Hudson, they could see up and down the river for miles. The city of
Yonkers was opposite, and the river-craft plying the Hudson provided
interesting scenes to the girls. The gorgeous colouring of foliage on
both sides of the river clothed the hills and cliffs with beautiful
tones made by Nature's paint-brush. The air was sweet and warm, and
crickets, some late birds, and insects added their voices to the general
music of the Falling Leaf Moon.
"I wish we could camp near here," ventured Jane.
"I thought I heard running water before you joined me. Maybe we can find
a brook or spring," suggested Zan.
"I heard there was a beautiful bit of water here called Alpine Falls. If
we could only find it!" said Miss Miller.
"Let's separate and scout for it. Leave the baggage here for the time,"
responded Zan.
But they had not far to search, for Zan _had_ heard falling water, part
way down the steep Palisades, falling from a great height on a rocky
peak to a glen beneath. The stream that fed the falls had worn a narrow
but deep gully on top of the cliffs, and Miss Miller was the one to
discover it as she sought for a good camp-site. A rustic bridge spanned
the ravine and a path led a circuitous way down to the ledge where the
Falls formed a foamy pool before running over its rocky basin to tumble
recklessly on down to join the river.
Miss Miller wished to assure herself that it would be a safe spot for so
many girls to camp, so she followed the path to the ledge and there saw
a rustic sign nailed to a tree, "Alpine Falls--no camping allowed on
this ledge."
She climbed back again and called to the Tribe to join her. They were
delighted with the place, and when Miss Miller told them of the sign
they agreed to camp at the clearing on the point and use the Falls for
cooking and wash water.
"I hope to goodness no one here is a sleep-walker," laughed Zan, waving
a hand in the direction of the precipice.
"No one here guilty of that habit!" replied Miss Miller.
So camp was pitched and preparations for supper well under way before
Jane said: "We forgot to think of a swim."
"Too late! Besides, we'll have to crawl down this wall and see if there
is any sort of a place where we can get in," answered Zan.
That evening they enjoyed riddles, charades, and Nita danced a wild
flower dance she had invented. Miss Miller told them of some of her
interesting experiences while travelling in Egypt and the Old World, and
then to bed.
Early in the morning, Zan turned over in her tiny cot and yawned. Awake
in an instant, she sat up and sniffed.
"Who's baking breakfast gems? They smell fine!"
She jumped up and peeped from the flap of the tent. At a good camp-fire
she saw the funniest baker she ever thought possible to utilise. But no
one was about, so she crept out in her pajamas and grass slippers to
investigate.
On a smooth stick safely driven into the ground near enough to the
camp-fire to warrant a steady heat reaching it, was twisted a long flat
strip of dough. It began to wind about the stick from the bottom and
ended near the top. As it baked and browned on the side nearest the
fire, a delightful aroma came from it and permeated the air.
"Well, I never! If this isn't the most ingenious device!" murmured Zan,
chuckling to herself.
"Watching my bread-twist, Zan?" called a voice, and Zan looked over to
see the Guide coming from the Falls where she had had a cold bath.
"Yes, but I was wondering how to give the offside a chance to brown?"
replied Zan.
"I'll show you--simple as anything." And Miss Miller merely took hold of
the top-end of the stick and gave it a sharp turn. Naturally the bread
turned with it, and the side that was brown was now facing away from the
fire while the other side was turned toward it to bake and brown.
Zan laughed and nodded her head approvingly, then glanced at the other
breakfast food cooking. Cereal was boiling in a pot hanging over the
fire where the bread was baking, and apples were stewing in a saucepan.
"Did we bring apples yesterday?" asked she.
"No, but I found a little old tree down the trail and most of these were
picked up from the ground. Don't they smell good?"
"Um-m! Should say they did. But tell me, Miss Miller--did you stay up
all night to work like this?"
"Hardly! I got up an hour ago and mixed the bread dough, then started
the fire. After that I wanted to see what kind of a country was back
there, and I found the apples. When they were stewing and the cereal on
boiling, I went for my morning wash."
"I'll run in and wash and dress, then I'll be back to help," said Zan,
starting off for the tent.
Hilda was already up and dressing when Zan ran in, and both girls
chattered so noisily about the bread-twist that the others awoke and
jumped out of bed.
