darkness, coming by the path we generally use?" said Miss Miller.
"We'd have had something worth Elena's crying over," said Jane.
"Well, I don't care, now! I'll be sick anyway after this soaking!"
whimpered Elena.
"Indeed you won't! You'll go straight home if you continue that strain
of thought here where all of us are proving that health is not subject
to wet skins!" replied Miss Miller, sternly.
Elena was so amazed at the unexpected attitude of the Guide that she
hurried into the house and said not another word of fear of sickness.
The girls assisted Miss Miller in making hot lemonade to warm their
chilled bodies. Then, every one was ordered to rub down thoroughly with
Turkish towels, and pop into bed under blankets which had been warmed
through before the blazing fire.
No one felt the slightest discomfort from the drenching, but the girls
all complained of the closeness of sleeping in rooms. They felt as if
they were cramped in boxes.
"I don't know what we shall do at home. I begin to see what Daddy means
when he says 'folks don't need over-heated homes and poorly ventilated
rooms,'" sighed Zan.
"The doctor is perfectly right, too. Half the ills the present
generation suffers from are caused by poor ready-made foods, lack of
sufficient exercise through rapid-transit, and the sweetmeats and
indolence two-thirds of our women indulge in, to say nothing of late
hours, excitement and major evils," added Miss Miller.
"Daddy has written a book on just that subject, Miss Miller! How queer
you should speak like he does. He thinks that this generation is using
up the vitality and perfect health bestowed upon us by our ancestors,
and if we don't start soon to build a fund for ourselves and our
descendants we will dwindle into a puny race. That is why he is such a
radical for less medicine and more common sense in every-day living,"
replied Zan.
"Well, we'll all read that book, Zan, when it is ready, and no doubt
find out how to live better," said the Guide.
Breakfast was eaten in the house while the welcome sun streamed in at
doors and windows, and the birds came out of their refuges and sang
blithely to one another.
No one wanted to remain indoors any longer than was necessary, so they
started for the Bluff as soon as dishes were washed. The water that
had formed the pond on the lawn the night previous had soaked into the
ground leaving the lawn a soggy looking place, indeed.
As the Band neared the Bluff the sound of rushing water made them look
at each other in surprise.
"Oh, I bet anything, the terrific fall of rain has started a freshet!
If it is, girls, it will be wonderful! Do let's run!" shouted Zan,
leading the race.
"It is! it is! Look at that torrent pouring down the ravine and falling
over the Bluff, Miss Miller!" cried Zan, excitedly, as they came out
from the woods.
It certainly was a beautiful sight! The water that rushed down through
the ravine roared over the Falls; the pool being encircled by the
steep banks turned the water back on itself when it could find no
outlet excepting the narrow stream at the lower end. Thus, a miniature
whirlpool formed which added greatly to the wildness of the scene.
"Our tents are a fine mess!" exclaimed Elena, disgustedly, seeing the
damage made by the wind the night previous.
"Humph! Miss Miller's stood all right! I see now why we should have
chosen a spot as Miss Miller did--we, too, could have anchored our
tents to the tree-trunks and had a better hold for our stakes than
we found in the shallow ground here," admitted Zan, looking over the
wreckage.
"I suppose the sooner we get busy rigging things up again, the better
it will be for their drying out. All that bedding and the cots have to
be dragged out and hung on bushes to dry!" said Jane.
"I'll go down and have Bill come up to help us. We will borrow a line
from Mrs. Sherwood and hang the wet bedding on that," offered the Guide.
All that morning was spent in straightening out the damage of the night
before, and when, finally, tents were well secured alongside the tent
of the Guide, the Band was ready for a big dinner.
The Guide had been attending to the cooking while the girls worked over
their tents and beds, and at noon they all sat down to rest and enjoy a
well-earned meal.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
THE COUNCIL FIRE BURNS ON THE DROSS
As the days passed swiftly, filled with wholesome pleasures for the
Band, the improvement in each individual was more marked, for the
established unity of the work in itself made for greater effort in each.
Perhaps of the five girls, the greatest change was taking place in
Nita's consciousness and demeanour. It seemed to her that she had been
living in an unreal atmosphere all of her life and but just awakened
to the real delight in living. Her being was over-flowing with a deep
sense of gratitude for the Guide who had been so patient with her
short-comings, and the unusual health, the result of regular hours,
simple food, and natural environment, combined to create a joy that
Nita could not account for. Quite often, Miss Miller would smile
unseen, as she heard Nita trill a few notes of song that hummed through
her memory.
The effect of association and the need of habitual watchfulness to
overcome faults, made a marvellous improvement in the other girls, so
that the Guide was the happiest one of the Band at the result of her
experiment with Woodcraft.
