Meantime the lady returned to the door and called out, "Won't you please step this way?"
Jim thought she had to fill a measure from some barrel in the back, so he went in. But the lady was searching diligently along a shelf of bottles until she saw the one she wanted.
"Here they be I knew I had 'em somewhere. One's ten cents, and the other's a twenty-five cent bottle. But you have to take keer of fire, you know."
Jim scratched his head, as he said, "I'll
take a five-gallon can, please, ma'am."
For a second, the old lady was amazed, but she rose to the occasion and showed herself a true business woman, "Oh, I'm sorry, I'm just out of that size to-day, but can't you come back to-morrow I'll have it then?"
Jim laughed. "I need it for the tank. The car won't go on nor come back, unless I get some gas for it."
"Oh! I thought you wanted some to clean gloves, or shoes. That's the only kind I keep on hand."
"Maybe you can tell us where we can get a gallon or so," said Jim, trying hard to keep a straight face.
"If you kin wait until Jed gits back I kin send him to Prospeck Junction for a gallin. He can't carry five gallins, I fear."
Jim started out and the shopkeeper followed as she spoke. So Mrs. Vernon asked, "Where is Prospect Junction?"
"Jus' over yander, a bit of ways. It's quite a gay resort, I've hear'd Jed say, where they sells gas to riders what come through. But I hain't never gone there, 'cause I don't mingle with society. I am a church member and 'tends to my business." The lady tossed her head with a self-righteous air as she said the last words.
Jim said: "I'm sorry that four-ounce bottle wouldn't do, Missus." And the scouts bowed as they left her standing on the "stoop."
CHAPTER THREE IN THE MOUNTAINS AT LAST
"Nice way to treat your adopted father laugh at him, because he worried over his girls!" said he in pretended grievance.
"But what could possibly happen when we had Jim and Verny at the wheels?" asked Ruth.
"That's just it! With the Captain leading, I was sure you would be jailed for speeding, and would need me to bail you out," teased he.
"We needed baling out when we got in the river-flood, but not in jail!" laughed Julie.
"If we had dreamed you had a 'phone way up here, we would have called you to help us, that time," added Joan.
Then the story of the mud and flood had to be told, while Mr. Gilroy sat on the side-door of the car and directed the Captain which road to take to reach his bungalow.
"Did our outfits get here all right, Mr. Gilroy?" asked Ruth.
"Yes, and they have been down at your camp several days now," replied their host.
"How far is our camp from your bungalow, Mr. Gilroy?" asked Betty.
"Not very far just a nice walk. Your camp is right on the shore of one lake, while my bungalow is on the shore of First Lake, one of the Fulton Chain, you know."
The scouts then learned that Mr. Gilroy's estate extended from First Lake, where his bungalow was built, across country to Little Moose Lake where their camp was to be. This was a distance of about three-quarters of a mile between the two places.
"We'll stop at the bungalow first and give you a good square meal after all your experiences; then we'll go on over to camp. When your baggage is all out of the cars, Jim and I will drive back to my garage where the machines can stand."
"Oh, Jim is going back home with Dad's car, to-morrow," said Ruth.
"And Verny is going to keep hers here for the summer," added Julie.
The cold luncheon had been waiting a long time, and when the scouts finally arrived they did justice to the viands. Then, every one being eager to see the new camp-site, they started for the Lake. Here everything was in order to receive the tenants. Three fine tents, fully equipped with every possible comfort for the campers, were waiting for the girls, and a smaller tent for the Captain.
"Oh, how wonderful! Why, this won't be like roughing it," declared several of the girls as they inspected their camp.
"Everything is ready but the fancy touches. You girls will have to add them as your experiences pile up," said Mr. Gilroy.
"What do you mean?" asked Julie.
"Oh, collections of butterflies, flower-prints, willow-work, and birchbark articles all these are fancy touches."
It was late in the afternoon when the scouts arrived at the bungalow, and it was twilight before they had their baggage all unpacked and in their individual tents. Then when the cars were emptied and it was time to drive them back to the garage, Mr. Gilroy said:
"As this is your first night, and everything is strange, you'd better come back to the house for a light supper. Get your beds all ready
to turn into, and then let everything else go until morning."
Mrs. Vernon approved of this plan, so they finished their tasks and jumped in the cars to drive back to the bungalow for the evening. Darkness crept into the woods and everything was silent as they reached the house.
While Jim followed the host to the garage with the cars, the scouts sat on the verandah and enjoyed the quiet of the woods. The stars now began to peep out of the deep blue that could be seen here and there through the trees, and the Captain reminded the girls: