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one happened to go in there and cut down a single tree I can't
understand； nor yet how they managed to bring out the tree through
the tangled brush。 It is so strange that it seems as if there must
be a mystery about it。'
'Certainly；' said Margery promptly。 'A tragedy of the darkest kind！
Some cruel wretch has cut down； in the pride and pomp of it beauty；
one sycamore…tree； its innocent life…blood has stained the ground；
and given birth to the white toadstools which mark the spot and
testify to the purity of the victim。'
'Well；' continued Bell； impressively； 'I knew I could never find it
again； and I wanted so much you should see it that I took the ball of
twine we always carry； unrolled it； and dropped the thread all the
way along to the brookside； like Phrygia； or Melpomene； or Anemone；
or whatever her name was。'
'Or Artesia； or Polynesia； or Euthanasia；' interrupted Polly。 'I
think the lady you mean is Ariadne。'
'Exactly。 Now we'll take papa to see it； and then we'll fit it up as
a retreat。 Won't it be charming？ We'll call it the Lone Stump。'
'Oh； I like that； it makes me shiver！' cried Polly。 'I'm going to
write an ode to it at once。 Ahem！ It shall beginlet me see …
'O lonely tree；
What cruel 〃he〃
Did lay thee low？
Tell us the facts；
Did cruel axe
Abuse thee so？'
'Sublime！ Second verse；' said Bell slowly； with pauses between the
lines：…
'Or did a gopher；
The wicked loafer；
Gnaw at thy base；
And； doing so；
Contrive to go；
And leave no trace？'
'Oh dear！' sighed Margery； 'if you will do it； wait a minute。
'O toadstools white；
Pray give us light
Upon the question。
Did gopher gnaw；
And live in awe
Of indigestion？'
'Good！' continued Bell：…
'Or did a man
Malicious plan
The good tree's ruin；
And leave it so
Convenient low；
A seat for Bruin？
For travelling grizzlies； you know。 We may go there and see a hungry
creature making a stump…speech； while an admiring audience of
grasshoppers and tarantulas seat themselves in a circle on the
toadstools。'
'Charming prospect！' said Madge。 'I don't think I care to visit the
Lone Stump or pass my mornings there。'
'Nonsense； dear child； it is just like every other part of the
canyon； only a little more lonely。 It is not half a mile from camp；
and hardly a dozen steps from the place where the boys go so often to
shoot quail。'
'Very well；' said the girls。 'We must go there to…morrow morning；
and perhaps we'd better not tell the boys；they are so peculiar。
Jack will certainly interfere with us in some way； if he hears about
it。'
'Now let us take our books and run down by the pool for an hour or
two；' said Bell。 'Papa and the boys are all off shooting； and mamma
is lying down。 We can have a cool； quiet time； the sunshine is so
hot here by the tents。'
Accordingly； they departed； as they often did； for one of the
prolonged chats in which school…girls are wont to indulge； and which
so often； too； are but idle； senseless chatter。
These young people； however； had been fortunate in having the wisest
and most loving guardianship； so that all their happy young lives had
been spent to good purpose。 They had not shirked study； and so their
minds were stocked with useful information； they had read carefully
and digested thoroughly whatever they had read； so that they
possessed a good deal of general knowledge。 The girls were bright；
sensible； industrious little women； who tried to be good； too； in the
old…fashioned sense of the word； and full of fun； nonsense； and
chatter as they were among themselves； they never forgot to be modest
and unassuming。
The boys were pretty well in earnest about life； too； with good
ambitions and generous aspirations。 They had all been studying with
Dr。 Winship for nearly two years； and that means a great deal； for he
was a real teacher； entering into the lives of his pupils；
sympathising with them in every way； and leading them； through the
study of nature； of human beings； and of God； to see the beauty and
meaning of life。
Geoffrey Strong； of course； was older than the rest； having completed
his junior year at college； but Dr。 Winship； who was his guardian；
thought it wiser for him to rest a year and come to him in
California； as his ambition and energy had already led him into
greater exertions than his age or strength warranted。 He was now
studying medicine with the good Doctor； but would go back to the
'land of perpetual pie' in the fall and complete his college course。
A splendid fellow he was；so earnest； thoughtful； and wise； so
gravely tender in all his ways to Aunt Truth； who was the only mother
he had ever known； so devoted to Dr。 Winship； who loved him as his
own elder son。
What will Geoffrey Strong be as a man？ The twig is bent； and it is
safe to predict how the tree will incline。 His word will be as good
as his bond； he will be a good physician； for his eye is quick to see
suffering； and his hand ready to relieve it； little children with
feverish cheeks and tired eyes will love to clasp his cool； strong
sand； he will be gentle as a woman； yet thoroughly manly； as he is
now； for he has made the most of his golden youth； and every lad who
does that will have a golden manhood and a glorious old age。
As for Philip Noble； he was a dear； good； trustworthy lad too；
kindly； generous； practical； and industrious； a trifle slow and
reserved； perhaps； but full of common sense；the kind of sense
which； after all； is most uncommon。
Bell once said： 'This is the difference between Philip and
Geoffrey；one does； and the other is。 Geoff is the real Simon…pure
ideal which we praise Philip for trying to be；'a very good
description for a little maiden whose bright eyes had only looked
into life for sixteen summers。
And now we come to Jack Howard； who never kept still long enough for
any one to write a description of him。 To explain how he differed
from Philip or Geoffrey would be like bringing the Equator and the
Tropic of Cancer together for purposes of comparison。
If there were a horseback ride； Jack rode the wildest colt； was
oftenest thrown and least often hurt； if a fishing…party； Jack it was
who caught all the fish； though he made more noise than any one else；
and followed no rules laid down in The Complete Angler。
He was very often in trouble； but his misdemeanours were those of
pure mischief； and were generally atoned for when it was possible。
He excelled in all out…of…door sports。 And indeed； if his prudence
had at all kept pace with his ability； he might have done remarkable
things in almost any direction； but he constantly overshot the mark；
and people looked to him for the dazzling brilliancy and uncertainty
of a meteor； but never for the steady glow of a fixed star。
Just now； Jack was a good deal sobered； and appeared at his very
best。 The teaching of Dr。 Paul and the companionship of Geoffrey had
done much for him； while the illness of his sister Elsie； who was the
darling of his heart； acted constantly as a sort of curb upon him；
for he loved her with all the ardour and passion which he gave to
everything else。 You might be fearful of Jack's high spiri