep on it, Grandmother? I'lltell you, as the Mexicans say--_mañana_. "

"To-morrow?"

"Well, _mañana_ with the Mexicans means almost any time in the future, but I'll make it--to-morrow. "

Mrs. Clyde was silent, but the glance that followed Blue Bonnet as sheleft the room, was very wistful. 

CHAPTER XXI

BLUE BONNET DECIDES

[Illustration: "ALEC SURVEYED HER PROUD LITTLE PROFILE. "]

"I SAY, Blue Bonnet, wait for a fellow, won't you?"

Blue Bonnet waited, none too eagerly, while Alec caught up with her, and then, whistling to Don and Solomon, turned to resume her walkalong the grassy bank of San Franciscito. 

Alec surveyed her proud little profile for a few minutes in a sort ofpuzzled wonder, and finally as she kept on in the same unsociablemanner, he began with determined friendliness:

"We've never yet taken the walk we planned, along the _rio_. Feelequal to it this morning?"

"There isn't time to go far. I told Grandmother I'd not be gone long, "she returned carelessly. 

"Another tea-party on?" This time he succeeded in bringing the oldsparkle of laughter to her eyes. 

"Not this time, " she answered. 

"Your parties have been a sort of continuous performance this summer, haven't they?" he persisted, hoping to win her to a moreconversational mood. 

"And the summer is almost over, --did you ever know such a shortvacation?"

"It's been the jolliest one I've ever had. And it is going to mean alot to me all my life, Blue Bonnet. "

They walked on in silence for a few minutes. Then Alec asked--"Do youremember the morning we first spoke of following this stream?"

"Yes, --and do you remember how we wondered what we would talk about onour next jaunt by the Woodford brook?"

He nodded. "I remember everything; that was the first day I told you Iwasn't likely to be in Woodford next spring. It was only a day-dreamthen, --isn't it funny how things have come out?"

"Funny? Alec, you are the queerest boy. You've taken to talking inriddles lately, and I--I reckon I'm pretty slow at guessing riddles. We may as well have it out right now. I've been wanting to have a talkwith you. "

"Same here, " returned Alec. "What's the matter, anyway? You've notbeen a bit like yourself the last few days. "

"Don't you really know, Alec?" Blue Bonnet met his puzzled eyes verysoberly. 

"I honestly don't, Blue Bonnet. "

"And haven't you felt the least little bit guilty about letting mewrite that letter to your grandfather?"

"Guilty?" Alec's tone expressed unaffected amazement. "Do you mean Iought to have written it myself? I'd have done it if you had hintedthat you'd rather have me. Why didn't you say so?"

"You seemed so anxious to have me do it. "

"And so I was. It seemed only right and proper that you should be thefirst to suggest the proposition. You're the owner of the Blue Bonnetranch. "

"What has that to do with it?"

"Well, I should think it had everything to do with it. I couldn't verywell invite myself, could I?"

"Invite yourself? Oh, dear, now you're talking in riddles again. "

"Well, Blue Bonnet, after you had invited me to spend two months onthe ranch, it certainly took more courage than I possessed to suggestextending my visit for a year or two. You can see how much better itwas for the suggestion to come from you. Grandfather has fallen rightin with it and is making all arrangements with Mr. Ashe right now. "

Blue Bonnet's eyes grew round with astonishment. "Do you mean to tellme that you are going to stay on the ranch a year or two?"

"If you and Mr. Ashe will stand for it. I want to stay till I outgrowbeing a weakling and grow into a real man. Till I'm as broad as afellow my age should be and have a muscle bigger than a girl's. Thetwo months here have already shown what two years is likely to do forme. " Alec squared his shoulders and drew himself up as if already theexample of brawn he longed to be. 

"And do you mean to tell me that when you said you might not go backto Woodford, and that there was no college in store for Alec Trent youonly meant--"

"Till I had the strength to go through with it, yes. I've had enoughbreakdowns. Why, what--"

"I wish you were a girl so that I could shake you!" Blue Bonnet's lookwas a queer mixture of relief and indignation. "Why couldn't you sayso in the first place? When you kept making all those mysterioushints, I was wasting good, honest pity on you because I thought youwere preparing for an early grave!"

Alec's peal of laughter showed how far from pitiable his state was. "Oh, Blue Bonnet, I wish I could tell that to Knight!"