When Zan and Hilda returned to the camp-fire the Guide asked Hilda to
broil the ham while Zan spread the breakfast cloth.
"What can I do?" asked Jane, coming over.
"You can get a pail of fresh water from the Falls and fill the cups at
each plate," returned the Guide.
That breakfast was appreciated thoroughly by everyone, for the bread was
hot and crisp and the ham fried as brown as any ever served by Southern
cook.
"After we finish breakfast and have cleared away the dishes, we must
explore the immediate neighbourhood to find out if we are on a main
trail where visitors are liable to come and interrupt our peace," said
Miss Miller.
The camp chores done, the Tribe started for a hike, intending to circle
their camp-site and look for possible intruders. They had followed the
trail but a short distance before Miss Miller spied some fine white
birches. Some of these had been cut down as being in the way for the
proposed roadways of the park. The Guide immediately found a use for the
large sheets of bark that were peeling from the trunks.
"Girls, we will postpone our scouting for a time when there is no
important work at hand, but now do let us collect as much of this
splendid birch bark while it is offered us without damaging standing
trees."
The Guide then showed the eager Woodcrafters how to peel the bark to
keep it in large sections and not split it into strips. When everyone
was laden with as much bark as could possibly be carried, they started
for camp and deposited their freight on the ground.
"You need not waste a bit of this bark--even this bit will make the
outside of a dainty pen-wiper. It can be cut oblong and decorated with
gold-paint. With leaves of felt or flannel between the two sections, and
these tied together with a cord or ribbon, it makes a pretty memento."
"I suppose Miss Miller will find endless ways to use this tinder, just
as she did for the sea-shore pebbles and shells," remarked May,
laughingly.
"I can think of enough ideas right now to keep you girls busy until
Christmas," rejoined the Guide, also laughingly.
"For instance?" questioned Zan, curious to hear the items.
"Well, you can make needle-cases, pin-cushions, boxes for neckties for
the boys, boxes for handkerchiefs for parents, picture frames, veneering
for rustic furniture, Tally Book covers, camp utensils--such as dishes,
pots, pans, and platters, toilet sets, and many other things."
"That's right! I never thought of using birch bark for such things,"
declared Elena.
"Make a record of it in the Tally!" teased Zan, for Elena was acquiring
the habit of entering everything in that book.
"If we should find any sweet grass on our walks while here, we must be
sure and gather it, as it is what is needed to sew up the seams of birch
bark. If the grass is wound about with red linen thread it makes it much
stronger and looks pretty, too. The bark must be punched with a row of
holes so the grass-binding can pass through without tearing. I think we
have a punch at home such as children use in a kindergarten school."
"Miss Miller, do you know of other articles to make out of wild-wood
things?" asked May, with awe at the Guide's knowledge.
"Well, I think pine cones make the oddest and prettiest things. The
small cones combined with birch bark are lovely. I have made frames by
glueing cones in patterns on thin bark-covered wooden frames. I have a
large picture of George Washington at home that I framed in this way
years ago. Then, too, I will show you a work-box that I made for my
mother. It was made of a cigar-box and covered with bark. On top of the
lid, and about the sides, I glued different kinds of cones and stems.
Then I varnished the whole thing and it was beautiful, in my estimation.
It has lasted to this day, and I made it over five years ago."
"I waxed some Autumn leaves last year and we used them over the windows
and doors until Christmas time. Everyone said they looked _so_ pretty,"
said Elena.
"Why can't we gather some of these beautiful leaves and do the same
thing with them, Miss Miller?" asked Jane, eagerly.
"We must wax them with sperm and iron them as soon as they are cut from
the branches. You see, the colours remain exactly the same as when they
were gathered if you wax them before they have time to dry. Whole
branches can be waxed this way and used for decorative purposes.
Florists to-day use great masses of waxed Autumn leaves in their
exhibits, or for back-grounds through the Winter months. But care must
be taken when ironing the spermaceti over the leaves that the hot iron
does not touch the stem or wood of the branch. If it does, the leaf will
immediately fall off."
So much time had been taken by the collecting and descriptions of
articles made of birch bark, that it was noon before anyone dreamed it
was more than ten o'clock.
"Girls, we ought to find a place for a swim and then have lunch. After
that we will seek for a neighbour--if there are any on this crest," said
Miss Miller.
But the girls could find no way to get down the steep cliff-side unless
they went a long way back. So they gave up the hope of a swim that day
and started off to seek for adventure.
