Girl Scouts in the Rockies

He was too tired to keep awake long enough to get up and go in search of the animals. The thought of it, however, before he fell sound asleep caused him to dream fitfully all night.

He awoke very early and got up to reassure himself that all was well in camp. He could see no sign of any horse or mule, so he shook Omney, and the two ran in search of the strayed animals.

When the rest of the touring party woke up to find the sun shining into their eyes, no sign of guides or horses was seen. Mr. Gilroy began to prepare breakfast, and Mr. Vernon was sent to fish. The girls were each detailed on some work, and by the time the meal was ready, sounds of hoofs were heard along the trail.

“Dat Jolt, he makka all horse go way down trail. Omney an’ me fin’ dem miles down,” explained Tally, with a vindictive look at the mule. As if he fully understood the Indian, Jolt sent back an answering gleam from his wicked eyes and kicked up his hind legs in derision.

Mr. Vernon had caught more than enough fish in the overstocked lake, and when the fried mush, bacon, and fresh fish, bread, and fragrant coffee were served, the appetites displayed were such as would drive a New York boarding-house keeper distracted.

That day the scouts rode in forests where stately aromatic pines sheltered countless wild creatures, that peered from their cloistered haunts with wonderment at the strangers. Birds of every description sang from low-swinging branches, and lesser notes from unseen insects in the bushes and grass added music to this orchestra that rendered the grandest symphony ever heard.

That evening while seated about the camp supper, Julie said, “There’s one animal I’ve wanted to see in his natural haunts in the Rockies, and not one have we been able to glimpse.”

“What’s that?” asked Mr. Gilroy.

“The famous American buffalo of the plains,” returned she.

“Ah, it is the Captain’s fault that you girls were not able to see the bison at home,” retorted Mr. Gilroy. “Had she consented to your going with me to Yellowstone Park, you could have watched the animals grazing and wandering over their own fields.”

“Well, the buffalo will still be there next year, but the scouts cannot lose a month of school this fall just to go and watch the animals in Wyoming,” said Mrs. Vernon.

“Of course, your word is law to us all, but it does seem a pity, as I said before, that being so near the geysers, we should not take advantage of it,” remarked Mr. Gilroy.

The scouts expressed in their faces that they thought on this matter exactly as Mr. Gilroy did, but the Captain said, “If you continue to preach your mutinous ideas to my girls, I’ll leave you out of my plans next summer when we take a trip.”

“Wough! That threat will keep me quiet for all time!” laughed Mr. Gilroy, clapping a hand over his mouth to show his instant obedience.

Every one laughed, but Tally now joined the circle and asked for orders for the next day’s ride. After talking over various trails and plans, they got up and prepared to retire for the night.

“Did any one hang up the saddles to-night?” asked Mr. Vernon, before he turned in to sleep.

“Tally, did you look after the leather?” asked Mr. Gilroy.

Tally turned to Omney, “Did him fix harness?”

“Me do it, all light,” returned Omney, then he shuffled out of the circle of light cast by the fire and they heard him fumbling with heavy saddles and other trappings.

The glorious break of day in the mountains awoke every one, and soon the breakfast was under way. While the guides cooked, Mr. Vernon went for the horses. Mr. Gilroy decided to save time by taking down the harness from the trees where it was usually hung.

“Great Scout!” called he, summoning the Indians to the spot.

“What’s the matter?” asked the scouts, anxiously running after the two guides.

“A rascally porcupine has been at our leather last night!” declared Mr. Gilroy, angrily showing the ravages made on the harnesses.

Tally glared at Omney, “Why for you do dat? Don’ you know dem bad rats eat all up?”

Omney said nothing, but looked very penitent. Mr. Gilroy sighed as he began an inventory of the damage.

“Two sets of reins chawed to pieces; a throat latchet gone; three saddles with holes eaten through them, and two bridles cut to bits, all because of a little carelessness!”

“I fixa dem allight!” exclaimed Omney, eagerly.

“But that means a morning lost while you make repairs,” replied Mrs. Vernon.

Then Omney stiffened his spine and lifted his head in a majestic fury at the porcupines. He glowered down the trail and shook his clenched fist vengefully at the imaginary depredator, saying in hissing voice, “Him one bad darn beas’!”

Every one laughed at his suppressed fury, and the tame exclamation he had just used, but the poor guide felt better again.

The harnesses were finally mended with rope and bits of wire from Tally’s outfit kit, and by noon everything was in readiness for continuing the trip.

Toward the end of August, the tourists reached Estes Park again, and upon riding to Long’s peak village, they replaced the mended harness with good sections, and then rode on to Loveland, where they proposed leaving the horses they had leased for the summer.

While Mr. Gilroy and Tally led the horses back to their owner, the Captain took the girls to the department store and soon they were busy trying on readymade dresses that they might start for Denver. Mrs. Vernon had strenuously vetoed their appearing in civilization again in the patched and faded scout uniforms that had stood such rough usage while camping in the mountains.

But the uniforms were carefully packed to take back home as souvenirs of that eventful summer.

When shop-made shoes were tried on the feet that had been free all summer from city footgear, and the scouts tried to walk on the stone pavements of Loveland, they winced with the pain of their toes in cramped quarters.

“Goodness, girls! Isn’t it awful to have had such freedom all summer and then return to prison cells again for feet and body?” cried Julie, frowning.

“Yes, and it will be the same when we go to bed to-night, no more forest vastness for a chamber, no more pine for a roof, and no more singing of wild notes to lull us to sleep!” sighed Joan.

That evening Mr. Gilroy condoled with the scouts over the immediate future – school, orthodox clothing, and bandbox rooms to live in all winter.

“But there is always the hope of heaven before you,” said Mr. Vernon, smiling at the circle of faces.

“What do you mean?” asked Julie.

“There is next summer again, you know, and if Gilroy is as good as his word, he will see that you are escorted to Arizona and New Mexico for a trip!”

“Remind me of it next spring, girls, and we’ll see,” laughed Mr. Gilroy, winking an eye at the Captain.

So with this ray of hope for a future outing, the girls were encouraged to start back East, and take up the irksome tasks of acquiring a necessary education in the humdrum daily lessons of school.