tree, crooning over a pot of broth she was stirring.
"'I am your grandmother, boy, and I will help you. What do you here all
alone?'
"Then the boy told about his little dog and how he would like to find it
again.
"'His people live on the other side of the lake. He is the Wolf Chief's
Son, grandchild--he is not a common dog,' said the woman.
"'How can I get over there?' asked the boy.
"'I have a little canoe--you may use that. Here it is,' replied the
grandame as she picked up a shrivelled leaf and handed it to the
astonished boy.
"'How can I sit in this--it will not carry me?' said he.
"'When you reach the lake-side just shake it open and it will swell
large in the water. Step in, stretch yourself out in the bottom of the
canoe and wish yourself across. Do not paddle it. When you are on the
other shore wish the canoe back to me and it will come.'
"The boy did as directed and reached the opposite side of the lake, but
instead of wishing the canoe back again he wished it a leaf and this he
placed in his pocket for future use.
"At the Wolf Chief's village he found some boys playing tug-of-war with
the ends of the rainbow. He stood watching for a moment but he came for
his little dog so he inquired the way to the Wolf Chief's wigwam. It was
at the end of the village. Here he found the people sitting about an
evening fire and the little dog was playing in front of Wolf Chief.
"The boy watched and called joyfully to the dog, but the Wolf Chief
growled forth: 'A human is near us. Clear a way before him.'
"At that the little dog ran up and sniffed the stranger. He knew him at
once and caught his garments between his teeth and dragged the visitor
over to his father, Wolf Chief. Here he barked out the story of the
boy's kindness to him when he was down in the valley.
"Then the Wolf Chief welcomed the boy, saying: 'I sent my son to help
you hunt when I heard how you were helping the people to keep from
starving. Because you were grateful to your dog I will show you more
kindness. My boy shall not go back with you, but this is what I will
give you: This fish-hawk's quill to hunt with. Whenever you meet a bear
or sheep, hold the quill straight out and it will fly from your hand to
lodge in the animal's heart. Then remove the quill and clean it well to
keep for another trial.'
"The boy took the quill and thanked the Chief.
"Then the Wolf Chief added: 'I will also give you a great treasure as I
see you are a grateful lad.'
"He removed a blanket from a tripod and handed it to the boy. 'Use this
for sickness or death. If a friend is ill cover him with this blanket
and he will immediately recover again.'
"Again the boy thanked the Chief earnestly.
"Then the Wolf Chief placed something in the boy's mouth, saying:
'Swallow this as you have a long journey before reaching your home
again. This will keep you from being hungry or weary.'
"Then the little dog and the boy wept over each other, for they had been
fond companions, and the boy started homeward, being very careful of the
quill and medicine blanket.
"As the boy came down the mountain-side near the village he met a bear
that stood in the trail and growled at him. He held the quill straight
at the beast and it flew right into the bear's heart. Then the boy took
the quill and cleaned it well. Next he cut some bearsteaks for immediate
use and covered over the remainder.
"The boy reached his village from which he thought he had been absent
only two days and nights, but he found he had been gone two years--so
swiftly had the time passed while he had been at the Wolf Chief's
village by the lake-side.
"As he entered the village he found it had been totally destroyed and
everyone was dead. He felt dreadfully sad at this discovery but he
remembered the medicine blanket, and this he placed over every member of
his family and they immediately came to life. Then he placed it over
everyone in the village and brought them all back to life--even the
brother-in-law who had been so ungrateful.
"When all were alive once more they needed food so the boy ran to the
mountain and found a great flock of wild sheep. With the quill he soon
killed them and ordered the people to carry them home.
"The villagers were so astonished when they saw him kill wild beasts
with a quill that they agreed to have him hunt for the entire village
and promised to pay him with skins and weapons for the meat.
"When the villagers were nourished they told the boy that while he was
absent every tribe of people were killed by the famine and the plagues.
The boy then decided to visit the nations and revive the people by means
of the medicine blanket. This he did, but he only brought the good and
beautiful back to life, leaving the cruel and vicious, and deformed
ones, dead. And this he did for every creature on the earth. The bad and
worthless were killed off with the quill but the good and faithful
creatures were kept alive with the blanket. Thus it happened that the
earth became a beautiful spot to live in, for all men were as brothers,
and all creatures walked in the trails of man without fear or desire to
kill. And to this day, the boy feeds his people and everyone is happy
and at peace."
As the Guide finished her story the Woodcrafters cried "How! How!" but
Fiji said: "I wish we had that blanket and quill at this present time!"
"No such luck! It is war, war, war to the bitter end, I guess," added
Fred.
"And starvation or famine and plagues for the world!" sighed Zan.
"I'm not so sure but that the Hunter with the Medicine Blanket of Life
is again on earth to revive all the good and true people to everlasting
joy and peace," ventured the Guide, quietly.
"Why, just think, if Fred or Fiji were two years older they would have
to go to France and be killed," cried Zan, fervently. "Some day in the
future maybe, Miss Miller, but no one can say there is joy or peace with
all this misery brought about by war."
"No, my dear, not in the future--right now! I firmly believe that the
world will awaken to realise this wonderful state of existence shortly.
And if we believe any part of the Scriptures we _must_ believe the
prophecies of many writers of that Book. There is no room for doubt that
this is the time that is spoken of as 'The Day of the Lord.' But let us
consider other things now, even though Sunday is a good day to discuss
the heavenly conditions that will prevail the moment the 'dragon' is
over-powered. You see, I become so tremendously interested in this
warfare of Michael and Gabriel, the Two Angels that war against the
Dragon and the Beast, that I dare not pursue the subject further. You
would oust me from the Tribe if I talked of nothing but the New
Jerusalem. You are here to talk of Woodcraft instead," said Miss Miller,
springing up and looking brightly around for a new form of
entertainment.
"I wonder how many of you ever gave a thought to the Woodcraft work
secrets contained in the sea?" said Miss Miller, gazing down from the
plateau to the stretch of glistening beach where the tide was nearing
its highest mark.
"In the sea?" laughed Eleanor sceptically, as the others joined the
Guide and looked where she did.
"Yes, and wonderful secrets it holds for us, too. Come, and I will show
you a few."
Miss Miller picked up a glass fruit jar which had held some preserves
from home, and advising the others to find receptacles for the
collection she would show them, started down the sand-bank.
"First, I would suggest that each girl find five or ten smooth round sea
pebbles as near a size as possible. These we will ask the boys to carry
in their pockets for us. I will show you what wonderful jack-stones they
make. In fact, the game originally was played with smooth stones. It was
only in later years that the iron imitations were manufactured and
placed upon the market.
"Then let me tell you, that a collection of large oval light-coloured
stones make the prettiest sort of a marker to line off a flower-bed or
pathway. If they are well set in sand they will not roll or become muddy
from the rain that falls upon the soil of the garden. The sand holds
them in place and keeps them clean.
"Another suggestion for Hand-craft for a Woodcrafter, is this: find a
large flat oval stone washed smooth by the sea and upon one side you can
paint a marine picture or, if you cannot paint, a conventional design
can be used to decorate it. This makes a lovely paper-weight for a
friend, or for your own desk.
"For Edith and her little brother, we can hunt for pebbles that resemble
fruits and vegetables. Then the Little Brownies can play store to their
heart's content."
"That will be fine, Miss Miller, and I'll help the girls find what I
need for a store," declared Edith, accepting the suggestion for the
deed.
"Let's hurry then, as Edith will want us to collect every pebble on the
beach--I know her aspirations when a new game is mentioned," laughed
Elizabeth.
"She isn't 'the only pebble on the beach' for that weakness," commented
Fred, looking at his elder sister.
"Chump Mark for Fred--he used slang!" cried Elizabeth.
But Zan was busy watching the Guide fill her glass jar with certain
pebbles, and the hint to bestow a Chump Mark was passed by.
The jar filled, Miss Miller filled the remaining crevices with salt
water, then screwed the lid on the jar.
"Now, look at this--isn't it pretty? Do you think a bottle of these
beautifully coloured and veined sea pebbles will elicit an interest if
sent to a sick friend or a bed-ridden child in a Home?" asked the Guide,
holding the jar at arm's length that all could see the varied hued
pebbles which were enhanced by the salt water.
"Aren't they just lovely! But where under the sun did you ever hear of
these things, Miss Miller?" cried Jane.
"I wish we had baskets to hold a bushel of these pebbles and we could
fill lots of wide-mouthed bottles from Dad's office to present to his
little patients at the Children's Hospital," said Zan.
"We might fill the empty boxes we were going to burn up when we cleaned
up camp," suggested Hilda.
"Boys, you run up to the camp and bring us the boxes while we collect
the prettiest stones we can find," said Zan, leading the way along the
beach.
The boys did as ordered and, the tide running out fast by this time, the
girls soon found marvelously figured and coloured pebbles left on the
sand.
"Now that we are at this collecting work I may as well add the secrets
of the shells. If you place various shapes and kinds of shells with the
pebbles the bottle will look even prettier than if filled with stones
alone," suggested Miss Miller.
"Elena, do you see these deep white scallop shells? They make splendid
paint-cups for water-colours. I always use them in preference to china
dishes," said the Guide, turning to the artist.
"Girls, let us gather as many as you think we will need this winter for
our art-work!" exclaimed Zan, and thereupon, the girls busied themselves
with the new diversion.
"Here we are, Miss Miller, what shall we do with the boxes we were sent
for?" called Fiji, sliding down the steep incline of the sand-dune.
"Oh--let the boys find the pebbles and fill the boxes for us while we
collect the shells," cried Jane, looking at the Guide for approval.
"Do you boys wish to do that?" asked she.
"Cert. Anything you say. We haven't a thing to do until church is over,
you know," laughed Jack.
"Meaning this Sunday enjoyment? Well, it is a heap more fun than I would
have believed possible," declared Zan.
"As long as the boys are doing that work I can show you girls some other
secrets," said Miss Miller, looking for deep large-sized clam shells
cleansed as only the sea can wash a shell.
"This kind of shell make the nicest kind of ramekins for baked fish, or
tarts, and other small side-dishes. They also can be used for
bone-dishes or small side-plates when camping.
"Now see these yellow opalescent shells? Well, they make pretty salt and
pepper dishes. Even for a city table, they are unique and artistic. I
have often grouped three in some glue on a round wooden disk and
decorated the wood with pyrography and then used the small sea-snail
shells to glue under the three centre pieces. It looked too pretty for
anything when completed and ready to send to a friend for a gift.
"I also have made pin-cushions of two fitted scallop shells. The hollow
is filled with saw-dust, and a strip of satin or velvet covering the
slight aperture made by the opened shells is glued inside the shells. A
ribbon sewed to the hinge of the shell is used to hang the cushion on
the side of the dressing-table mirror."
"Oh dear me, Miss Miller, wait a minute till we get time to take it all
in," laughed Elena, eager to note everything the Guide said.
"Girls, let's collect the shells necessary for the things Miss Miller
explains about, and then we can have her teach us how to make the things
some day at the Gym," suggested Zan.
"That's a good idea. Now, Miss Miller, what else do you know about shell
secrets?" added Jane.
"I have made beautiful portieres of these golden paper shells. Most of
them have a small hole in the end--see there? And some haven't the tiny
perforation--these I burn in with a red-hot hatpin so that each shell
may be threaded on a strong length of Japanese cord. This cord is finer
and stronger than any made in this country, and is used for
bead-curtains and reed portieres.
"After threading a shell you must tie the cord once in and out the hole
to keep the shell from slipping down and crowding the others that are
threaded on the same cord.
"I have also trimmed decorative scarfs with this kind of shell fringe,
but fancy scarfs are not in vogue now as much as they used to be.
"These two ideas will give you many other ideas where the shells can be
used. I should think Elena could suggest some new ways."
"Oh, oh, _OH!_ Listen to me!" shouted Nita, jumping up and down
frantically, as she waved both arms about in her excitement.
"Goodness sakes! I thought Nita stepped on a sea-serpent!" laughed the
Guide, turning to hear the great news.
"Won't it be _perfectly grand_ to have a costume covered with these
sea-shells, and fringes of them hanging down from the skirt and sleeves,
so they will rattle when I dance? I will invent a sea-dance to go with
the costume. What about it, eh?" cried Nita.
"Great! If we only had another day to stop here and collect the shells,"
returned Jane.
"Miss Miller, I bet anything, Nita could win an honour from Headquarters
for an ideal dance and costume like that!" said Zan.
