'I can tell you that beforehand,' said Bell, dolefully. 'Jack will
shoot him by mistake on Thursday; he will be kicked by the horses
Friday, and bitten by tarantulas and rattlesnakes Saturday; he will
eat poison oak on Sunday, get lost in the canyon Monday, be eaten by
a bear Tuesday, and drowned in the pool Wednesday. These incidents
will complete his first week; and if they produce no effect on his
naturally strong constitution, he will treat us to another week,
containing just as many mishaps, but no duplicates.'

By the time this dismal prophecy was ended the other girls were in a
breathless fit of laughter, though all acknowledged it was likely to
be fulfilled.

'I went over the camping-ground last summer,' said Margery. 'You
know it is quite near papa's sheep ranch, and it is certainly the
most beautiful place in California. The tents will be pitched at the
mouth of the canyon, where there is a view of the ocean, and just at
the back will be a lovely grove of wild oaks and sycamore-trees.'

'Oh, won't it be delicious!' sighed Elsie. 'I feel as if I could
sniff the air this minute. But there! I won't pretend that I'm
dying for fresh air, with the breath of the sea coming in at my south
window, and a whiff of jasmine and honeysuckle from the piazza. That
would be nonsense. Are your trunks packed?'

'Trunks!' exclaimed Polly. 'Would you believe it, our clothes are
packed in gunny-sacks! We start in our camping-dresses, with ulsters
for the steamer and dusters for the long drive. Then we each have--
let me see what we have: a short, tough riding-skirt with a jersey,
a bathing-dress, and some gingham morning-gowns to wear about the