"Hail! Hail! The gang's all here!" came a chorus from nearly a dozen voices, as the white top buggy rolled along the road toward the mountains. Gene was driving one of his uncle's glossy, spirited teams. He was proud of the horses but the satisfaction of being permitted to dive them was nothing compared to the joy of knowing Laura Mae was by his side. The road wound around through groves of pine and quaking asp trees. Everywhere birds were flitting about, friendly squirrels scampered across the road in front of the buggy, then climbed a nearby tree, as if to say, "This is the way it is done." Laura Mae laughed at the clever little animal. She loved to be out among the beauties of nature. Her heart was singing with joy as she breathed the fresh morning air as they rode along. She forgot the rest of the world; the world where her father was and was so happy, happy to be with Gene.

The Whitmer buggy was in the lead, the horses trotting with lively steps, when all of a sudden, a shrill, squeaking honk sounded just around a bend in the road. Gene pulled the horses to an abrupt stop as a jitney rolled into view. It was much talked about Ford car with Hank Dalton at the wheel. There never lived a prouder man than the lanky cowboy who had saved enough money to purchase a real live Ford. Few people around Oakdale had bought cars and some had to admit they had never a chance to ride in one. Others had ridden in them but were content to drive the horses and buggy, considering a car a luxury.

The horses reared and snorted at the sight of the queer vehicle that was obstructing the road in front of them. Gene held them with all of his strength, while Laura Mae clung desperately to the bow at the side of the buggy until the car was guided out to the side of the road and the buggies were driven past it. Each team acted just the same way, shying and trying to run with fright.

"That was a close shave," Gene said and laughed when the car was out of sight and the team was quiet and traveling normally again.

"They could have run right into that car without seeing it if Hank hadn't honked just when he did," Laura Mae said, her breath still coming a little faster because of the excitement.

"But they didn't, did they?" Gene smiled. "All is well that ends well, you know, and we are out for a jolly good time. Gid-dap!" He tapped the horses lightly with the buggy whip in just the same manner as he had seen his Uncle Everett do hundreds of times.

There was much excitement when they crossed the river on the cable ferry boat, which had to make three trips in order to carry the three teams and buggies across the deep cold current. The horses were very nervous but they acted much more at home on the ferry boat than they had on the road when they had been confronted by the chugging, squealing automobile. All of the young folks climbed out of the buggies when they reached the river, then walked on to the ferry. It was a thrill for most of them to stand by the railing where they could look down into the deep blue water below.

"Look out!" Phil called and grinned as he gave Laura Mae a sudden push on the shoulder, "You'll fall in the river!"

"Oh, Smarty, push yourself if you want anybody to go into the river." Laura Mae had to laugh a little with excitement but she held tighter to the railing the rest of the way across. She thought about what Phil had done and compared it with the way she knew Gene would have acted if he had approached her on the boat. Almost everything that Phil did aggravated her. Why didn't he leave her alone? Gene was occupied with the job of standing at his horses' heads, holding to their bridles, he shot a dark glance in Phil's direction but he had not seen all that happened. He had no love for Philip Dreyer and Phil knew it. Gene never felt really jealous of him because Laura Mae had convinced him that she did not even like Phil anymore. When he thought about it, he was convinced too, that she loved him in the same way that he loved her, she acted so happy to be riding along in the front seat with him.

When the crowd reached the hot springs, their fun had only begun. They, at once, secured tickets to the plunge and soon the warm water in the pool was in a lively uproar. Slides and diving boards were doing their share in furnishing fun for the crowd. Laura Mae stayed below the rope where the water was shallow. Her father had always much opposed to his girls learning how to swim so she was a little timid in the water, there were two other girls in the pool who could not swim wither and this gave her just a little comfort for she would have hated to have been the only one who did not know how.

She looked up and saw Gene swimming toward her with a happy smile.

"Gee, you look cute in blue and orange." He noticed the cap and suit Laura Law had rented at the office, for she did not have a bathing outfit of her own.

"Come on, let's cross the rope," he urged, as he was a good swimmer.

"I don't know how to swim."

"Then I will help you learn."

