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for he loved her with all the ardour and passion which he gave to
everything else。 You might be fearful of Jack's high spirits and
riotous mirth； of his reckless actions and heedless jokes； but you
could scarcely keep from admiring the boy； for he was brave and
handsome and winsome enough to charm the very birds off the bush； as
Aunt Truth acknowledged； after giving him a lecture for some
misdemeanour。
The three girls made their way a short distance up the canyon to a
place which they called Prospect Pool； because it was so entirely
shut in from observation。
'Dear old Geoff！' said Bell； throwing her shawl over a rock and
opening her volume of Carlyle。 'He has gone all through this for me；
and written nice little remarks on the margin；explanations and
things； and interrogations where he thinks I won't know what is meant
and had better find out；bless his heart！ What have you brought；
Margery？ By the way； you must move your seat away from that clump of
poison…oak bushes； we can't afford to have any accidents which will
interfere with our fun。 We have all sorts of new remedies； but I
prefer that the boys should experiment with them。'
'It's the softest seat here； too；' grumbled Margery。 'We must get
the boys to cut these bushes down。 Why； you haven't any book； you
lazy Polly。 Are you going to sleep； or shall you chatter and prevent
our reading？'
'Neither；' she answered。 'Here is a doughnut which I propose to send
down the red pathway of fate； and here a pencil and paper with which
I am going to begin our round…robin letter to Elsie。'
'That's good！ She has only had notes from Jack and one letter from
us； which； if I remember right； had nothing in it。'
'Thanks！ I wrote it；' sniffed Bell。
'Well； I meant it had no newsno account of things； you know。'
'No； I wouldn't descend to writing news； and I leave accounts to the
butcher。'
'Stop quarrelling； girls！ This is my plan： I will begin in my usual
rockety style； sometimes maliciously called the Pollyoliver method；
Margery will take up the thread sedately； Bell will plunge in with a
burst of enthusiasm and seventeen adjectives； followed by a verse of
poor poetry； Geoff will do the sportive or instructive； just as he
happens to feel； and Phil will wind up the letter by some practical
details which will serve as a key to all the rest。 Won't it be a box
of literary bonbons for her to read in bed； poor darling！ Let me
see！ I represent the cayenne lozenges； sharp but impressive； Margery
will do for jujube paste； which I adore；mild； pleasant； yielding；
delicious。'
'Sticky and insipid！' murmured Madge； plaintively。
'Not at all； my dear。 Bell stands for the peppermints； Jack for
chocolates； 〃the ladies' delight〃； Geoffrey for a wine…drop；
altogether good； but sweetest in its heart； Phillet me see！ Phil
is likewhat is he like？'
'No more like candy than a cold boiled potato；' said his sister。
'He is candid；' suggested Bell。 'Let us call him rock…candy； pure；
healthful； and far from soft。'
'Or marshmallow；' said Margery； 'good； but tough。'
'Or caramel；' laughed Polly； 'it always sticks to a point。'
'Thanks； gentle creatures；' said a voice from the bushes on the other
side of the pool； and Phil stalked out from his covert； like a
wounded deer。
'How long have you been in there； villain？' cried Bell。
'Ever since lunch； but I only waked from a sound sleep some twenty
minutes ago。 I've heard a most instructive conversationnever been
more amused in my life； don't know whether I prefer being a cold
boiled potato or a ladies'…delight！'
'You haven't any choice；' snapped Polly； a trifle embarrassed at
having been overheard。
'I'm glad it was my own sister who called me a c。 b。 p。 （the most
loathsome thing in existence； by the way）； because sisters never
appreciate their brothers。'
'I didn't call you a c。 b。 p。；' remonstrated Margery。 'I said you
were no more like candy than a c。 b。 p。 There is a difference。'
'Is there？ My poor brain fails to grasp it。 But never mind； I'll
forgive you。'
'Listeners never hear good of themselves；' sighed Polly。
'Are you writing a copy…book； Miss Oliver？ I didn't want to listen；
it was very painful to my feelings； but I was too sleepy to move。'
'And now our afternoon is gone； and we have not read a word；' sighed
little Margery。 'I never met two such chatterboxes as you and
Polly。'
'And to hear us talk is a liberal education；' retorted Polly。
'Exactly；' said Philip； dryly； 'Come； I'll take the books and shawls。
It's nearly five o'clock； and we shall hear Hop Yet blowing his lusty
dinner…horn presently。'
'Why didn't you go off shooting with the others？' asked Margery。
'Stayed at home so they'd get a chance to shoot。'
'Why； do you mean you always scare the game away？' inquired Polly；
artlessly。
'No； I mean that I always do all the shooting； and the others get
discouraged。'
'Clasp hands over the bloody chasm；' said Bell； 'and let us smoke the
pipe of peace at dinner。'
Philip and Bell came through the trees； and； as they neared the camp；
saw Aunt Truth sitting at the door of Tent Chatter； looking the very
picture of comfort； as she drew her darning…needle in and out of an
unseemly rent in one of Dicky's stockings。 Margery and Polly came up
just behind； and dropped into her lap some beautiful branches of wild
azalea。
'Did you have a pleasant walk； dears？' she asked。
'Yes； indeed； dear auntie。 Now； just hold your head perfectly still；
while we decorate you for dinner。 We will make Uncle Doc's eyes
fairly pop with admiration。 Have you been lonely without us？'
'Oh； not a bit。 You see there has been a good deal of noise about
here； and I felt as if I were not alone。 Hop Yet has been pounding
soap…root in the kitchen； and I hear the sound of Pancho's axe in the
distance；the Doctor asked him to chop wood for the camp…fire。 Was
Dicky any trouble？ Where is he？'
'Why； darling mother； are you crazy？' asked Bell。 'If you think a
moment； he was in the hammock and you were lying down in the tent
when we started。'
'Why； I certainly thought I heard him ask to go with you；' said Mrs。
Winship； in rather an alarmed tone。
'So he did； but I told him it was too far。'
'I didn't hear that； in fact； I was half asleep； I was not feeling
well。 Ask Hop Yet； he has been in the kitchen all the afternoon。'
Hop Yet replied； with discouraging tranquillity； 'Oh； I no know。 I
no sabe Dicky； he allee time lun loun camp； I no look； too muchee
work。 I chop hashDicky come in kitch'make heap workno good。 I
tell him go longhe go； bime…by you catchum； you see。' Whereupon he
gracefully skinned an onion； and burst into a Chinese song； with
complete indifference as to whether Dicky lived or died。
'Perhaps he is with Pancho； I'll run and see！' cried Polly； dashing
swiftly in the direction of the sky…parlour。 But after a few minutes
she ran back； with a serious face。 'He's not there； Pancho has not
seen him since lunch。'
'Well； I've just happened to think；' said pale Aunt Truth； 'that papa
came into the tent for some cartridges； after you left； and of course
he took Dick with him。 I don't