position so the birch could not interfere again. The ax came down, but
so wide was its swing, and Ruth had not allowed for any leeway in her
stiff pose, hence the muscles in her arms were wrenched and her back
suddenly turned with the force of the blow.
"O-oh" exclaimed she, dropping the ax and rubbing the flesh of her upper
arms.
She glanced over at her companions to see if they had seen the awkward
work she was making of the chopping, but they were laughing merrily as
they worked inside the hut. Mrs. Vernon was not to be seen so the girl's
pride was spared. She picked up the ax again and looked at it carefully.
"What is there about you that hurt me like that?"
But the inanimate ax did not answer, and Ruth could not tell. So she
lifted it again, slowly this time, and then made sure that no
obstructions were in the way.
She paid so much attention to the ax that she scarcely looked where the
blow might fall, consequently the blade came down almost on a vertical
line with the tree-trunk. It glanced off and sank into the soft soil
beside the tree, with Ruth holding fast to the handle. So unexpected was
this aim and the downward continuation of the ax until it sank into the
ground, that Ruth was fairly pulled over and fell upon her face in the
vines and bushes.
"You mean old thing! You can stick there as long as you like--I'll never
put a finger on you again!" cried the ax-scout, as she got up and felt
of the scratches on her face.
"What's the matter, Ruth?" called Mrs. Vernon, seeing the girl slowly
returning to camp without the ax.
"That tool is too heavy for me to use. Have you a hatchet or something
else to cut with?"
"The ax is the only thing that ought to be used on a small tree; the saw
is for thicker trunks, but you can't manage it, either, if you can't
handle the ax."
"Well, what else is there I can do instead of chopping down forests?"
asked Ruth, trying to cover her shortcomings with a laugh.
"Did you bring back the ax? It's a very good one, you know."
"I thought perhaps one of the other girls would want to change work
soon, so I left it by the tree."
"If one of the others should feel like quitting the work they were given
to complete first, then they can take the ax from its place in the
tool-chest. Better bring it to me now, Ruth."
As no other alternative was open, she went back to the tree and kicked
viciously at the ax. But the blade was still securely embedded in the
ground and that made the handle as resistant as an upright post. So all
Ruth got for her kick was a suddenly turned toe that felt lame for days
afterwards.
"Oh, o-oh! _how_ I hate camping! I'm going home and tell every one I
know what a horrid thing this Girl Scout business is! All hard work
and--everything! No fun, no rest--just lame backs and broken bones!" Ruth
fairly screamed to herself as she sat down and removed the sneaker from
the foot that had tried to crack the ax-handle of hickory.
The Captain heard the crying and hurried over to inquire into the cause
of it. Ruth was weeping by this time, so sorry did she feel for herself,
and her ill-treatment.
"What ever has happened, Ruth, in this perfectly safe spot?"
"O-ooh! I must have stubbed my toe! Oooo-h, I'm afraid it's broken!"
wailed the girl.
Mrs. Vernon saw the ax with its head deep in the ground but she did not
dream how Ruth had "stubbed" her toe. She sat down and wiggled the
injured member tenderly, then said:
"Oh, no, it's not broken, only hurt by the collision. It will be all
right in a little while," the Captain replied cheerfully.
But Ruth did not want cheerfulness--she wanted to be told she had to
remain as quiet as possible and have others wait on her.
"Pick up the ax and I'll help you walk over--you can lean upon my arm if
you think your toe will feel easier," suggested Mrs. Vernon.
"I don't believe I can walk," breathed Ruth, fearfully.
"Oh, yes, you can. The foot is all right, it is only the toe that feels
lame for a short time--just as it would have done at home if you ran into
a piece of furniture."
Reaching camp again, Ruth was about to drop the ax on the grass, when
the Captain said: "The tool-chest is over on the buckboard, Ruth."
The girl clinched her teeth in anger, but the ax was taken to its right
place and left in the box whence she had taken it.
One after another of the girls looked up and felt surprised to find Ruth
sitting on a box holding her foot. Then Julie called out:
"Good gracious! Ruth done chopping that tree so soon?"
"No, she and the ax had an argument," laughed Mrs. Vernon.
Ruth glanced at the Captain out of the corners of her eyes, and
wondered: "Did she see me kick that old thing?"
"Oh! Well, then, come over and get busy here again," said Joan,
beckoning to Ruth.
"That won't make your toe hurt, Ruth. You can remain in one spot and
weed," added Mrs. Vernon.