"Girls, you go on and get whatever you want for shell-work and just
leave that dress to me. I'll dig and pick all day till it's time to
start for home, but I'll have that shell dress or die!" promised Nita,
eagerly.
"We may as well help Nita with her work as we can use any left-over
shells for our fancy work. I was only going to add, that work-boxes
hinged with a strip of glued muslin on one edge of the lid and decorated
with sea-shells glued on the outside, are very pretty gifts for friends.
"I have also made lovely picture frames, and mirror frames of wood
covered with different kinds of shells. In fact, there are endless ways
of using these pretty little trifles cast up for us by the bountiful
sea."
"While you talk, Miss Miller, we will collect, as the surf is leaving
more and more shells on the sand as the tide recedes," said Hilda,
eagerly picking up everything she saw.
"O-oh! but it makes your back ache terribly! Mine is simply broken in
two and I can't stoop another time!" declared Eleanor.
"Oh be a sport, Ella! Don't spoil everything by your whimperings," said
Zan, expressing disgust in her voice.
"I just guess if you were as delicate as I am your bones would ache,
too!" retorted Eleanor.
"Thank goodness I'm no hypochondriac!" snapped Zan.
Eleanor was not sure what that word meant, so she hesitated to publish
her ignorance. She was quite sure, however, that it was Latin for some
illness known only to a doctor or his immediate family. The fact that
she could not reply made her more peevish, and she turned without
another word and walked back to camp.
"Well I never! If she isn't the poorest kind of a Woodcrafter a Tribe
ever had the bad luck to have hang on to its wings!" exclaimed Zan,
watching the girl saunter away from her companions.
The other girls tittered but the Guide said: "Oh she's coming on fine,
_I_ think!"
"Miss Miller!" gasped several voices.
"You don't believe me, do you? Wait and see!" rejoined the Guide.
"Well, you always did have a gift for seeing 'swans where others only
saw geese,'" said Zan, whimsically.
The boys now were heard shouting and the girls turned to see them making
signs. They said they were going to the camp and start dinner. The Guide
signalled that it would be all right as far as she was concerned, so the
girls kept on gathering shells until the call came for dinner.
Before they reached the camp, however, they saw the boys standing on the
end of the promontory gazing through the glasses out at the Sound. When
they were near enough, they heard Fiji shout through a megaphone made
with his hands:
"Hurry up! Comp'ny!"
"Land's sake, who can it be?" cried Zan.
Before they reached the cliff they could plainly see the white sails of
a boat that was heading straight for the site.
"If that isn't Dad I'll eat these shells!" cried Elizabeth.
"Spare enough for that costume of Nita's," laughed Jane.
"She won't have to crack any teeth on that wager 'cause it is Mr.
Remington," now said Zan, as the sail-boat tacked ever nearer to the
crude pier off the point of land.
To witness the reception accorded the visitor one would think Mr.
Remington was the long lost Robinson Crusoe. But the moment dinner was
over the boys began to tease for a sail in the boat.
"We girls want to go, too," declared Elizabeth.
"The only way I can pay the debt of hospitality is to take you in
installments. 'Ladies and children' first," laughed Mr. Remington.
"All right, give the girls a little sail and then take us boys for a
trip to catch fish for supper. We ought to get a fine mess with a boat
like this," suggested Fiji.
"That's only your excuse for a far longer sail than we can have," pouted
Jane.
"Now it isn't at all, Jenny! But there isn't a crumb of anything but
dessert for supper, you know," said Jack, very ingratiatingly.
"Miss Miller, I can testify to there being an abundance for another meal
to-day, as I left a hamper of good things to eat at the temporary
refrigerator you built near the camp-kitchen," laughed Mr. Remington,
motioning for the first installment of girls to get in the boat.
The entire afternoon was given to sailing and watching the others sail,
as turn and turn about was taken. Then supper-time came, and before this
was over the automobiles sounded their horns as they came through the
woodland road to take the campers back to the city.
"Do you know, it seems as if we have been at camp for a month--so much
has been crowded into these two days," declared Zan.
"Same here," agreed the other Woodcrafters.
CHAPTER NINE--A RAINY WEEK-END CAMP
Early Monday morning a messenger boy brought May Randall's Woodcraft
chest to the gymnasium and handed Miss Miller a note. The letter was
type-written on plain paper so no clue was given to the sender or
writer. Just a few lines saying how sorry the writer was that the
disappearance of the box had caused the trouble it had.
