There, hidden in the thicket1 near the spring, were discovered Jack2 Kimball and Walter Pennington, while the chuckles3 and other noises emerging from mysterious parts of the wood indicated the presence of human beings, although the sounds had a queer similarity to that made by furry4 beasts.
"Oh, Clip! Spare me!" called Jack, as Cecilia actually undertook to punish physically5 the offending young man. "I really did not think you would be scared—in fact, I had an idea you were scare-immune."
"I am," declared the girl; "but the idea of me wasting sympathy! I might have discovered the dead man of all my life-long dreams—had to appear in court, and all the other delightful6 consequences of finding a man under suspicious circumstances; and there you are not even sick. Jack Kimball, how could you? You might at least have had the politeness to be deadly ill."
Walter crawled out from the thicket.
"I thought I smelled eating," he remarked, "and I suggested that we postpone7 the wild and woolly until we had investigated."
"Oh, come on," called Cora. "We may as well allow you to move on.—You have actually interrupted the plans for our first official run.'
"Good!" exclaimed Ed Foster, who, with some other young chaps, had collected themselves from the various haunts. "Any boys?"
"Boys!" echoed Cora.
"We have been discussing the question," declared Bess, as they all started toward the lunch spread on the grass, "and we have now fully9 decided10. The answer is: No boys!"
"Indeed, you may be glad to get a fellow when you find yourselves in a good and proper smashup," declared Jack, "and I predict a smash-up about every other mile."
The sight of the tempting13 lunch and that of the other young ladies who had not undertaken the march to the spring, was the signal for a "grand rush"—and that was about all.
"We had all we wished," faltered16 the circumspect17 Ray Stuart. "You were entirely18 welcome—might have saved, at least, the dishes."
"Oh," breathed Ed, "it is so much pleasanter to poach—don't spoil it."
Ed cast a most appreciative19 glance at Ray. She expected it, of course, and accepted it with a smile.
Clip was talking earnestly to Jack, Cora was being entertained by Walter, who, at the same time, managed to keep up a running conversation with the group of girls now busy putting away the lunch things.
"A square meal in a square basket," interrupted Bess. "I demolished21 the hamper22 that Ida Giles had bestowed23 on Sidney Wilcox. It was a peace offering, I believe."
"And you should have seen the kind of 'pieces' Bess made of it," commented Hazel with a merry laugh.
"Something tells me that the demolished hamper forbodes evil. You will regret the day, Miss Elizabeth, that you spilled Sid Wilcox's-"
"Pumpkin26 pie," finished Cora. "I never saw such pumpkiny pumpkin pie in my life. I can smell it yet!"
"Mrs. Giles' famous home-made," quoted Walter. "Well, it might have been worse—they might have eaten that pie."
"Say, fellows," said Jack suddenly, "this is all very pretty—the girls, I mean, of course—but does it smite27 any one of you young rustics28 that we have an engagement—ahem! At three-thirty, wasn't it?"
"Precisely," declared Ed. "So much obliged for the feed; and do we make a party call?"
"Of course," answered the pretty Ray, attempting to tie her huge scarf, without having any idea of doing so. "We shall expect—"
"The bunch?" interrupted Jack, knowing Ray's preference for the handsome Ed.
"How—"
"Naughty," simpered Cecilia. "Jack, how can you use slang in the presence of ladies?" and she assumed the characteristic "tough" walk, which had always been one of Clip's most laughable capers29.
"Loidies!" echoed Jack, tilting30 his cap and striking an attitude appropriate to that assumed by Cecilia. He slipped his arm within hers, and the pair "strutted31 off," in the fashion identified with the burlesque32 stage.
"Here! here!" called more than one young lady. "Come back here, Clip!
There are to be no boys!"
"This isn't a boy," called back Cecilia, keeping up the performance.
"He's only a—"
"Don't you dare!" threatened Jack.
The girls began to gather the things up from the grass.
"Now don't hurry," remarked Ed coolly. "The fact is, we are not going your way."
"Not at all," Walter hurried to add, "but the real truth is—well, let me see. What's the real truth?"
Jack was fetching Cecilia back. At some secret sign the young men actually took to their heels, and ran away before the girls realized what was happening. But from a distance they waved a cheerful adieu.
"What do you think of that!" exclaimed Hazel.
"Oh, they are just up to some frolic, and could not take us in," said
Cora. "If we were not so busy with our plans we might follow them.
But I propose continuing the business meeting."
With some reluctance35, for the time had been greatly enlivened by the appearance of the young men on the scene, the girls once more got to discussing the details of their proposed three days' tour.
As Cora had predicted, Maud wanted the stops along the way made at the homes of her various and varied36 relatives. Daisy feared her mother would insist upon a chaperone, and this almost absorbed Daisy's chance of being eligible37. Ray thought the motors should flaunt38 flags—pretty light blue affairs—but Bess declared it would be infinitely39 more important to carry plenty of gasoline.
So the girls planned and plotted, until, in the northwest, a great black cloud came stealing over the silent blue, gathering40 fury as it came, and coming very quickly at that.
"A storm!" shouted Belle. "Oh, I do hope it won't be the thundering kind!"
There was a swirl41 of the leaves around them, and the wind gave a warning howl. All ran for the cars.
"A tornado42, likely," said Hazel. "And, oh, dear! this is just about the time that Paul will be bringing the mail over. I am so nervous since his firm undertook the mail route between New City and Cartown. This is such a lonely road for an auto43 in a storm—especially when every one knows Paul carries the mail."
"Why, Paul will be all right," declared Cora, surprised at Hazel's alarm. "What could happen to him? Why is a storm in the afternoon of such consequence?"