They had gone about a mile in a new direction when one of the girls
glimpsed a fine old mansion painted so nearly like the green and russet
colouring of the woods that it was difficult to distinguish it from its
beautiful setting.
"No wonder we didn't see it before," remarked Zan, gazing at its dark
brown shingled sides and green roof.
"It doesn't seem occupied. Maybe the people do not live here," suggested
Elena.
"There's a rustic fence with a gate. I can see a notice hanging on the
gate--let's see what it says," called Jane, who was in advance of the
others.
In a few moments the Band stood reading the sign. "No trespassing on
these grounds under penalty of the law."
"We're not on their land yet, but it's a shame to have a fence cut off
an adventure right in the middle of a trail!" pouted Nita.
"It may prove a far more thrilling adventure to sit here and try to
explain the reason for closed shutters and an abandoned house at this
time of year," ventured Miss Miller.
Even as she spoke, a gardener came forward along a side path, and doffed
his cap.
"I heared your voices an' I sure was s'prised to find a lot of
school-girls. You--all seldom come as far as this. The
'Annabell'--that's the launch runnin' from Yonkers to Alpine and back
agin--generally leaves 'em at the foot of the cliff where they picnic."
"We saw the sign and wondered if we were trespassing out here?" replied
Miss Miller, in a questioning voice.
"Not at all! In fack, it would be all right for ladies to walk through
the groun's when no one's home. The family's gone for the season now. We
have to keep the sign up, just the same, to keep out the roughs from the
city who would destroy the trees and flowers fer nothin'. Would you like
to come in?" asked the old man, politely.
"I think not, thank you. We are camping down on the point by the Falls,
and this was an afternoon hike. Now we will go back and hunt for a spot
where we can bathe," explained the Guide. "I kin help you there. I
haven't gone down to take up the two boats yet, or remove the portable
bath-house we have on the beach, an' you'se are welcome to use both
boats and house if it will accommodate you."
"Oh how lovely!" cried the girls, before Miss Miller could decide what
would be the proper thing to do. So she smiled and thanked the generous
stranger.
"I'll jes' run and git the keys to unlock the padlocks and bring you'se
the oars." So saying, the old man hurried to the barn back of the
mansion.
"Now isn't this a real adventure?" laughed Miss Miller.
"And we wouldn't have had it if there wasn't a house and a care-taker
here to obstruct the trail!" added Zan.
It didn't take the Woodcrafters very long to run back to camp and find
their bathing togs, then on down the steep path that seemed to drop
sheer from the heights to the river-beach.
The two boats added greatly to the fun of the water-sports. As every
girl could swim a little, and the water was shallow near the shore,
there was no danger in toppling out of the boat.
There were some glorious battles of "tag" played with a bag of old cork
found on the beach. One girl would throw the bag and, if it landed in
the other boat, that side was "it" and was supposed to chase the
opponent and try to fling the cork into their boat.
When they began to weary of this game, the Guide announced a swimming
contest. Then followed a diving contest. Lastly a prize was offered to
the girl who could swim under water and bring up from the river bottom
the white flour-bag filled with sand which Miss Miller had prepared and
was ready to drop from a boat into the clear depths of the river.
The spot designated was about ten feet deep and about ten yards from
shore, but only a few girls could swim under water and it transpired
that only Elizabeth Remington could swim with her eyes open. Naturally
she was the one to bring up the trophy.
"No wonder we couldn't do it when we never tried to keep our eyes open
under water--it hurts!" grumbled Zan, who disliked to be outdone by
another girl.
Miss Miller silently exulted in the success of her little plan, for she
knew Elizabeth could accomplish the deed and wanted the other girls to
see her do it, thus imbuing them with the desire to try also.
"Maybe it hurts at first, but I'm going to get that bag!" declared Jane,
plunging in and trying to open her eyes while swimming under the water.
Others dared the test also, and soon all were sputtering or laughing at
their trials and failures. Finally, however, each one could brag of
being able to keep eyes open if but for a few seconds while swimming
under water.
As they climbed the cliff again, Miss Miller said: "I think it is as
important to know how to swim under water with your eyes open to see
what you are meeting, as it is to keep your eyes open when crossing a
thoroughfare."
"Ha! Discovered in the act!" laughed Zan, pointing an accusing finger at
the Guide.