Not having any other excuse at the moment, Ruth limped to the hut and
slowly began the old work, but she rebelled inwardly.
After an hour's hard work the clearing was done, and the girls threw
themselves down to rest. The Captain was ready for this recess.
"I made a jugful of lemonade, girls, and it is as cold as if we had ice
water in it. Just taste!"
"Oh, glory! Just what I was wishing for," sighed Julie.
The others quickly agreed with that exclamation, and tested the drink.
The mingled sounds of approval made the Captain smile. After a short
rest, Joan said:
"What next? I'm ready to start work again."
"Dear me! Haven't we done enough for this afternoon? I want to enjoy a
_little_ bit of the time here," complained Ruth.
"I'm having a fine time! I like this sort of thing," said Joan.
"You can do exactly as you like, girls; if you want to do any more work
on the hut, well and good; if you prefer to rest or do anything else,
there is no one to stop you. But it is plain to be seen that the hut
cannot be repaired completely this afternoon, eh?" said Mrs. Vernon,
with a smile.
"I should say not! If we finish it by to-morrow night we will be clever
workers," replied Julie.
"I'm going back to work on it, anyway," came from Betty.
"You always were the easy mark for every one," Ruth said scornfully,
tossing her head.
Betty flushed, but Julie defended her. "She isn't an easy mark at all!
But she may be too sympathetic for hard-hearted or lazy folks who always
play on her generosity!"
"I don't believe the scout handbook says that members of the scout
organization must criticize or say unpleasant things to others,"
commented Mrs. Vernon.
That silenced every one, and soon all four girls were at work again,
removing the dead wood of the flooring. When this was done, Mrs. Vernon
examined it carefully.
"It isn't as bad as I thought it would be. The tangle of briars and
brush, and the decayed outer layer of the beams, made it look as if it
all must be removed."
Once they became interested in repairing the floor as it should be done,
the girls wanted to continue and complete it, but the wise Captain
called a halt, and said:
"Twilight will soon creep up to compel us to stop work; before that
comes we want to have everything ready for the night."
So when darkness fell the camp was ready and waiting for it. A fine fire
reflected light fitfully about its radius, and lanterns were lighted for
use in case the campers wished to go about. Hepsy had been fed and
bedded for the night, and the tent was in readiness for its tenants.
Supper had been prepared and disposed of, and the dishes washed and
cleared away before darkness invited every one to sit down and listen to
the Captain's stories of girlhood days in this very spot. But she had
rather a drowsy audience that night. Four girls were so tired out with
healthy exercise and the mountain air that the fire gave them a feeling
of peace and rest.
Not a demur was heard when Mrs. Vernon suggested bed, and the hard cots
must have felt like a nest of feathers to the newly-fledged scouts, for
soon every one was fast asleep.
CHAPTER SIX
FIRST LESSONS IN SCOUT WORK
A loud drumming on a tin pan roused the would-be scouts in the morning,
and each girl tumbled out of her cot feeling as if she had slept on
roses. The invigorating air and the benefit of sleeping out-of-doors
began to be felt. Then the odor of cooking was wafted in through the
tent opening, and Joan ran to look out.
"Oh!" sniffed she, "Verny's up and dressed and has something _awfully_
good cooking for breakfast!"
"Um-m--I should say she has!" added Julie, running over to join Joan at
the tent door.
"What is it, Verny?" called a chorus of girls, and as the Captain turned
to reply she saw four tousled heads crowded out of the opening.
"Can't tell secrets until you've washed and dressed!" laughed Mrs.
Vernon.
It was not long, therefore, before the hungry campers joined her about
the fire and wanted to know what smelled so good. The Captain was adding
a pinch of salt to the "something" in the pot, so she did not look up,
but said hastily:
"Will some one watch that toast--it seems to be scorching."
"Did you ever! Making toast on a stone!" laughed Julie, trying to turn
over the slices with a stick.
"But the stone's as hot as any stove-lid," commented Betty, as she saw
the smoke rise from the crumbs that burned on the rock.
"Is that cereal standing off on that other stone?" now inquired Ruth.
"Yes, but who'd a thought a stone would ever be used for an oven?"
laughed Joan, stirring the cereal with a long spoon.
"The oven won't retain heat long after the stone is removed from the
embers. Better be ready to serve yourselves as soon as I say 'ready,'"
said Mrs. Vernon, as she removed the pot that had given forth such
appetizing odors from the fire, and stood it upon a heated rock.
