"Do you suppose we've missed them on the way down?" Raising her voice she gave her ranch-call--"Ho, ye ho, ho!" "--ho ho!" the hill sent back; but no feminine or masculine voice answered the well-known notes. Blue Bonnet, child of the open, then looked at the sun and the shadows and gave an exclamation of astonishment. "It's past noon! They've gone back to camp. My, I'll have to hurry--it's my turn to cook lunch." She darted impetuously down the hillside, and Knight found himself compelled to move briskly in order to keep up with her. They went too fast for conversation, but once Blue Bonnet paused long enough to say over her shoulder--"You'll come to lunch, won't you?" "Catch me refusing now I know who the cook is!" he replied gaily. The path opened at last on the open space before _Poco Tiempo_. There was sound of voices and laughter, and yes--the clink of dishes! Blue Bonnet turned a rueful face to Knight--"Do you hear that? They won't say a thing to me!" "I am armed,--trust me to protect you," he declaimed theatrically. They had to pass through the "kitchen" first, and there the clutter of empty pots and pans told their own story. From the dining-room the others caught sight of the tardy pair and a wild hubbub at once arose. "Tramps!" "Set the dogs on them!" "Why don't you work for a living?" Knight's eyes twinkled as he looked from Blue Bonnet's amazed countenance to the teasing faces about the table. Lunch was evidently not only ready but largely consumed. "What are you eating so early for?" Blue Bonnet demanded. "Early!" "Twenty minutes past one!" "No--!" Blue Bonnet gasped, subsiding on the end of the bench and fanning her hot face with her hat. "Now, isn't that the funniest thing?" "I'm glad you see the point of your own joke," retorted Kitty. "We have decided to give you a week's notice to get a new place." "I engage her on the spot," said Knight. "It's all my fault." "We won't give her a reference," said Kitty. "You needn't--if you'll just give me food," said Blue Bonnet. "Alec, make room for Knight beside you, will you? We're both starved. Who made the muffins?" "Guess," said Kitty, relenting and passing her the nearly empty plate. Sarah intercepted it. "I'll get you some hot ones." And she rose hastily. Blue Bonnet laughed. "Now I know! Grandmother, did you help Sarah?" Mrs. Clyde nodded. "The girls came back so hungry I thought we had better not wait for the chief cook. No one knew where you were." "I'm going to wear a cow-bell after this," Blue Bonnet declared. "Sarah, if I could make such muffins I'd insist upon cooking every meal." "I reckon you don't need any protection," Knight said in an undertone. "Oh, there's safety in numbers. Wait till Amanda catches me alone! We two will have to get dinner now." She buttered her third muffin and then glanced happily around the table. "I've a lovely scheme," she hinted.