Miss Miller laughed also and nodded.
"What?" questioned May.
"She did that stunt on purpose to make us keen to learn the trick,"
hastily explained Jane, who saw the nod and guessed rightly.
That evening while sitting about the camp-fire Miss Miller suggested a
Hallow E'en treat for Zan's birthday. She spoke of many ways
Woodcrafters could celebrate, providing the weather was fair for a
weekend camp in the woods.
Then Elena made a suggestion. "I am going to design and make a Woodcraft
article to give our Chief for a birthday gift."
"I think that's great! I'll do one, too," added Jane.
"So will I," echoed Hilda.
"Let's all make something in Woodcraft for the party," said Nita.
"Girls, why not exchange gifts with each other and make them ourselves
in Woodcraft style? We need not limit the giving to Zan, you know,"
suggested the Guide.
"Gracious me! It will take a pile of presents and ages to finish them
all," exclaimed Eleanor Wilbur; "I can't do it."
"I had no idea of elaborate gifts. For instance, Nita can dance a new
step on the evening of the party, and teach it to Zan for a present.
That will not take her long nor be much work," explained Miss Miller.
"Oh, that won't be a gift!" laughed Nita.
"Why not? Won't it be the expression of your desire to give pleasure to
another? And won't Zan remember your love and generosity that really
constitutes _true_ giving? It is a mistake to look at the material
object as the gift, and forget the loving spirit that formed the thought
which expressed itself in the thing. The material gift is destructible,
but the love of a friend remains forever the true gift."
"According to Miss Miller, then, we will be silly to waste time on
producing material objects when we can easily wish our love on anyone,"
retorted Eleanor, in an unpleasant tone.
"Eleanor, when we reach that state of perfect brotherhood of which Jesus
spoke as Heaven, we shall exchange love and goodness without the
material accompaniment, but while still on earth our limited vision and
other senses require the expression in kind as we are, to be able to
realise the love and desire to make others happy. That is why we are
compelled to plan and work before our friends know the state of our
feelings. For instance, your words spoken in tones and expression of
human resentment show me quite plainly that your thought is wrong--that
you rebel in mind against doing what was proposed by the love of the
other girls. But I may not have realised this state of your thought had
you not expressed it--see what I mean?" said Miss Miller, meaningly.
Eleanor flushed but said nothing. And Zan quickly said: "Say, girls, we
can all win _coups_ that will count if we make some Woodcraft things
mentioned in the Manual!"
"So we can! And each can choose what she likes," abetted Jane.
CHAPTER TWELVE--A BIRTHDAY COUNCIL ON HALLOW E'EN
In the days following the camp-talk, the girls saw little of each other
after school, as they were busy working on the gifts to be distributed
at the Hallow E'en camp.
Zan had spoken of a pattern Nita had for a dancing costume, so Nita made
the dress of cotton crepe, costing very little in coin of the realm but
much in thought and work. She disliked sewing and the very fact that she
spent so much time to have the costume neatly finished spoke highly for
her progress in character as well as of her way of expressing
friendship.
For the other girls, Nita wrote out simple directions to dance
improvised steps of old dances. She also printed simple music fitted to
go with the unique steps.
For Miss Miller, she made an artistic programme for the Gift Ceremony
which was explained to her by Mrs. Remington. This was to be used on the
occasion of the birthday evening.
Hilda naturally followed the line of least resistance in selecting her
gifts. She made candy, baked a cake, wrote out a tiny Tally Book of
recipes for the Guide, and having packed the candies in empty boxes she
always saved for the purpose, she did each package up in yellow crepe
paper and tied it with black cord; on the knot tied on top of the boxes
she fastened a black cardboard bat or a witch with a broom-stick.
Elena, adept with the brush, made individual Tally Books of brown
butcher paper and bound them in leather with thong strips to fasten them
together. She had secured the small remnants of tanned leather at a
wholesale leather house in the factory-district of the city. The Tallies
were decorated with the name of the individual artistically printed in
India ink, and the scroll decorations were so wrought that black cats,
witches, pumpkins, broom-sticks, bats, and other suggestive things of
Hallow E'en were featured as a remembrance of the party.