It was great fun for Laura Mae to be held up by Gene's strong arm while she paddled and kicked in the warm water that had such a peculiar odor of Sulphur in it. It almost made one sick at first to smell it but soon it was not even noticeable. Miss Birch, their class advisor, did not choose to take a swim, she sat primly on a spectator's bench at the end of the pool opposite the diving boards, where she could keep an eye on everyone in the water. She only smiled as she watched Gene assisting Laura Mae so attentively in the water. She liked both of them and could see no harm in their friendly actions toward each other. She had a sweetheart back in her home town and this very spring, she was going to give up her teaching career to marry him. As she watched, she pictured them as they would look when they were really grown up. Perhaps these two would marry someday and have a home of their own.

"Would you like to try floating for a while?" Gene asked at length, then encouraged her to turn over on her back and float about with his hand under her back to hold her up. He liked that better because then he could see her smile when her face was turned upward.

Suddenly, there was a great splash near them that sent water into the girl's eyes and mouth. Phil had jumped in from the bank and came up just back of Gene. Phil was grinning and with a quick movement, he put Gene far beneath the surface of the water. It was a hobby of his to duck every one he had a chance at, in the whole pool. Laura Mae was frightened when Gene's hand was no longer there to buoy her up and she went under the water too. Phil helped her out and laughed at her for pulling such as she strangled and gasped to get her breath, for her mouth had been wide open when she went under the water.

"What's the big idea?" Gene came up half sore. "I thought you might be getting tired; you have worked so diligently. I thought I had better change you off a bit before you get fagged out; what do you say, Laura Mae? He is no swimming teacher, I would have had you swimming off by yourself long before now if you had let me help you in the first place." He was grinning sheepishly, still holding Laura Mae up in the water. She stiffened and reached for Gene.

"You might be decent enough to leave us alone and mind your own business." Her eyes flashed angrily.

"You are just a little hard-boiled, aren't you?" Phil teased. "But if that is the way you feel about it; it is all right with me." With that, he swam away to tease some other couple, for many of them were paired off just as young folks do.

At lunchtime, they took the boxes and baskets down in an inviting grove of trees, where tables and chairs were ready to be used. The owner of the resort had provided every convenience to please the people who came out there for amusement. The girls, aided by Miss Birch, set to work spreading out table cloths and arranging the lunch so everyone could have all they wanted to eat. Gene and Maurice Homer volunteered to carry the fresh water for the lemonade, so they each took a bucket and went to fill them. Phil watched his chance and when Laura Mae went to the buggy to bring another box of goodies, he hurried along to help her. The limp in his leg was very noticeable when he ran, but he wanted a chance to talk to her alone.

Sandwiches and salad and pickles and squares of cheese vanished from the tables as if by magic. Everyone was gay as they laughed and talked while they ate.

"Oh boy, what a swell chocolate cake. Who made it?" someone asked.

"That one is Lura Mae's," Grace Waller answered.

"I'll bet her mother made it for her," Phil said. He seemed to be just a little peevish after he and Laura Mae had gone to the buggy to get the box.

"I'll bet her mother did not make it," Gene flared back at Phile. "I have tasted things before that Laura Mae has made herself, her cookies are perfect and so is her fudge."

"You would be sure to know that she makes them herself, wouldn't you? I guess you stand by her side while she rolls out the dough!? Phil was sure he had gained an important point, for Gene's face suddenly became very red and he kept still. Laura Mae only smiled. It was her secret and she was not one to brag about what she co8ld do, so she made no comment. They could think what they wanted to, but she was happy to think that Gene had defended her even if it was a giveaway about her giving him special treats with the things she made herself. After the meal, the girls packed the remaining food and the dishes back into the lunch boxes. Some chose to lounge about in the swings and hammocks, others got permission from Miss Birch to go for a boat ride on the lake. The water on the lake was as smooth as glass and as blue as the sky above. It made a pretty picture with all of the trees and the mountain for a background.

Gene and his uncle went to Sulphide Springs often and Gene had acquired considerable skill in handling a rowboat on the lake, so he took Laura Mae into one with him. He wanted to have her to himself.