"Now--all ready!" laughed she, and every girl made a dash for the cereal.
"Here--let me dish it up and pass it along. The whole mess will be in the
fire if we all struggle to be first," added Joan.
The cereal disappeared like snow in July, and then four eager girls were
asking for the next course.
"This food, fit for the gods, is composed of the leavings of supper last
night. But you girls will never dream that it goes by a homely name,"
said Mrs. Vernon, as she ladled a goodly portion upon each plate which
was thrust out under her nose.
"What _is_ it called?" asked Ruth, tasting a bit that fell upon the edge
of her plate.
"It smells heavenly, Verny!" sighed Julie, rolling her eyes skyward.
Every one laughed, for Julie always was extravagant in her language.
"In boarding-houses the guests object every time it is served, but we
have the great advantage over city boarders whose hash is made merely
with chopped meat and eggs and milk! We have Nature's appetizer to
season our dish, so that it becomes nectar and ambrosia in this camp,"
explained the Captain, smilingly.
The hash went the way of the cereal, and the girls looked anxiously in
the pot to see if there could be a second helping.
"Oh, thanks to our lucky stars and Verny, she made a lot of it!" called
Julie, waving a spoon at her comrades.
"But where is the toast? Verny--the toast is gone!" shouted Joan, gazing
fearfully under the stones to see if it could have slipped from the
oven-rock.
"Ha! that's my secret! Eat the hash, girls, and I will tell you where
the toast is."
It needed no second invitation to finish all signs of hash, then Ruth
demanded to know where the toast was hidden.
The Captain ran over to Ruth and touched the spot where the stomach is
located. "You've had your share of toast and it is in there!" laughed
Mrs. Vernon.
"We haven't! We only had hash!" retorted Ruth, wonderingly.
"The hash was made of toast and other things. I only had about a
spoonful of corned beef left from last night. But toast, when broken
into bits, will taste so like meat that few people know the difference.
That's how I managed to cook a second helping."
"As long as it was not wasted I don't care much whether I ate the toast
in hash or had it with tea," said Julie.
"But I can eat more breakfast," commented Joan.
"'Enough is as good as a feast,' and I'm sure you girls must admit
you've had enough to sustain you until noon," said Mrs. Vernon.
"Oh, certainly!" agreed Joan, "making the best of a famine is my
especial virtue."
This started a laugh, and merry words were exchanged while the dishes
were cleared away and the camp was left in good order.
"Now shall we start in to finish the hut, Verny?" asked Betty.
"I thought I'd like to read aloud from the handbook, 'Scouting for
Girls,' and see how many of the laws and customs you girls know."
"You'll find us in the A-B-C-class, I'm afraid," said Joan.
"Then the sooner you are promoted out of it the better," declared Mrs.
Vernon, seating herself on a stump and opening the manual.
"First question: 'How do you start a Patrol?'" asked the Captain.
"Oh, we know that, Verny, 'cause we had to learn it by heart in order to
advise those girls who wanted to join, you see," chorused the girls.
"Well, then, are we a Patrol now?" asked Mrs. Vernon.
"In the real sense, we are not, as there are only four members at
present; but we are _going_ to be one, aren't we?" said Julie.
"Yes, but until we have eight girls we are not anything on record.
However, we can form our club and then enlist new members to increase
the number to the required total.
"Next it says: 'The Scout Captain who has studied the plan, principles
and object of the organization, explains the laws and obligations of
members to those who wish to form a troop.' I must now take down your
names and addresses in a book, and decide what day or at what time we
wish to hold our regular meetings.
"It says here that fifteen minutes must be spent on knot-tying and
three-quarters of an hour on recreation. So I will now teach you the art
of tying knots. Following this lesson, we will take forty-five minutes
for recreation."
But the fifteen minutes merged into twenty, and still the novitiates
begged to be allowed to "try just one more knot."
"Now I am going to read the Girl Scout Laws from the book, but there
will be no comments, please, until I give the signal," said the Captain,
having taken away the rope for knots, and seated herself upon it to keep
the girls from experimenting.
"'1--If a Scout says "on my honor it is so," that means that what she
says is as true as if she had taken a most solemn oath.
"'2--A Girl Scout is loyal to the President, to her country, and to her
officers; to her father, to her mother, and to her employers. She
remains true to them through thick and thin. In the face of the greatest
difficulties and calamities her loyalty must remain untarnished.
