THE TRIP UP THE RIVER
It turned out to be a lovely day. Ethel was most excited. The tents,
cooking utensils, pillows, cots, etc., had been sent two days before by
freight. The trunks alone remained to be taken to the boat, and they
were only steamer trunks.
Uncle John went along to see them safely on board the train that
connected with the small boat that plied daily up the Muskingum river.
"If you get homesick, little one," he said to Ethel, "you come right
back to us. Don't you stay if you don't like it."
"Oh, Uncle John, how could I get homesick with Kate?" she replied; "but
I shall miss you awfully."
The whistle blew and away they went. It was a pretty sail and the girls
were in a happy frame of mind. Nora Casey looked like one immense
freckle. She was in high spirits and now and then relapsed into a jolly
brogue caught from her parents, for Nora was born in America.
"Faith and it's sailing that I enjoy," she said to Ethel, coming up the
stairway from the deck below. "I'm afther taking some pictures of the
river for our Count book." Then catching herself she talked perfectly
correct without the slightest trace.
They watched the banks on either side, dotted now and then by pretty
houses and thriving fields of buckwheat and clover.
Patty Sands sat by Ethel. They were very congenial. The rest of the
girls chattered together. Mattie Hastings sat beside Kate Hollister and
regarded her with adoring looks. Nora chatted excitedly; once in a while
Kate would check her exuberance of spirits, as her voice could be heard
by people on the shore. Said Kate:
"Girls, there are several beautiful legends connected with this river. I
read a new one the other day. At our first Camp Fire I'll relate it. We
can copy it in our book under our totem. Suppose each of you girls write
an original legend and read it aloud some rainy night."
"Good for Miss Hollister!" cried Honora. "We will."
So they promised.
Soon the journey came to an end. A four-seated buckboard stage had been
engaged by Uncle John to meet the party and carry them up the steep hill
into camp.
"Oh, isn't this jolly?" said Ethel enthusiastically. "What lovely
woods!"
And indeed they looked like a picture with the June sunshine every now
and then bursting through the trees. The road was narrow but it was a
good road for walking. The old buckboard creaked and groaned with its
load of eight girls, their Guardian, and the driver. Every once in a
while the horses would stop and the driver dismount and with his
handkerchief wipe off the white sweat that looked like soapsuds.
"He's a kind man," said Kate.
Then when his handkerchief was too wet to use he would pick up handfuls
of grass to use for their comfort, after which he would get up on the
seat and drive them again, but he must have stopped ten times before
reaching the clearing where the Camp was to be.
"Oh, look!" cried Patty. "Miss Hollister, our four tents are up."
"Yes, that's Father's surprise," she rejoined. "He sent up one of his men
yesterday so that we need have no trouble." And turning to Ethel she
said: "Usually we have to hire a man in the village to come up and do
such work, but Father has anticipated us this time."
"Isn't he lovely?" said the girls in unison, jumping like children from
the wagon and peeping into each tent. There were all the baskets ready
to be unpacked, and following the buckboard came the trunks.
They quickly removed their hats, etc., and bade the driver goodbye, who
by the way was now using handfuls of leaves to clean the animals; after
which each one was assigned her task.
"Patty Sands, you may unpack and wipe the china. Mattie Hastings, you
may put it in place. Ethel, you may watch this time, as you are a
tenderfoot. Nora, you arrange the blankets, towels, and linen in order,
will you?" And so Kate kept each girl working.
Mollie Long made the cots; Sallie Davis put the cooking utensils in
place; Edith Overman and Edna Whitely began gathering sticks for the
fire.
"Oh!" ejaculated Ethel, "that's my task, isn't it? I'm the Wood
Gatherer," she said.
"The first day a tenderfoot is our guest," replied Mollie Long,
laughing. "You wander away and think of the story you'll have to write
and read aloud."
"In other words," broke in Nora, "go way back and sit down."
But Ethel watched the girls work. It was a revelation to her. They
seemed more like boys.
"Why," explained Edna Whitely, "if necessary we could drive the stakes
and put up our tent, couldn't we, Miss Hollister?"
"Yes, I hope you'd be able to," she said. "I think women do far harder
work than that every day."
Kate had changed her gown for a pair of bloomers and was working hard
running back and forth giving orders like a general. By twilight every
trunk was unpacked and in its place. Each girl had changed her gown and
the Camp Fire was ready to light after tea. Then came preparations. In
one tent there was an oil stove. Outside stood a barrel of oil. It was
an extra tent to be used as a kitchen. Two upright stakes with one
running across, upon which were many hooks, served to hold all of the
kitchen utensils. They hung from it as naturally as though in a real
kitchen. One of the packing boxes became a serving table and afterwards
did duty for a sink. In the center of the kitchen was a long table made
of planks laid upon a wooden horse at either end. When pleasant the
girls preferred to eat outside, sitting Indian fashion, but when rainy
the kitchen tent made an admirable shelter.