Page:Boy scouts in the White Mountains; the story of a long hike (IA boyscoutsinwhite00eato).pdf/91

 "Go on, Art, by yourself, if you want. I'm going to be a gay little Sir Launcelot to a dame in overalls!"

All the boys laughed, except Art, who was still scowling.

"Cheer up, Art," whispered Rob. "It sounds like fun to me. Look at that nice girl in the door; she's looking at you."

Art turned instinctively, and his eyes met those of a very pretty girl in pink, who was in the doorway. He blushed. So did the girl. Peanut winked at Rob, who winked back.

"He'll come," they each whispered to the other.

Mr. Rogers was talking to the guide, and to the lone man who had accompanied this party. The man took him over to the women (there were two women and five girls), and the boys saw their Scout Master bow, and talk with them. A moment later he came across the room.

"That poor man has brought his wife and two daughters and three of their friends and another woman up from North Woodstock, boys," he said. "I can see they are all greenhorns at this sort of work. It's really up to us to help 'em. They are going to get into overalls now."

The women and girls went up-stairs to the second story of the log house, and the boys could hear them tittering and giggling, and emitting little cries of "Ah!" and "Oh, my gracious!" and "I can never