Since the day Nita went driving with young Everton, not a sign had come
from him, although Bill had said that the young rascal was away for a
few weeks, with an aunt at the beach.
Toward the latter part of August, the Band decided to go on a Nature
quest, bringing back any new specimen of bug, plant or reptile, they
might be so fortunate as to find.
It was a perfect day not too warm, with a dazzling blue sky overhead.
The woods and meadows echoed with song, and a general medley of sound
from live creatures.
The girls were crossing a marshy bit of ground near the Big Bridge,
when Jane caught sight of some beautiful spires of goldenrod, although
it was early in the season for it.
"I'm going to pick some for our camp--you can wait or go on slowly!"
called she, to the girls who were ahead.
Balancing on a flat stone near the bank she hoped to reach, she found
herself directly under a bending mass of the golden bloom. Just as she
reached up to pluck at the stem, a huge bumblebee flew out and hummed
near her nose.
"Oo-oo! help!" cried Jane almost falling over with fright.
"What's the matter--a water-snake?" laughed Elena.
"No--but an awful big beast! As big and fierce as an eagle!" shouted
Jane, laughing at herself, when the bee flew away.
Having secured the rod, Jane hurried after the girls and then confessed
that the eagle was but a bumblebee.
"He wouldn't have stung you, Jane, even if you attempted his life! They
are too good-natured for their own protection!" said the Guide, as they
trudged along the field-path.
"Let's sit down by this hedge and have a story, Miss Miller," suggested
Hilda, who loved to hear the Guide's nature stories.
"Just for a few moments, then! We must not waste any time."
"Tell us something about bees, Miss Miller. Now, that our hives have
come and we are waiting for a swarm to live in them, we ought to know
something about their habits," coaxed Hilda.
So, the Guide told the girls all she could remember from her experience
with bees when she was a girl at home. She added, however, that so many
wonderful inventions had come to make bee-culture easier and pleasanter
since her time, that it would be better to secure a good book about
bees. At the conclusion of her short talk, Miss Miller said, "Can any
of you tell me what time the bee was first found of value to people?"
No one could, so Miss Miller changed her question. "Well, can you tell
me why bees were so carefully guarded in the olden times--in Biblical
days, for instance?"
Even this could not be answered by the girls, so Miss Miller explained.
"In those olden days sugar had been unheard of. The only sweetener
they used was honey. Should the bees die off there would be no sweets.
Consequently, people were most careful of their bees. Very few people
to-day realise that honey used in cake instead of sugar keeps the cake
much fresher and the flavour is richer."
Miss Miller got up from the grass and warned her charges that they
would arrive nowhere if they did not start. With a general laugh at the
Guide's eagerness to get somewhere, the girls jumped up, shook their
short skirts and resumed the hike.
They reached the road that passed Hamilton's farm and had just turned
down a narrow path that led across fields toward a wonderful wooded
hill, with three of the girls leading, and Zan on the left side, Nita
on the right side of the Guide, when Nita exclaimed at a gorgeous
butterfly that flew over her head.
Catching the butterfly net from Zan's hand, she chased it, running
swiftly down the pathway past the other girls. No sooner had she
started off than a horse was heard galloping on the soft sod back of
the Guide.
Miss Miller turned and saw a rider coming directly toward her. Thinking
it might be a telegram or other message for her, she turned to meet
him. As soon as she came within good sight of the rider, however, she
saw to her chagrin that it was young Everton. She stood right in the
path wondering what to do.
Everton rode up and expected the Guide to move out of his way. She,
however, had made up her mind what to do.
"Beg pardon, are you eager to reach any destination?" asked the Guide,
holding her ground so that the young man had to rein in his horse
sharply.
"I am anxious to reach a friend of mine--but I do not see how that
concerns you!" retorted the insolent youth.
Miss Miller noted the glint in the eyes that Nita had spoken of, and
she recognised at once the peculiar power some had of hypnotic control
so fatal to peace and happiness of others when employed for vicious
ends instead of worthy help. She noted the deep-orange stain on fingers
as well as the twitching of muscles and sallowness of skin that came
from nicotine. Even his horse rebelled against the nervous twitching of
hands that lacked the strength to control anything, least of all his
own animal instincts.
"Young man, I have every reason to believe that you are molesting a
young girl placed in my charge. Therefore, I must ask you to turn about
and ride the other way, as we shall not allow you to communicate again
with Nita," said Miss Miller, sternly.
"I refuse to acknowledge any authority from _you_! I don't know you,
nor do you know me, although I have heard said that an impecunious
school-marm is acting as governess to a few girls at the Baker farm,"
sneered the young man.
Zan was up in arms at once, but Miss Miller was not one to take
offence, especially when the insult came from a source she thought less
than the dirt under her feet.