Jane made a dozen narrow beaded head-bands which showed in the designs
the meaning of Hallow E'en. They were very beautiful and were sure to be
appreciated by the girls. Besides those for each member of the Band she
made one for Elizabeth Remington, who was invited to the party, and one
for Miss Miller.
Zan made the unique decorations for the party. Each was wrapped in paper
and the name of the girl printed in plain view. These gifts were
original and diversified in style.
She took empty cereal boxes--square ones as well as the round cartons
used by Quaker Oats--and cut designs in the sides, having sketched the
pattern on the cardboard before cutting away. A metal clip as is
generally used on Christmas trees to hold the candles was inserted in
the bottom of the box and fastened to hold a candle when necessary.
Picture wire was fastened at the top to suspend the box. When this was
finished, she blackened the entire box with cheap shoe-polish to
represent wrought iron.
Zan also found two Edam cheese cases about to be thrown away and these
she captured for use. The contents had all been scraped out, so she cut
a hole in the bottom of the rind for a candle socket, then cut grotesque
mouth, nose, and eyes in the sides. Wire was used at the top to hang
them by and when finished they looked very funny. These Zan meant for
Miss Miller as a joke.
Her next idea was to collect a number of empty tin cans and melt off the
jagged rims left when the covers had been cut out. A few perforations
were made in the bottoms for drainage, and the sides painted an ivory
white with black stencilled designs on them. Some of these were Egyptian
figures copied from ancient friezes shown in a book. When these cans
were filled with soil and a plant inserted, the effect was very artistic
and at little expense.
May Randall, who had won the prize for carpentry, made small boxes with
leather hinges and brass-studded corners. She burnt designs on covers
and sides and touched up points here and there with red or blue paint,
then varnished the whole surfaces. These were meant for wampum, badges,
or other Woodcraft trinkets.
Another new member selected pottery for her gifts. She made original
designs and when these were finished and touched up with black paint and
bright colours they were very artistic.
Another girl made fire-boards. She used the oval bread-boards sold for
five cents each in the five and ten cent stores. The ovals were sawed in
the centre, giving two sections for each. Four half-ovals were hinged to
a square board so they would fold down when not in use. The rounded
sides were then decorated with symbols of the Winds and Fire. When
varnished and completed, they proved very fine and useful.
Frances used the birch bark she had saved from the Alpine camp. Trays,
jewel-boxes, waste-baskets, picture frames, work-boxes, and other ideas
were carried out. The birch bark was soaked in hot water until soft,
then shaped as desired. The lacing of edges was made of raffia also
softened in water. Where strong lacing was necessary several strands of
raffia or grass were braided together and used. The sides of the
ornaments made were decorated in sepia paint, representing forest scenes
or Woodcraft designs.
Other unique and lovely ideas were expressed individually by each girl,
so that not only was a great variety of gifts ready for the event, but
the manufacturers had had experience in handicraft and were able to
count the work for _coups_ in Woodcraft.
The time had passed rapidly while everyone was at work on pleasant and
absorbing occupation, and the last Wednesday preceding the Friday they
expected to start for the Hallow E'en camp had arrived. That noon, Miss
Miller sent word to each girl that an important letter would be
considered at a special meeting in the gymnasium directly after school
in the afternoon.
At such a time no one dreamed of being late or absent, so Miss Miller
was able to read the letter she had received a short time after classes
were dismissed.
----
"Respected Members of Wako Tribe: I have watched with deep
interest the manufacturing, by your Chief, of certain objects
meant to celebrate a Hallow E'en party. I also heard that no
particular place had yet been determined upon for this important
camp-meeting, so I hasten to solve the problem for you.
"My family and a few friends expect to visit Wickeecheokee Farm
this week-end and enjoy a nutting party in the woods. If Wako
Tribe will accept our invitation, they can camp on the Bluff for
this week-end and join us in our out-door fun. Mrs. Baker and
the other guests will occupy the house, so you will not be
disturbed in your Woodcraft meetings if you desire privacy.
"The autos will leave our house at four o'clock Friday
afternoon. Please reply at once.
"Cordially yours,
"Frederick Baker, M.D."
Long before Miss Miller concluded reading this communication subdued
sounds of joy and excitement were heard from the girls, and the moment
it was finished Jane cried:
"Did you know anything of this, Zan?"
"Cross my heart--not a thing!" declared Zan, earnestly.
"Did you know, Miss Miller?" questioned several girls, turning to the
Guide.