noon
This they were only too glad to have , and a few minutes later the lodge hummed with excitement and preparation once more . To the Outdoor Girls , active and fun-loving by nature , to be quiet for a few days was nothing short of torture . So now , even though there was still more than a little fear of the `` Thing '' in their hearts , they found relief in the promise of adventure . They put up some sandwiches and fruit in a basket in case they were not able to get home by noon . Then they locked the door of the little lodge and started down the steps . They hesitated before starting into the woods , and Mollie had a happy thought . `` We can go part of the way along the road , '' she said .