"But didn't you hint?" she demanded. 

"Of course I did. I was fishing for an invitation to make a good longvisit to the Blue Bonnet ranch. Hardly likely, was it, that I wasgoing to demand it boldly as a right?"

"Well, it would have saved me a heap of worry if you had. Why, Alec!"Blue Bonnet sank down on the bank to think it over. "What are yougoing to do on the ranch all winter?"

He threw himself on the grass beside her. 

"I'm going to live, as far as possible, like Pinto Pete and Shady. I'mgoing to ride the range, go on the round-up this fall and nextspring, --spend about fifteen hours a day in the open. And if I'm notas husky as a Texas cowboy by next summer, it won't be my fault. Youknow it's been my one wish, Blue Bonnet, and this, I'm convinced isthe way to get it. "

"And college?"

"College can wait. I'd rather have biceps like Knight's than be awalking encyclopædia!"

"Think of all the sympathy I've wasted!" Blue Bonnet laughed atherself. 

"Oh, I don't know that it's all been wasted. I've deserved a gooddeal. I've been afraid Grandfather would be against the scheme--he'snever been willing to admit that I wasn't as strong as I ought to be. I've only just begun myself to realize how good-for-nothing I used tofeel most of the time. There's nothing like feeling able to shake yourfist at all out-doors!"

Blue Bonnet smiled. "Then I needn't regret my letter?"

"Regret?--well, I should say not! You builded better than you knew. Getting Grandfather worried was just the right thing, though it soundsrather heartless to say it. Being worried, he came and saw and--Iconquered!"

"Now I won't have to ask for an explanation of a very rude speech ofyours. "

"Was I rude--to you?" Alec looked up hastily. 

"It sounded--rather queer, for you to rejoice over my not going backto Woodford, " she answered. 

"Meant purely as a compliment, " he assured her. "It would be mightyjolly to have you here, Blue Bonnet. "

She rose hurriedly. "Let's not go into that, please. Every time I getpretty near a decision, some new argument bobs up on the other side. I'm dreadfully worried, Alec. But, thank goodness, you're off mymind!"

"I'll try to stay off, Blue Bonnet, " he laughed as he followed heralong the narrow path. "If you go back you'll write often, won't you?I shall depend on you--"

She made a movement of impatience. "I'm not going to cross bridges, Alec, till I come to them. "

"I beg your pardon. I forgot that bridges are a touchy subject withyou!"

They found Uncle Cliff and the General still absorbed in what appearedto be an interminable conversation. The General rose withold-fashioned courtesy as Blue Bonnet came up the veranda steps. 

"What do you think of your new cowboy?" he asked, laying his handaffectionately on Alec's shoulder. 

"We've just been exchanging opinions with each other, " she said, witha sidelong glance at Alec. 

"I'm going to miss the boy, " General Trent continued. "The old housewill be very dull and empty, --unless you make up your mind to beparticularly neighborly, Miss Blue Bonnet. "

Blue Bonnet colored and looked way. "I--I'll do my best if--"

"Will you walk down to the stable with me, Grandfather?" Alec askedquickly. "I've not shown you the little coyotes yet. "

As the General walked away with his hand still on Alec's shoulder, Blue Bonnet turned to her uncle. 

"Read this, will you please, Uncle? It came to-day. "

He took Aunt Lucinda's letter, an odd expression growing around hismouth. But he opened it without speaking. Blue Bonnet sank into thehammock and watched him narrowly, --much as Grandmother had watched heras she read the same pages. She saw his lower teeth close on hismustache when he came to the significant part. 

He lifted his eyes at last. "Well, Honey?"

"Well, Uncle?"

He sighed deeply. "Are you putting this up to me?"

She raised her shoulders in an expressive shrug. "I reckon you oughtto have the deciding vote. I'm on the fence. "

"Do you want to be a musician, Blue Bonnet?"

"I'd love to--if it weren't for all the practising!"

"Seems to me you play mighty well now. "

"I'm very careless in my methods, Aunt Lucinda says. "

Uncle Cliff winced. "None of the girls play as well as you do, Honey. "

"I--I don't believe they do. But maybe, Uncle Cliff, that is a verygood reason why I should go on with it. Maybe I really have talent. "

"Wouldn't it be very lonesome off there in Boston? And won't it bemostly work and very little play?"

