"There's enough of _us_ to
overpower _them_."
"Well, Zene," said Grandma Padgett, "I guess we'd better stop here.
We've provisions in our wagon."
"How far you goin'?" inquired the hospitable mover.
"Into Illinois," replied the head of the small caravan.
"Your trip'll soon be done, then. Come on, now, and go to Californy,
why don't you! _That's_ the country to get rich in! You'll see
sights the other side of the Mississippi!"
"I'm too old for such undertakings," said Grandma Padgett, passing
over the mover's exuberance with a smile.
"Why, we have a granny over ninety with us!" he declared. "Now's the
time to start if you want to see the great western country."
Zene drove off the 'pike on the temporary track made by so many
vehicles, and Grandma Padgett followed, the Virginian showing them a
good spot near the liveliest part of the camp, upon which they might
pitch.
The family sat in the-carriage while Zene took out the horses,
sheltered the wagon under thick foliage where rain scarcely
penetrated, and stretched the canvas for a tent. Then Grandma Padgett
put on her rubber overshoes, pinned a shawl about her and descended;
and their fire was soon burning, their kettle was soon boiling, in
defiance of water streams which frequently trickled from the leaves
and fell on the coals with a hiss.
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