im in such great detail that Hippy was positive he never
should find his way there, but he promised to do his best to get there.

"Ah'd go 'long and show you-all the way if Ah didn't have t' meet mah
fellow. Bet you-all'll like him. Name's Lum Bangs an' he kin wallop any
fellow in the mountains."

"Do you think he could whip me?" teased Hippy smilingly.

"He shore could. Jist let him lam you-all t'-night and see whether he
kin er not."

"Thank you. I prefer to do the 'lamming' myself. When 'Paw' comes home
please tell him I wish he would call on us to-day, for we are planning
on moving our camp to-morrow. Tell him I wish to have a friendly talk
with him."

Julie shook her head vigorously.

"Paw ain't strong on that kind o' talk. He'd rather fit with a man than
gab with him."

Lieutenant Wingate asked Julie if she would dance with him, saying that
Nora would be glad to have Julie do that.

"Ah will not," she retorted with a fine show of indignation.

"Why not?" teased Hippy.

"'Cause my feller would lam you-all's haid off an' then give me er punch
in the jaw."

"Gracious! Lum is a gentle animal, isn't he?" grinned Hippy.

Julie blinked, but made no reply. Hippy said good-bye and went away
laughing.

Late that afternoon Grace sent Washington out to learn the way to the
schoolhouse, for, otherwise, she knew they would have difficulty in
finding their way, for the nights up in the mountains just now were very
dark.

Upon his return, the colored boy was unable to give them clear
directions as to how to reach the schoolhouse, though his conversation
on the subject was voluble, if not specific.

"That will do," rebuked Grace. "Pack all the supplies, except what will
be needed for supper." She then consulted with Lieutenant Wingate as to
where to stow their possessions so that they might not be disturbed by
man or beast during the absence of the party at the mountain dance.
Hippy went out and scouted about for a suitable place for the purpose.
He found it in a hollow in the rocks which he said they could protect by
placing stones in front of the opening.

Much of the equipment was stowed there before dark. After supper the
rest of it was placed in the opening in the rocks.

"Do we take the rifles with us?" questioned Lieutenant Wingate.

"No, indeed," answered Grace with promptness. "It would not look well."

"Nor does it feel well to be held up or shot at without having the means
to defend one's self,"