"I'm afraid it will. But, somehow, it's chiefly because it will be somuch easier to stay on the ranch and be--desultory, as Aunt Lucindasays, --that I think I ought to go. "

"I see, Honey. You _are_ developing a New England conscience!"

"I wonder?" she pondered. 

"I don't want you to do anything just because it's easier, BlueBonnet, " Uncle Cliff continued. "That wasn't your father's way. "

"Nor your way, Uncle Cliff. "

"I hope not, Blue Bonnet. That's why I'm going to stop arguing righthere. It's my natural inclination to say 'stay with me, Honey, I needyou. ' But I know I don't, --I just want you. But what I want more isto have you do the thing that's best for Blue Bonnet Ashe, --the thingthat will make you say in the end, 'I'm glad I did it!'" More movedthan he cared to show, Clifford Ashe rose, and running down theveranda steps, strode off in the direction of the stable. 

"Oh, dear!" thought Blue Bonnet, gazing after him. "In the language ofthe cowboys, --it's certainly up to me!"

When she went into her grandmother's room that night--the room thathad been her mother's--Blue Bonnet found Benita acting as lady's maid, brushing Mrs. Clyde's long hair. The old nurse enjoyed nothing so muchas waiting on the little Señora's mother, --unless it was babying thelittle Señora's daughter. As she stood in the doorway silentlywatching the two, the sight of the rippling gray locks, fast whiteninginto snow, did more to sway Blue Bonnet than all the other array ofarguments. Uncle Cliff wanted her; it was Grandmother who reallyneeded her. 

She tiptoed up back of Benita, but her grandmother had caught sight ofher in the mirror and turned at her approach. Something in theexpression of Blue Bonnet's eyes as she bent for the good-night kissmade Mrs. Clyde say hastily--

"What is it, dear?"

And Blue Bonnet, her tone reflecting the happiness her words gave, replied: "It isn't _mañana_ yet, but I can't wait to tell you--I'mgoing when you go, Grandmother. "

When they looked up, Benita stood with her apron thrown over herface. 

CHAPTER XXII

HASTA LA VISTA

THE We are Sevens were packing. An open trunk blocked each aislebetween the six beds in the nursery; in Sarah's room two more werestanding, half-filled, one reflecting the neatness and order of itsowner, the other bearing silent witness to the fact that it belongedto Blue Bonnet Ashe. 

"What are you doing with that old stick, Blue Bonnet?" asked Sarah, asshe carefully folded her riding-skirt and laid tissue paper betweenthe folds. 

"Old stick, indeed! That's the alpenstock Knight cut for me and Sandycarved, --I've sawed off about six inches of it, though it broke myheart to do it. It's one of my dearest treasures and I'm going to takeit to Woodford if I have to carry it all the way!" Blue Bonnetdeclared vigorously. 

"I don't see anything so wonderful about it, " Sarah returned. "Thereare plenty of old sticks just like it to be had around Woodford. "

Blue Bonnet lifted indignant eyes. "As if any old Woodford stick couldmean as much as this one. Why, this has the initials of every one inboth camps carved on it, and every inch of it represents a good time. You've no sentiment, Sarah. "

"I certainly haven't enough sentiment to make me rumple my best whitedress with a clumsy old stick, " Sarah replied. 

"I reckon it ought to have gone in with my shoes, but it's too latenow. How you do fuss over that riding-skirt, Sarah!"

"Well, if you want to know it, I've a lot of sentiment about thatskirt. I wish I could take Comanche along, too. "

Here Blue Bonnet amazed Sarah by jumping up and giving her a hug. "Oh, Sarah, I do love you for saying that! If you had been reconciled toriding that same old poke you had last year I'd have beenso--disgusted. Won't the livery-man in Woodford open his eyes whenMiss Blake demands a 'horse with some go in him'--! The inhabitants ofthe town will get a few thrills too, I reckon. "

"Do you think it will be proper for us to ride there the way we ridehere?" Sarah asked eagerly. 