"'3--A Girl Scout's duty is to be useful and to help others. She is to do
her duty before anything else even if she gives up her own pleasure,
safety, or comfort. When in doubt as to which of two things to do she
must think: "Which is my duty?" which means "Which is the best for other
people?" and then do that at once. She must be prepared at any time to
save life or help the injured. She should do at least one good turn to
some one every day.
"'4--A Girl Scout is a Friend to all, and a sister to every other Girl
Scout. Thus, if a Scout meets another Scout, even though a stranger to
her, she may speak to her and help her in any way she can, either to
carry out the duty she is then doing, or by giving her food, or as far
as possible anything she may want. Like Kim, a Scout should be a "Little
friend to all the world.
"'5--A Scout is courteous; that is, she is polite to all. She must not
take any reward for being helpful or courteous.
"'6--A Scout keeps herself pure in thought, word and deed.
"'7--A Scout is a friend to animals; she should save them as far as
possible from pain, and should not kill even the smallest unnecessarily.
They are all God's creatures.
"'8--A Scout obeys orders under all circumstances; when she gets an order
she must obey it cheerfully and readily, not in a slow, sullen manner.
Scouts never grumble, whine nor howl.
"'9--A Scout is cheerful under all circumstances. Scouts never grumble at
hardships, nor whine at each other, nor frown when put out. A Scout goes
about with a smile and singing. It cheers her and cheers other people,
especially in time of danger.
"'10--A Scout is thrifty; this means that a Scout avoids all useless
waste of every kind; she is careful about saving every penny she can put
into the bank so that she may have a surplus in time of need. She sees
that food is not wasted, and that her clothing is cared for properly.
The Girl Scout does not waste time. She realizes that time is the most
precious thing any one of us has. The Girl Scout's time is spent either
in useful occupation or in wholesome recreation, and she tries to
balance these two harmoniously.'
"Now girls, have you any comments to make, for I have read the ten
commandments of the Girl Scout organization, and will hear any testimony
now?" said Mrs. Vernon, laughingly.
"I haven't any comments to make on the reading, but I would like to
remind the illustrious Captain that she forgot a very important part of
the program this morning," said Julie, seriously, albeit there was a
twinkle in her eyes.
"Speak now or forever after hold your peace!" declared Mrs. Vernon, with
a magisterial air.
Every one laughed, but Julie obeyed the command: "You said we would give
fifteen minutes to knot-tying and forty-five to recreation. Now I wish
to ask Your Honor, is this Scout Reading to be considered as
recreation?"
The Captain smiled, and after a few moments' pause said: "I am guilty of
theft. But I plead extenuating circumstances. I forgot what I said about
recreation, and was so over-anxious to have my infant Patrol grounded in
the first lessons of scout duties that I stole time from the hour. Who
is there here just enough to sentence me?"
"We have no jury, but in lieu of a speaker, allow me to speak for
myself: your zeal shall be your excuse, but hereafter see that you do
not commit the same offense," spoke Julie, with a judicial air.
The Captain and girls laughed heartily, and thus ended the first reading
of Scout Laws. Mrs. Vernon closed the book and got up from the knotty
seat of rope, and asked the girls if they had thought of any form of
recreation.
"We still have to be informed by the Court if the time stolen from our
forty-five minutes must be returned or deducted?" countered Julie.
"The Court thinks you should have the full time given you for any useful
recreation--not for foolishness," said Mrs. Vernon.
"Well, would the Court adjudge a good hike to be useful?" demanded Joan.
"The Court most certainly would, and will even offer to accompany the
jury, or whatever body you call yourselves."
"Then it's us for a hike, girls!" cried Joan.
The suggestion met with favor, and soon the newly-made Scouts were
climbing the steep grade of the mountainside. It was more than an hour
before voices were again heard, and Hepsy whinnied as if to ask "What
sort of scouts are you, anyway, to listen to a law read about animals
and how to treat them, and then go away without giving me my breakfast?"
The moment the girls heard the appeal from the mare, they understood and
ran pell-mell to get Hepsy the oats. When she saw they were measuring
out her breakfast, she craned her neck as far as it would stretch, and
pawed the ground impatiently.
Mrs. Vernon held her head with both hands and cried as if in despair:
"Merciful goodness! What sort of a Captain am I to forget our faithful
old scout Hepsy?"
"Will Hepsy get sick now, Verny?" asked Betty, worried.
