They teased her at breakfast, and Hippy suggested that Elfreda ask Emma Dean to "con-centrate" on her during Miss Briggs' future practice with the lasso.
"To change the subject, I am going to look up the Thompsons and try to make peace with them, provided they are like most of the mountaineers that we have come into intimate contact with," announced Grace.

"I suggest that you and I ride out on a tour of investigation this morning, leaving Hippy here to protect the camp, Elfreda.

You may take your rope along and practice on me, if you wish," smiled Grace.
"You will be perfectly safe," murmured Emma.
Immediately after breakfast the two girls mounted and rode out along the trail they had been following, now bordered on one side by a field of rustling corn.

Reaching the end of the cornfield they discovered, just ahead, a cabin located in an open space of several acres of rugged mountain land.
"That must be the place.

We will ride up and find out," announced Grace, clucking to her pony.
As they approached the cabin a slovenly looking woman, accompanied by three children, one a girl that the Overlanders judged to be about fourteen years of age, the other two girls being much younger, one a mere toddler, came out and, shading her eyes with a hand, eyed the newcomers suspiciously.
"Is this Mr.Thompson's home ?" asked Grace, smiling down at the children.
"Ah reckon it be.