left the East, the girls had persuaded her to have an up-to-date one
made of cool, greenish khaki.

"You look like a modern Diana," said Mr. Bell, with a gallant bow,
which brought the color Miss Prescott's blooming cheeks.

"Really, Mr. Bell, that is too bad of you, when you know I am trying
to grow old gracefully," retorted Miss Prescott.

"And now," said Mr. Bell, running a watchful eye over the entire
outfit, "we are all ready to start."

A cheer, which the girls took up, came ringing from the boys'
throats.

"Hooray!" they shouted.

"Good luck!" cried Cash Dallam from his porch, and several in the
crowd caught up the cry..

Juan uttered a series of extraordinary whoops, and working his legs
like the long limbs of a seventeen-year locust, he dashed to the
head of the procession. The next minute they were off, the pack
burros trotting behind in a sedate line.

But just as they started an odd thing happened. Peggy experienced
that peculiar feeling which sensitive persons feel when they are
being watched. Glancing quickly round she encountered the
penetrating glance of the tall, dark young man who had formed one of
the group on the porch the previous evening. He turned his eyes