The note was not signed and many conjectures were made as to who could
possibly have sent it, or where the chest could have been all this time.
Even Eleanor seemed as anxious as any other girl to find out who sent
the note or took the box away only to return it.
To every query as to who the culprit might be, Miss Miller shook her
head and maintained a strict silence. But she was greatly disappointed
in Eleanor, for she had no idea the girl could act the part of a
hypocrite as perfectly as she was doing in this case.
That afternoon, when the other girls had gone to Zan's house to work on
the bead bands, Eleanor stopped in at the gymnasium to see Miss Miller.
"Don't you think I carried it out well?" said she, as she sat in the
chair beside the Guide.
"It all depends on what one considers 'well,'" replied Miss Miller,
earnestly.
"I mean--I got away with the note and return of the box without anyone
dreaming who it was," explained Eleanor, evidently eager to have the
teacher commend her sagacity.
"I am sorry you have such a short-sighted view of right and wrong. The
last deception you played is even worse than the first, for you were
informed of your mistake and ought to make full amends. As you have left
it now, every innocent boy or girl in school may be wrongly thought the
thief!"
Miss Miller purposely used the hard term "thief" to try and rouse the
girl to a sense of her obligation. It seemed to bite in.
"O-oh--Miss Miller!" gasped Eleanor. "No one can call a practical joke a
theft! You are dreadfully strict and unfair."
"As I said before, there is only one thing left for you, in honour
bound, to do. And that is to tell May all about the trick--as you name
it--and let her tell the other girls if she likes," replied Miss Miller.
"I just guess not! I'm not so stuck on this silly old Band as to obey
your fanatical advice. I'll get out of Woodcraft first!" snipped
Eleanor, as she got up and hurriedly left the room.
The Guide, left alone, sighed and dropped her head upon her arms that
were resting on the desk.
"I am not so sure but someone else will do better in my place as Guide.
The other girls are so good and lovable that I can work wonders with
them, but it was not the lambs _in_ the fold that our Saviour sought to
save--they were perfectly safe already. It was the disobedient,
wandering lamb on the mountain-steeps. And He saved it. This lamb seems
beyond my call or power to reach."
Then suddenly came the brightening flash of Nita and the wonderful
reformation worked in the girl when all seemed lost. And the temporarily
discouraged Guide stood up and smiled.
"I'll do my part. And Father Spirit, lend me all aid!"
During that week, plans were made for another camp to be enjoyed from
Friday afternoon to Sunday evening. This time the girls decided to climb
the Orange Mountains to seek an inland site. For this outing, the Guide
had asked the girls to write up short essays or comments on various
subjects that would be of interest to an out-door student.
One request was for facts on forestry movements. Another required the
girl to find something interesting about the fishing industry. Another
mentioned items on agriculture, and still others spoke of news on
manufactures, music, art, flowers, and Nature crafts.
The work necessary to find the facts to these questions kept the girls
well occupied during the evenings of that week, as they had to seek in
the public library as well as in magazines, papers, and encyclopedias at
home.
After all the hard work and eager preparations, when all were ready to
start that Friday afternoon, the Woodcrafters were doomed to deep
disappointment. It began to drizzle shortly after school opened in the
morning and the weather grew constantly worse until the rain was pouring
by recess time. By noon the out-of-doors proved a veritable "wet
blanket" on the spirits of the Woodcrafters and they gathered
disconsolately in the gymnasium at three o'clock, wishing they lived in
Egypt at the dry season of the year.
Even as Hilda tried in vain to console the others that perhaps the rain
would clear off before evening so they could start early Saturday
morning, the telephone bell rang. Miss Miller took up the receiver and
answered the call.
"Yes, this is Miss Miller.
"They are here now, bemoaning the Fates that sent the rain to spoil
their week-end camp," said the Guide, to someone's query on the other
end of the wire.
The girls perked up their ears when they heard it related to their camp
hopes.
"Oh, oh! How splendid! How good of you to bother!" the Guide beamed
delightedly into the receiver.
"Will we care to come! Oh Mrs. Remington wait till I tell the girls so
you can hear the Babel of sound that will crack the telephone
instrument," laughed Miss Miller, holding the instrument away from her
face as she turned to address the Band.