They told her so, too, at which
Harriet laughed again.
"Let me tell you something," said Harriet. "I'm not a bit braver than
you are. As it happened, I knew what that was the instant I saw it.
The tree trunk was not standing there when we came into camp last
night. Had it been, Mr. Grubb would have seen it. The trunk had
fallen across the trail. When I started to go down below to look for
our supplies I stumbled over the stick, and to prevent some one else
tripping over it, I threw it out of the trail. The stick ended over
and stood upright against the rock where you saw it. I presume Mr.
Grubb did see it tip to one side. I know, however, that the stick has
been there ever since I tossed it out of the trail last night."
"Well, I swum!" muttered Janus sheepishly, "I'm so easy it's a wonder I
haven't lost myself."
"No, you were doing your best to protect us," replied Miss Elting.
"But I would rather you did not shoot again except in real defence. In
other words, don't shoot unless some one shoots at you."
"What am I going to do?" demanded the guide rather crossly. "Sit down
and allow some outlaw to rob us at every turn?"
"We know you are ready to defend us," pacified Miss Elting.
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