"Oh, isn't this heavenly!" cried Agnes, tossing up her hat by the ribbons that were supposed to tie it under her plump chin.
The green tunnel of the wood-path stretched a long way before them. It was paved with pine needles and last-year's oak leaves.
Ruth looked sharply ahead, but did not see either the woman or the girl, in whom she was so much interested. Either they had gone on very rapidly, or had turned aside into the wood.
Dot had made no complaint upon being forced to leave the train; but she clung very tightly now to the Alice-doll, and finally ventured to ask Tess:
"What--what do you think is the chance for _bears_ in this wood, Tess? Don't you think there may be some?"
"Bears? Whoever heard the like? Of course not, child," said Tess, in her most elder-sisterly way. "What gave you such an idea as that?"
"Well--it's a strange woods, Tess. We aren't really acquainted here."
"I don't care. I'd rather have Tom Jonah with us. Suppose a bear should jump out and grab Alice?" and she hugged the doll all the closer in her arms. For her own safety she evidently was not anxious.
The girls, after their ride in the train, were like young colts let loose in a paddock. They sang and laughed and capered; and when they came to a softly carpeted hollow, Pearl Harrod led the way and rolled down the slope, instead of walking down in a "decorous manner, as high school young ladies should," quoth Carrie.
"If our dear, _de-ar_ teachers should see us now!" gasped Pearl sitting up at the foot of the slide, with a peck of pine needles in her hair and her frock all tousled.
Their only baggage was the lunch baskets and boxes. All other of their personal possessions were on the train, in the baggage car. But the remains of the luncheons came in very nicely. Before they had gone a mile through the wood they were all loudly proclaiming their hunger.
So they found a spring, and camped about it, eating the remainder of the lunches to the very last crumb. And such a hilarious "feed" as it was!
Ruth forgot all about the Gypsy woman and the girl who had so puzzled her by her actions. The rest by the spring refreshed even Dot. She was plucky, if she _was_ little; and she made no complaint at all about the long walk through the stretch of timber.