The Woodcraft Girls in the City Part 44

"Now, if Jane Hubert thinks that, and she lives in the finest house belonging to any of the girls, and she has more money than any, there must be more to the Guide's words than I thought of. What was it she said to me, anyway?" thought Eleanor to herself as she began pulling out the strands she had woven into the mat.

Then she tried to remember and in so doing she took in more of what Miss Miller had really said than she thought possible. Even as she pondered, she finished unravelling the mat and began over again to weave the work correctly and neatly.

Nita noticed this silent weaving and the thoughtful mien of Eleanor, and she left her own loom to join the girl and tell her of her experience while at Camp with Miss Miller the previous Summer.

Eleanor kept her eyes upon the weaving as she listened, and when Nita said: "I never was so contented and happy in my life as now, and it is only because I tried to do just as Miss Miller taught and showed me to do."

The days pa.s.sed only too quickly for the busy Woodcrafters until the day before the Fourth. Then the Doctor telephoned just before noon and told the Guide that the friends and families of Wako Tribe were coming down to hold a Council on the afternoon of the Fourth.

When this unexpected news was transmitted to the girls, such a bustle and excitement as it created! Everyone wanted to do something fine to show the visitors what progress had been made in the past week.

Some of the girls went to the house to bake cake for refreshments, some hurriedly sawed and painted crude totems to make the Council Ring appear decorated. The Brownies thrashed through the woods gathering wild flowers and fern, and arranging them in pails and jars of water. Mrs.

Sherwood skimmed the rich cream from several pans of milk and offered to freeze the ice-cream. Everyone managed to get in everyone else's way, and the merry confusion was as enjoyable as a surprise party.

The girls expected the visitors about noon, but it was almost two o'clock before a maddening sound reached them.

"Good gracious! That isn't _our_ siren!" cried Jane.

"Nor ours-and it isn't the Remingtons', either," said Zan.

Then another terrific blast sounded from the Big Bridge, and the girls saw three large jitneys turn in from the main road and pull up before Bill's cottage.

"Did you ever see such a crowd?" exclaimed May, as the visitors jumped out and looked about.

"'Everybody and his uncle' came, I guess!" laughed Elena.

"And in jitneys! Isn't it a scream?" added Jane.

As they spoke, the girls were hurrying down the slope to welcome the friends and soon after, the Council Ring was filled and the entertainment began.

Nita danced, the Tribe sang, the boys had sham-battles, games were enjoyed, and refreshments,-not the least of the fun-were quickly disposed of and the visitors complimented the cooks.

"I hear those jitneys calling 'Ole Black Joe,'" sang the doctor, as a horn sounded from the foot of the slope. "But I must say my little say before I go. And this is my speech!"

Dr. Baker then told the girls that they, as a Tribe, were invited to accompany Mrs. Hubert to the Adirondack Camp for the Summer. She expected to leave the city on the following Thursday and anyone intending to go must be ready and waiting at the car.

This wonderful news was wildly received and the visitors were sent off in a hurry, as the girls wanted time to consider ways and means of going to Woodchuck Camp.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN-THE ADIRONDACK CAMP

When the girls returned to the city the day following the Fourth, they heard that Mrs. Remington and Anna, the governess, were going to a.s.sist them in Woodcraft that Summer, and incidentally look after Teddy and Tammy, the babies of Little Lodge.

Mrs. Baker was invited but she declined as she had already arranged to start a boys' camp for her sons at the farm. All the members of Wako Tribe were invited but many of them could not go, as other plans had been made by mothers. So on the day of departure, Miss Miller, the other ladies, and Brownies, with the five old members and some of the new ones, boarded the express.

It was a long wearisome ride but the wonders expected when all should reach the mountains buoyed them up. As Zan said: "It was just like journeying hopefully through earth's tribulations for the joy and peace waiting in Heaven."

It was dark when the campers reached the Huberts' place and not much could be seen, but early in the morning every girl was out and exclaiming at the beauty of the forest camp. The lake was a short walk from the long cabin, and a swim was the first thing on the programme.

After that a hearty breakfast, and a hike through the woods.

As they merrily ran hither and thither in the cool bowers of green, the Brownies gathered flowers and leaves. Billy brought Miss Miller a sprig of green and she cried:

"Ha! Who knows what this is-don't tell them, Billy!"

"Do you know-it smells like mint of some sort?" said Nita, sniffing at the green leaves.

"It's sa.s.safras. The juice of these leaves flavours the chewing gum Zan told us of in her essay," said the Guide.

"Then it is used for candy, too," added Billy.

"Yes, and peppermint and birch found in these woods can be used for flavouring, too," said Mrs. Remington.

"Did I hear you say we had all the makings of some candy the first rainy day?" laughed Zan.

"Having the flavouring at hand-why not?" retorted Jane, well knowing the Brownies would take up the cry.

Even as she turned to nudge Billy, a drop of rain splashed down upon her face. She looked up and saw a heavy cloud sweeping over the sun and the others turned and looked also.

"Run everybody, or we'll have to swim back!" cried Zan.

"Run for the house-not for the camp! Remember that sa.s.safras candy!"

merrily shouted Jane.

So the first day at Woodchuck Camp ended with a candy-pull and sticky hands and faces of Wako Tribe members.

No one could settle down to any planned Woodcraft work that first week in the Adirondacks as the call of the forest and lake proved irresistible. But the second week the novelty had worn off enough to allow the girls to start some active work.

"We must have a good cabin to hold our tools and work during the Summer-what do you say to building one at once?" asked Miss Miller.

"Oh, yes, let's!" replied the girls who had built the cabin at Wickeecheokee Camp.

"Won't it be awfully hard work?" queried Anne.

"And so senseless when you have tents and a house near enough to place things," added Eleanor, peevishly. "It will be more fun to swing in a hammock and read stories."

"One can read books in the Winter but who wants to do it in camp?"

scorned Hilda.

"My mother sent me a box of novels and I shall take it easy and read-you girls can do as you like," retorted Eleanor.

Miss Miller heard the conversation and was on guard at once. "Who is your favourite author, Eleanor?"

"I have so many, I hardly can tell," said the girl, not aware of the Guide's intentions to draw her out.

"What style of book do you prefer? Travel, history, or love stories?"