"Astride? We'll make it proper! It's the only humane way, Unclesays--a side-saddle is a downright cruelty. And I don't see why aparson's daughter shouldn't set the fashion. "

"Then Ruth will get a chance to wear her riding-skirt after all--herheart will be stronger after a while. I've hated to ride when shecouldn't, but she has insisted upon our going. "

"That's just like you, you unselfish old dear! But Ruth told me thatit was the next best thing to riding herself, to see you on Comanche. "

"Did she?" asked Sarah; and then hid her face in the trunk so thatBlue Bonnet should not see how pleased she was. 

They were to leave in the morning, and trunks were to be sent to thestation this very afternoon. Already Uncle Joe was hovering about, rope in hand, waiting to give the final touch to the baggage. He hadfound it necessary to keep very busy these last few days. 

"We might have seen this coming, " he said disconsolately to Mr. Ashe, as the latter sat smoking a solitary pipe on the front veranda. "Letyoung folks get runnin' with young folks, and they're never againcontented alone. "

"It isn't _young_ folks that's taking Blue Bonnet this time, Joe. " Mr. Ashe glanced in to where a silver head showed just inside the window. "_Her_ girl never went back to her from Texas, and I reckon it's onlyright she should have her share of Elizabeth's daughter. "

Uncle Joe looked sober. "You're right, Cliff. " Then, as if determinedto look on the bright side of things, "We'll have the boy forcompany. "

"Yes, and there'll be more letters. She'll tell him things shewouldn't be likely to write to two old fellows. " And with this crumbof comfort the "two old fellows" were forced to content themselves. 

Blue Bonnet was up at daybreak next morning, and, sitting on the toprail of the pasture fence, watched the sun rise out of the prairie. Don and Solomon eyed her expectantly. 

"Our last sunrise on the ranch, Solomon, for ever and ever solong, --we're off to Massachusetts this very morning. And it's aPullman for me and a baggage-car for you--no private car this time!But I'll come and see you at every station and see that you haveexercise. Poor dog, I wonder how you'll like the 'resumption ofdiscipline'--as Alec calls it? We're going back to Aunt Lucinda, youknow, Solomon, and Aunt Lucinda's strong for discipline. "

Her eyes wandered off toward the distant hills and then away acrossthe wind-swept, rolling prairie. How would it seem to be back againamong houses, tall houses with trim door-yards and clippedhedges, --houses so close one couldn't throw a stone without "breakinga window or a tradition"--?

Some one was whistling "All the Blue Bonnets are over the Border. " Shelooked up as Alec came towards her. 

"Do I intrude upon a solemn hour?" he asked. 

"The solemn hour has ticked its last second. I've said good-bye toeverything and everybody, --except Texas and Massachusetts. Come withme to see those infants. "

Hardly infants any longer, however. Long-tailed, with erect silky earsand coats that stood out shaggily from their fattening sides, thecoyotes were fast growing into big, clumsy dogs. 

"You'll look after them, won't you, Alec?" Blue Bonnet askedanxiously. 

"That I will, " he promised. 

"And you'll write me often about--everything? And see that Uncle Cliffdoesn't smoke too much, and that Uncle Joe takes his rheumatismmedicine--"

"Trust me!" Alec knew better than to smile at such a moment. "And inturn, Blue Bonnet, you'll give an eye to Grandfather, won't you?"

They shook hands on it solemnly, and went in to breakfast. 

Kitty, her face restored to its usual milky-whiteness, and lookingvery pretty in her jaunty travelling-suit, met them at the door. Peering over her shoulder stood Ruth--a sunburned Ruth with brighteyes and a rounder curve to her cheek than it had worn two weeksbefore. 

"We were afraid you had decided to run off and hide at the lastminute, " said Kitty, slipping her arm around Blue Bonnet as ifdetermined not to risk losing her a second time. 

"I was only--saying good-bye, " said Blue Bonnet soberly. 

"Blue Bonnet is like more than one famous prima donna, " said Alec, "she has made half a dozen 'positively last' farewell tours!"

They were off at last. Distributed equally between the buckboard andone of the farm-wagons, the We are Sevens, Grandmother Clyde, GeneralTrent and Uncle Joe went ahead. Blue Bonnet, Alec, and Uncle Clifffollowed on horseback. 

As they neared the bridge Blue Bonnet drew rein, and, turning in thesaddle, glanced back for a last look at the weather-stained oldranch-house. The cowboys and most of the Mexicans, who had gathered tosay good-bye to the Señorita and her "amigos" from Massachusetts, werealready scattering about the work of the day. But in the doorway thefaithful Benita still stood, waving her apron. 