At first, she was just a little bit nervous but soon she settled back to enjoy the thrill of drifting over the calm blue water. They saw an antelope drinking at the water's edge, but when it caught sight of them, it fled into the thickets and was lost from view.

A number of the students hired a motorboat. It shot past the little rowboat, leaving waves behind it that made the little craft rock gently to and fro.

"Oh, Gene, it is fun to be out here with you, all alone in this boat. I wish we could just drift on and on forever like this." Her eyes had a wistful look in them.

"Me too," Gene agreed. "Gee, your hair looks pretty, Laura Mae, with the sun shining on it like that. I bet there is gold in it. The water in the pool only made it look better because it's curly. Some of the girls with straight hair looked like drowned rats when they came out for lunch."

"Thank you, my prince," she laughed. "Say, but doesn't Phil think he is smart?"

"What is he trying to impersonate anyway?" Gene counter questioned.

"I don't know, but he is awfully conceited. I wasn't going to tell you, but I will anyway."

"Tell me what?" Gene was anxious.

"Well, he had the nerve to ask to ride home with him in the other buggy. It was when you and Maurice when for the water for the lemonade."

"And will you ride with him?"

"I should say not! I turned him down flat and told him that I would go back home the way I came. I wish he would leave me alone!"

They looked toward the camp and saw Miss Birch waving her handkerchief, which meant she wanted them to come. Gene turned the boat and rowed toward the shore.

"It was lots of fun, Gene," Laura Me said when she stepped out of the boat. "I wish we could come here often."

"Maybe we can come again soon."

"Father would never consent to my coming here. I am doing it on the sly today."

"Your mother knew that you came, didn't she?"

"Yes, she knew. She is a darling, she wants me to be happy and have a good time."

Miss Birch was coming toward them.

"Everyone has decided to take a hike up the mountainside and see the Sulphur spring where all of the hot water come from that runs down the pipes to the plunge. We don't want to get scattered; that is why I gave you the signal to come to shore," she explained.

"Oh, I thought it was time to start back home," Laura Mae said. She was just a little bit nervous for fear that they would not leave early enough so she could be home at the usual time as if it were an ordinary school day. If they were late, she might have to make some excuse for her father.

They climbed the side of the mountain until they came to a steaming spring that had a strong sickening odor.

"There is not much to it, is there?" Laura Mae asked Gene who was nearest to her.

"Not much. I have seen it several times before." Then she spoke aloud to the group. "Just a little farther up there, you will come to a cave that used to be the humble abode of an early prospector, it might be interesting to see if you have never seen one before."

"Let's go up to it," Miss Birch suggested.

"All right," came from several at once.

"I would rather be in the boat than up here," Laura Mae said aside to Gene.

"I would rather be in it too, but we are up here now we might as well see all there is to see."

It was beautiful after all, Laura Mae discovered, to be up there on the side of the mountain with its many-colored rocks, and trees and to be able to look down over the valley. The river looked like a soft blue ribbon fastened on to the edge of the beautiful lake. It gave her a thrill she had never experienced before, and she was sure she would be the happiest person on earth if they could just get back home safely on time so her father would not say some mean thing to spoil the whole day for her. She looked about over the crowd, then as if only thinking aloud, she said, "Where is Phil?" Gene gave her a queer questioning glance. "Like heck, she don't like him," he thought to himself.

Miss Birch heard her ask the question so she explained that Philip had offered to guard the camp while they climbed the mountain, as his leg was hardly well enough to walk on it any more than he had to. They did not know how well Philip was guarding the camp. He snooped into every one of the lunch boxes, devouring cake and candy to his heart's content, even though he had heard the girls say they would keep the goodies until on the way home, then they could eat them as they rode along.

When the crowd came back to the buggies, Laura Mae found that one of her gloves was missing. She had left them both in her coat pocket hanging over the buggy seat, she was sure; it had been too warm for her coat until now. "Oh, well, maybe I lost it on the road, I will look for it on the way back," she thought. Of course, Phil would not tell her that he had discovered it and had taken it for a keepsake because he wanted something of hers and she had never given him anything.