'
'Can you see me doing it, girls? Does it seem entirely natural?'
asked Polly, with great gravity.
'Now hear my report as chairman of the committee of arrangements,'
said Geoffrey Strong, seating himself with dignity on a barrel of
nails. 'The tents, ropes, tool-boxes, bed-sacks, blankets,
furniture, etc., all went down on Monday's steamer, and I have a
telegram from Larry's Landing saying that they arrived in good order,
and that a Mexican gentleman who owns a mammoth wood-cart will take
them up to-morrow when we go ourselves. The procession will move at
one P.M., wind and weather permitting, in the following order:-
'1. Chief Noble on his gallant broncho.
'2. Commander Strong on his ditto, ditto.
'3. Main conveyance or triumphal chariot, driven by Aide-de-Camp
John Howard, and carrying Dr. and Mrs. Winship, our most worshipful
and benignant host and hostess; Master Dick Winship, the heir-
apparent; three other young persons not worth mentioning; and four
cans of best leaf lard, which I omitted to put with the other
provisions.
'4. Wood-cart containing baggage, driven by Senor Don Manuel Felipe
Hilario Noriega from Dead Wood Gulch.
'5. One small tan terrier.'
'Oh, Geoff, Geoff, pray do stop! it's too much!' cried the girls in a
fit of laughter.
'Hurrah!' shouted Jack, tossing his hat into a tall eucalyptus-tree
in his excitement, 'Tent life for ever!'
'Good-bye, ye pomps and vanities!' chanted Bell, kissing her hand in
imaginary farewell.
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