of self-consciousness into the haven of youthful reciprocity.

"We thought you were _never_ coming--it's past one o'clock you know, and
we looked for you at eleven," said she, catching Jim by the sleeve and
leading the way to the road where the two horses were waiting.

"We expected to be here at half-past ten, or eleven at the latest, but
it is a long story to tell, and we ought to explain to your mother at
the same time," replied Jim, throwing the bridle over his arm and
starting to walk beside Eleanor.

Naturally, Kenneth and Polly followed, but Eleanor turned around every
other moment to include them in her vivacious conversation about the
land-slide and the fears that Choko's Find was lost.

"Oh, but say! What a ripping chance we missed, Ken, by not being one of
the party on the Slide, eh?" cried Jim, enviously.

"I'd like to be one of the party up there now. Just fancy the
opportunities one would have for seeing how much he knows about
engineering," replied Kenneth.

"Maybe we can fix it so mother'll allow us to show you the way up. I'd
love to go again," ventured Polly, enthusiastically, as she forgot
herself in the absorbing subject of the gold mine.

"Ken and I have to be back at camp to-night! That's the worst of being
hired!" grumbled Jim.

"It's that, or being fired!" retorted Kenneth, laughingly.

Youth needs little to laugh at, so the four took this little speech as a
cue to laugh loud and long. It attracted Barbara's attention. She had
been trying to read, but now she got up to frown at the gay young people
she saw climbing the road to the house. Anne also heard the laughter
and hurriedly called to Mrs. Brewster: "They're almost here--come right
out."

So the visitors found a pleasant welcome awaiting them as they reached
the porch. Immediately after greeting the ladies, the boys apologized
for their lateness. Jim then acted as spokesman.

"We feared we would not be able to be here, at all, as the Boss of our
Crew forbid any one taking out a horse to-day. Jake has charge of the
horses, you know, and he was instructed not to pass one mount.

"Maybe the boys weren't furious! as we always take Sundays to ride to
Oak Creek. It's the only off day we get. But Carew said we had a long
move to make to-morrow, and his horses had to be fresh for the trip.

"Gee! I felt like thundering about camp, as I had looked forward to this
visit ever since Ken told me about how he met you folks, and all. Now we