"Oh, I don't know," sighed Hazel; "but having to manage a car, and be personally responsible for the big mailbag—there is so much important mail between Cartown and New City—I have been nervous about it ever since Paul began carrying it."
"But it makes him all the more important to his firm," said Cora convincingly, "and I am sure he will be all right."
"You read too many wild-west stories," commented Bess, who was still alongside the Whirlwind with her Flyaway. "There are no stagecoach46 hold-ups these days."
"I hope not," returned Hazel with a forced laugh.
Quickly the storm was gathering. With some apprehension47 Cora directed the line of cars.
"You lead, Daisy," she said, "as your clothes are most perishable48."
"Indeed," shouted Cecilia, "my 'strained' nurse suit will have to go to the laundry if it gets wet, and that adds to the price—reduces my bargain."
"Well, hurry, at any rate," commanded Cora. "I know of a barn we may be able to make."
"We ought to meet Paul at the bridge," remarked Hazel, evidently unable to dismiss her concern for her brother.
"Now, Hazel," exclaimed Cora, her voice carrying something of vexation, "one would think you suspected—"
"You don't really think those boys would play a trick on him?" interrupted Hazel. "Somehow I didn't like the way they looked—as if they were plotting something."
Cora laughed heartily49. "Why, you precious baby!" she managed to say; "do you think boys of their caliber50 would tamper51 with the mail? To say nothing of putting so nice a boy as Paul to inconvenience?"
"Oh, of course; forgive me, Cora. I should not have asked that. But you know what Paul and I are to each other!"
"Yes, I know," said Cora with marked emphasis. "You are each the other's little brother and sister. But it's nice, Hazel, very nice, and I forgive you the fling at Jack."
"And Ed?" asked Hazel mischievously52.
"And Walter," added Cora, ignoring the personal.
"Oh, mercy!" yelled Belle. "We're going to have another fire and brimstone thunderstorm! Cora, make for that farmhouse53!"
"Yes," called Cora, "I guess it will be all wind, and it won't hurt the machines. Turn for the cottage, girls!"
Blinding and brutal54, the wind and sand attacked the eyes and ears of the motor girls, in spite of all the hoods55 and goggles56. It was one of those tearing windstorms, that often come in summer, seemingly bent57 on raising everything on earth heavenward except the sand—that always sought refuge under eyelids—the average grain of sand would rather get in a girl's eye than help to make up a reputable mountain.
The line of cars made straight for the little farmhouse. It was sheltered in a clump58 of pines quite near the roadside.
Bess drew up first. Belle was out, and upon the steps of the porch. She had even struck the brass59 knocker before the others could bring their machines to a stop.
"Belle is frightened," said Ray, taking her time to leave Cecilia's auto.
"Well, we had a great storm one day—and Belle has the reflex action," explained Cora, referring to an exciting incident told of in the first book of this series.
The door of the cottage opened.
"Come on, girls!" called Belle. "We may come in—the lady says."
"Now—now for an adventure!" whispered Cecilia. "I can see it through the closed blinds! I see it under the knocker. I feel it in my gloves! Yes, young ladies, there is going to be something doing inside that cottage!"
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1
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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chuckles
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的名词复数 ) | |
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furry
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| adj.毛皮的；似毛皮的；毛皮制的 | |
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physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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6
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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7
postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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14
extricated
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| v.使摆脱困难，脱身( extricate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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crumb
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| n.饼屑，面包屑，小量 | |
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16
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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circumspect
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| adj.慎重的，谨慎的 | |
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18
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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appreciative
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| adj.有鉴赏力的，有眼力的；感激的 | |
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belle
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| n.靓女 | |
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demolished
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| v.摧毁( demolish的过去式和过去分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光 | |
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22
hamper
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| vt.妨碍，束缚，限制；n.(有盖的)大篮子 | |
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23
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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25
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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26
pumpkin
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| n.南瓜 | |
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smite
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| v.重击；彻底击败；n.打；尝试；一点儿 | |
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28
rustics
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| n.有农村或村民特色的( rustic的名词复数 )；粗野的；不雅的；用粗糙的木材或树枝制作的 | |
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29
capers
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| n.开玩笑( caper的名词复数 )；刺山柑v.跳跃，雀跃( caper的第三人称单数 ) | |
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tilting
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| 倾斜，倾卸 | |
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31
strutted
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| 趾高气扬地走，高视阔步( strut的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
burlesque
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| v.嘲弄，戏仿；n.嘲弄，取笑，滑稽模仿 | |
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33
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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34
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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eligible
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| adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的 | |
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38
flaunt
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| vt.夸耀，夸饰 | |
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infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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40
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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41
swirl
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| v.(使)打漩，(使)涡卷；n.漩涡，螺旋形 | |
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42
tornado
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| n.飓风，龙卷风 | |
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43
auto
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| n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车 | |
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44
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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45
reassure
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| v.使放心，使消除疑虑 | |
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46
stagecoach
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| n.公共马车 | |
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47
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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48
perishable
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| adj.（尤指食物）易腐的，易坏的 | |
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49
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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50
caliber
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| n.能力；水准 | |
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51
tamper
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| v.干预，玩弄，贿赂，窜改，削弱，损害 | |
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52
mischievously
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| adv.有害地；淘气地 | |
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53
farmhouse
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| n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房） | |
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54
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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55
hoods
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| n.兜帽( hood的名词复数 )；头巾；（汽车、童车等的）折合式车篷；汽车发动机罩v.兜帽( hood的第三人称单数 )；头巾；（汽车、童车等的）折合式车篷；汽车发动机罩 | |
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56
goggles
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| n.护目镜 | |
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57
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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58
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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