第11章

Everybodywashilariousoverthisdecisionsavethemen-of-all-work，wholongedunspeakablyforalesspoeticexistence——HopYetparticularly，whothoughtcampingout"notmucheegood。"

Dickywasmorepleasedthananybody，perhaps，aseverydayinthecanyonwasonedaylessinschool；notthathehadeverbeentoschool，butheknewinadvance，instinctively，thatitwouldn"tsuithim。Accordingly，hesoughtthewettestpossibleplacesandplayedalldaywithsuperhumanenergy。HefinallyfoundHopYet"sboxofblueingunderatree，inaverymoistandattractivestateoffluidity，andjustbeforedinnerimprovedthelastshininghourbypaintinghimselfabrillianthueandappearingatdinnerinsuchafiendishguisethathefrightenedthefamilyintofits。

NowDr。Winshipwasoneofthemostweather-wisemeninCalifornia，andhispredictionswerealwaysquitesafeandsensible；butsomehoworotheritdidrainagainintwoorthreedays，anditpouredharderthanever，too。Tobesure，itclearedpromptly，butthedoctorwasafraidtotrustsofickleapersonastheClerkoftheWeatherhadbecome，andmarchingorderswereissued。

Theboystrampedoveralltheirfavouritebitsofcountry，andthegirlsvisitedalltheirbestbelovedhaunts，everyoneofthemdearfromathousandcharmingassociations。TheylookedforthelasttimeinMirrorPool，andsawthereflectionoftheirfaces——rathergravefacesjustthen，overtheleave-taking。

Thewater-mirrormighthavebeengladtokeepthepictureforeveronitssurface——Margerywithhersleekbraidsandsereneforehead；withPolly，saucynoseandmischievouseyes，laughingatyoulikeamerrywater-sprite；Bell，withherbrilliantcheeksglowingliketworosesjustfalleninthebrook；andGoldElsie，who，ifyouhadputaframeofgreenleavesaboutherdelicatefaceandyellowlocks，wouldhavelookedupatyoulikeawater-lily。

TheywaftedafarewelltoPicoNegro，andhavinggotridoftheboys，privatelyembracedacertainWhisperingTreeunderwhosesingingbranchestheyhadbeenwonttolieandlistentoallthemurmuringthatwentonintheforest。

Thentheyclamberedintothegreatthorough-bracewagon，wheretheyallsatingloomysilencefortenminutes，whileDicky"stanterrierwasfoundforthefourthtimethatmorning；andthelongtrain，withitsbaggage-carts，itssaddle-horsesanditsdoggedlittlepack-

mules，moveddowntherockysteepsthatledtocivilisation。Thegatethatshuttheminfromthecountyroadandtheouterworldwasopenedforthelasttime，andshutwithaclang，anditwasallover——

theirsummerinacanyon!