"No, but she is so famished she may eat me up if I venture near her with
a pail of water! That is all that might happen."
"If she does, there will be a second result, too. Hepsy'll sure have an
awful case of indigestion after dining!" retorted Julie, causing the
others to laugh.
Hepsy was given a long drink and then left to enjoy her oats. While the
animal was feeding, Julie said: "How about the hut?"
"I hope we can finish it to-day, Verny," added Joan.
"You can try at least. Every bit done helps, you know," replied the
Captain.
The old flooring had been scraped clean and the cross-sections that were
too badly decayed were removed. Then the boards taken from the packing
cases were fitted in and nailed down securely. By one o'clock the partly
new floor was finished and cleaned up.
Dinner was suggested before continuing the work, and the campers talked
about roofing the hut while they prepared the meal.
"Now that the floor is finished, two of us ought to begin to carry in
our stock, while the others work on the roof. That will save our
groceries from the moisture or dampness in the ground, you see," said
Mrs. Vernon.
"But we all want to work on the roof--it will be fun," declared Julie.
"In that case, we shall have to draw lots. And after half of the
groceries are moved in by two girls, the others will have to take their
turn while the first two enjoy the roof," suggested the Captain.
"And you--what do you want to do?" asked Ruth.
"I am going to hunt around for any down timbers that we can use for
siding the hut where the old logs have fallen away and rotted on the
ground. I will leave you scouts to work on the roof after your own
plans."
"Oh, but tell us what to use before you go?" cried Betty.
"You'll find a roll of tar paper over there with the supplies. This you
must measure off and cut the required size. Be sure to have it long
enough to turn under the eaves and over at the top."
"How do we nail it down?" asked Joan.
"Lay the strips lengthwise, from ridgepole to eaves, and fasten down
each strip on the old boards. But, girls, do be careful not to break
through those openings in the roof, nor crumble in at any decayed
places!"
"All right--I guess we can remember that much all right," said Julie,
eager to begin.
So Mrs. Vernon left them to see how far they would use their
intelligence in doing this work, while she began seeking along the
woodland road for down tree-trunks of movable length and weight.
She found plenty of timber such as she wanted for the sides of the old
hut, and also to start work on the new one, but she did not return to
camp until four o'clock. When she did, she found two of the girls fast
asleep on the grass, while the other two were in the pool splashing
about.
She went quietly over to the hut, and, to her surprise, found the roof
as neatly finished as if done by an experienced hand. The edges were
turned under and fastened with nails, and the seams lapped just as they
should be. In fact, she was delighted with the workmanship.
Then, too, the boxes of groceries and other goods were neatly stacked in
one corner, so less room was used for storage and more left for personal
use.
"Now I wonder which one of the girls thought this out? It is so natural
for young folks to shove the boxes in and leave them standing about
anywhere. But this proves to me that one of my scouts has a good head
for management of affairs."
The girls swimming about in the pool now caught sight of the Captain,
and scrambled out of the water. They were soon dressed and ran over to
receive Mrs. Vernon's compliments on the work done. The two sleeping
ones also sat up, rubbed their eyes, and laughed.
"When did you get back, Verny?" yawned Ruth.
"Just now; but, girls, I have seen the hut, and you surely have done
fine work!" exclaimed the Captain, turning to admire the roof again.
While her head was turned, four girls exchanged knowing winks, but their
faces were as serious as ever when Mrs. Vernon's eyes searched theirs
keenly.
"We thought you'd be pleased, Verny. But what kept you so long?" said
Julie.
"I found enough wood for a new hut, and then I sat down on a log and
sketched a working plan for the sections of the building you propose
erecting.
"You see this rocky wall that rises back of the old hut?" the Captain
pointed to the lines she had drawn on the paper. "Well, we will use that
for a back wall against which our new hut can brace itself. The wall of
the old hut can supply one side of the new building, and we can extend
the roof on the same lines as the old one, along over the new hut."
"Oh, yes, that's a fine idea!" cried Joan.
"And that will save us hauling the wood and building up one whole side,
won't it?" asked Betty.
"Yes, but it also makes a two-room house of the two huts, see?" and Mrs.
Vernon displayed another plan she had drawn on paper.
"I think I like it better than having two separate huts, Verny," said
Julie.
"And we can use the wood we might have built into the one side of the
hut for a shed for Hepsy. Can't we go right on extending the house and
build the lean-to to the end of the new hut, just as we plan hooking the
new addition on to the old hut?" asked Joan.