Jane McCarthy was moving away from camp, apparently following the trail made by the party when they came up from the river to make camp among the trees.

“That’s a good idea, too,” she added approvingly, instantly catching the significance of Jane’s action.  “I never thought of trying it.”

“I don’t know just what you mean, but anything not thought of by you I shouldn’t consider worth bothering about.”  Miss Elting laughed softly, patting the brown head beside her.  “There!  She is returning, and empty-handed like yourself, I’ll warrant.”

“Do not be too certain of that.  On the contrary, Jane has discovered something.”

“Why do you think that?”

“I can tell by the swing of her shoulders.  Miss Elting, Crazy Jane has beaten us all; you see if she hasn’t.  Hoo-e-e-e!”

“Jane!  Oh, Jane!  Did you find something?” cried Tommy, in a shrill, high-pitched voice that Margery declared might have been heard a mile away.  “What did you find?”

“Did I find thomething?” mimicked Jane.  “Does Crazy Jane McCarthy ever fail to get what she goes after?  Yes, I did find something; something, too, that will make you girls open your eyes.  And you too, Mr. Grubb!  Sh-h-!  Not a word,” she warned dramatically.  “Come over by the campfire, where we can see, and I’ll show you all——­”

“Thomething,” finished Tommy Thompson.

“Yes, ‘thomething,’” answered Jane with a nod, then hurried toward the camp.  Her companions raced after her, Janus Grubb bringing up the rear in long strides, the fingers of one hand clutched in his abundant whiskers.  Jim stood gazing after them, his underjaw drooping.  Jim hadn’t yet quite come to an understanding of this most unusual company.  He stood there wondering until the girls had passed out of his sight, after which the driver, with hands thrust deep in his pockets, walked slowly campward, trying to make up his mind what had happened.

CHAPTER IX

SCALING THE HIGH CLIFFS

“Sit down, darlin’s,” commanded Jane, after the eager girls had reached their campfire.  “Sit down and make yourselves comfortable.”

“For goodness’ sake, tell us!” exclaimed Margery.  “Can’t you see we are all just perishing with curiosity?”

“Yeth.  I’m motht thuffocated from holding my breath,” declared Tommy.  “But Buthter ith thuffocated hecauthe she ith tho fat.  Don’t you think it ith awful to be tho fat, Mr. Januth?” She gazed, in apparent unblinking innocence, at the solemn-faced guide, who answered with twinkling eyes.

“I dunno, Miss.  I never was fat.  Never had time to eat enough to make me fat.”

“That ith too bad,” answered Tommy sympathetically.

“Come, come, Jane, don’t keep us in suspense.  What did you find, or didn’t you find anything at all?” urged Miss Elting.