Blue Bonnet's eyes filled. 

"Good-bye, old house, good-bye, Benita, " she said, and then addedsoftly: "_Hasta la vista!_"

=THE END. =

 Selections from The Page Company's Books for Young People

 * * * * *

=THE BLUE BONNET SERIES=

 _Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per volume_ $1. 75

=A TEXAS BLUE BONNET=

By CAROLINE E. JACOBS. 

"The book's heroine, Blue Bonnet, has the very finest kind ofwholesome, honest, lively girlishness. "--_Chicago Inter-Ocean. _

=BLUE BONNET'S RANCH PARTY=

By CAROLINE E. JACOBS AND EDYTH ELLERBECK READ. 

"A healthy, natural atmosphere breathes from every chapter. "--_BostonTranscript. _

=BLUE BONNET IN BOSTON=

By CAROLINE E. JACOBS AND LELA HORN RICHARDS. 

"It is bound to become popular because of its wholesomeness and itsmany human touches. "--_Boston Globe. _

=BLUE BONNET KEEPS HOUSE=

By CAROLINE E. JACOBS AND LELA HORN RICHARDS. 

"It cannot fail to prove fascinating to girls in their teens. "--_NewYork Sun. _

=BLUE BONNET--DÉBUTANTE=

By LELA HORN RICHARDS. 

An interesting picture of the unfolding of life for Blue Bonnet. 

=BLUE BONNET OF THE SEVEN STARS=

By LELA HORN RICHARDS. 

"The author's intimate detail and charm of narration gives the readeran interesting story of the heroine's war activities. "--_PittsburghLeader. _

=THE YOUNG PIONEER SERIES=

By HARRISON ADAMS

 _Each 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per volume_ $1. 65

=THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE OHIO; OR, = CLEARING THE WILDERNESS. 

"Such books as this are an admirable means of stimulating among theyoung Americans of to-day interest in the story of their pioneerancestors and the early days of the Republic. "--_Boston Globe. _

=THE PIONEER BOYS ON THE GREAT LAKES;= OR, ON THE TRAIL OF THEIROQUOIS. 

"The recital of the daring deeds of the frontier is not onlyinteresting but instructive as well and shows the sterling typeof character which these days of self-reliance and trialproduced. "--_American Tourist, Chicago. _

=THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE MISSISSIPPI;= OR, THE HOMESTEAD IN THEWILDERNESS. 

"The story is told with spirit, and is full of adventure. "--_New YorkSun. _

=THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE MISSOURI;= OR, IN THE COUNTRY OF THE SIOUX. 

"Vivid in style, vigorous in movement, full of dramatic situations, true to historic perspective, this story is a capital one forboys. "--_Watchman Examiner, New York City. _

=THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE YELLOWSTONE;= OR, LOST IN THE LAND OFWONDERS. 

"There is plenty of lively adventure and action and the story is welltold. "--_Duluth Herald, Duluth, Minn. _

=THE PIONEER BOYS OF THE COLUMBIA;= OR, IN THE WILDERNESS OF THE GREATNORTHWEST. 

"The story is full of spirited action and contains much valuablehistorical information. "--_Boston Herald. _

=THE HADLEY HALL SERIES=

By LOUISE M. BREITENBACH

 _Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per volume_ $1. 65

=ALMA AT HADLEY HALL=

"The author is to be congratulated on having written such an appealingbook for girls. "--_Detroit Free Press. _

=ALMA'S SOPHOMORE YEAR=

"It cannot fail to appeal to the lovers of good things in girls'books. "--_Boston Herald. _

=ALMA'S JUNIOR YEAR=

"The diverse characters in the boarding-school are strongly drawn, theincidents are well developed and the action is never dull. "--_TheBoston Herald. _

=ALMA'S SENIOR YEAR=

"A healthy, natural atmosphere breathes from every chapter. "--_BostonTranscript. _

=THE GIRLS OF FRIENDLY TERRACE SERIES=

By HARRIET LUMMIS SMITH

_Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per volume_ $1. 65

=THE GIRLS OF FRIENDLY TERRACE=

"A book sure to please girl readers, for the author seems tounderstand perfectly the girl character. "--_Boston Globe. _

=PEGGY RAYMOND'S VACATION=

"It is a wholesome, hearty story. "--_Utica Observer. _

=PEGGY RAYMOND'S SCHOOL DAYS=

The book is delightfully written, and contains lots of excitingincidents. 

=THE FRIENDLY TERRACE QUARTETTE=

These four lively girls found their opportunities to serve theircountry. The story of their adventures will bring anew to every girlwho reads about them the realization of what she owes to her country. 

=FAMOUS LEADERS SERIES=

By CHARLES H. L. JOHNSTON

 _Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per volume_ $2. 00

=FAMOUS CAVALRY LEADERS=

"More of such books should be written, books that acquaint youngreaders with historical personages in a pleasant, informal way. "--_NewYork Sun. _

=FAMOUS INDIAN CHIEFS=

"Mr. Johnston has done faithful work in this volume, and his relationof battles, sieges and struggles of these famous Indians with thewhites for the possession of America is a worthy addition to UnitedStates History. "--_New York Marine Journal. _

=FAMOUS SCOUTS=

"It is the kind of a book that will have a great fascination for boysand young men. "--_New London Day. _

=FAMOUS PRIVATEERSMEN AND ADVENTURERS OF THE SEA=

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=FAMOUS FRONTIERSMEN AND HEROES OF THE BORDER=

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Who Led the United States and Her Allies to a Glorious Victory. 

"The pages of this book have the charm of romance without itsunreality. The book illuminates, with life-like portraits, the historyof the World War. "--_Rochester Post Express. _

=HILDEGARDE-MARGARET SERIES=

By LAURA E. RICHARDS

Eleven Volumes

The Hildegarde-Margaret Series, beginning with "Queen Hildegarde" andending with "The Merryweathers, " make one of the best and most popularseries of books for girls ever written. 

 _Each large 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per volume_ $1. 75 _The eleven volumes boxed as a set_ $19. 25

=LIST OF TITLES=

 =QUEEN HILDEGARDE=

 =HILDEGARDE'S HOLIDAY=

 =HILDEGARDE'S HOME=

 =HILDEGARDE'S NEIGHBORS=

 =HILDEGARDE'S HARVEST=

 =THREE MARGARETS=

 =MARGARET MONTFORT=

 =PEGGY=

 =RITA=

 =FERNLEY HOUSE=

 =THE MERRYWEATHERS=

=THE CAPTAIN JANUARY SERIES=

By LAURA E. RICHARDS

 _Each one volume, 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated, per volume_ 90 cents

=CAPTAIN JANUARY=

A charming idyl of New England coast life, whose success has been veryremarkable. 

 SAME. _Illustrated Holiday Edition_ $1. 35

=MELODY:= THE STORY OF A CHILD. 

=MARIE=

A companion to "Melody" and "Captain January. "

=ROSIN THE BEAU=

A sequel to "Melody" and "Marie. "

=SNOW-WHITE;= OR, THE HOUSE IN THE WOOD. 

=JIM OF HELLAS;= OR, IN DURANCE VILE, and a companion story, BETHESDAPOOL. 

=NARCISSA=

And a companion story, IN VERONA, being two delightful short storiesof New England life. 

="SOME SAY"=

And a companion story, NEIGHBORS IN CYRUS. 

=NAUTILUS=

"'Nautilus' is by far the best product of the author's powers, and iscertain to achieve the wide success it so richly merits. "

=ISLA HERON=

This interesting story is written in the author's usual charmingmanner. 

 * * * * *

Transcriber's Notes:

Obvious punctuation errors repaired. 

Italics are denoted by _tags_ and bold text by =tags=. 

Varied hyphenation was retained in horseback/horse-back;bedroom/bed-room; bedclothes/bed-clothes; buckboard/buck-board;cowbells/cow-bells; oilcloth/oil-cloth; outdoors/out-doors;sunbonnet/sun-bonnet; We are Seven/We-are-Seven. 

Varied spelling of bandana/bandanna was retained. 

Page 36, "horse" changed to "horses" (appraised the horses)

Page 101, "Francescito" changed to "Franciscito" (skirting SanFranciscito)

Page 200, "pique" changed to "piqué" (white piqué skirt)