"Zan, will you run after Nita and ask her if she wishes to meet
this--this, ahem--creature! If she does not and he persists in annoying
us he will be taught the penalty of a highwayman!"
The rider sneered again but wondered why the woman hesitated over
his name. Had he but known that Miss Miller refused to give him the
privilege of being called a man, and a boy was too innocent a name for
him--thus her hesitation!
Nita was running back with her captured prize when Zan met her and
hastily explained. Nita blanched and clung to Zan's arm. "Oh, I never
want to meet him again! What shall I do?"
Everton had been idly flicking his crop over the nervous young mare's
ears, and the animal resented it by pawing the ground. He took pleasure
in watching the mare snort, so he persisted. Without further warning
the young animal gave a side jump, cleared the low rim of brush that
fringed the bank and galloped wildly across the broken field. The rider
evidently lost control of his mount, for the horse soon came to the
stream where it turned back to cross the road near Hamilton's farm.
Miss Miller and the girls had climbed the bank and were watching the
unexpected ending of the interview. Without a second's hesitation the
horse plunged down into the river and struggled through the water, up
the opposite bank and on, on toward the barns where it had been reared.
The Guide saw it pass the gate-posts safely, then turned with a sigh of
relief and hurried to join Nita, who was all alone when the incident
took place.
"Oh, Miss Miller! what a queer ending to that talk!" breathed Nita,
although she had not heard the drift of the conversation.
"Nita, let this incident prove to you that the Great Spirit will help
and protect you in every way if you will only try to do your part and
remain obedient to His loving ways. I was pondering how to get rid of
young Everton and save you from any unpleasantness at the same time,
when the matter was taken out of my hands entirely and disposed of by
One who knows!"
The incident made a deep impression on all of the girls, and the walk
was continued in silence for a time.
The birds and bees and gay butterflies, however, soon loosened their
tongues and by the time the mountain was reached they were as happy as
ever.
As they crossed a glade on the mountain side, the Guide heard a
familiar buzzing from the direction of an old burnt-off stump of a
hollow tree. She crept toward it softly, and held up a warning hand for
the girls to keep quiet. They tip-toed after her quietly, and when she
smiled they wanted to know what was the trouble.
"A wild-bees' nest in that tree! From the noise, I should say it was
a large one, getting ready to leave and swarm. If only we had a hive
here, we might get it! However, we will get the honey-comb when the
bees come out and that will be a treat!"
"How can you tell when they're out?" asked Zan.
"When they swarm they always leave the comb. If they fly to another
tree this home will be left alone," said Miss Miller.
"Miss Miller, I'm so anxious to start bee-culture that I'm wiling to
run back and bring a hive here!" exclaimed Jane.
"Let me go with her to help?" cried Zan.
"Isn't it too far girls?" wondered the Guide.
"No--we'll hurry Bill into hooking up Cheokee to his light buck-board
and drive back with the hive, across the path we just came by. From
there to this place is not far!"
"Well, all right! Then we'll wait here and watch where the bees fly!"
said the Guide, but the two girls had already left the place.
The girls sat down to wait and watch while the Guide explained many
peculiarities of bees. In an incredibly short time Bill came back with
the hive, the girls following with a wire mask and gloves and a tin pan.
Miss Miller was amazed at their return and Zan said, laughing at their
faces "We met Mr. Hamilton drivin' to Bill's house. He wanted to buy
some of Bill's leghorn hens, so we caught a ride all the way home.
While Bill got the hive and tools we hooked up the horse and here we
are!"
"An' just in time, too! Them bees is goin' t' swarm right clost by,
Miss Miller, 'cause th' Queen is hangin' round that tree like as if she
didn't want t' let go of it!" said Bill.
And so it proved. The queen soon fluttered away and circled about the
glade for a few moments, then settled on a low-hanging bough of wild
cherry tree. Instantly, a mass of buzzing, living creatures settled
about her and the swarm was on--full blast!
When it had been successfully hived and the girls drew a long breath
once more, Bill cracked his hands together in token of congratulation
for himself.
"That's th' neatest job I ever did on bees! Not a single mishap, and
th' queen in that as happy as can be!"
The hive was very carefully taken to the buck-board and two of the
girls jumped up in the back to steady it on the way to camp, for Bill
said it must not be jostled in the least.
The hive was placed just below the Bluff where the sun shone warmly
upon it, and the rocks sheltered it from storms. The mass of honey
taken from the hollow tree was placed in the pan and carried back, the
other two girls and Miss Miller taking turns in carrying it.
A new interest thus created made the next week fly on wings, and the
Band found to their chagrin and deep concern that September was fast
approaching when they must break camp and return to the city.
"Oh, Miss Miller I shall never be able to breathe indoors again!"
wailed Zan.
"And to think of wearing corsets and heeled shoes again! Oh, girls,
what shall we do after this freedom!" added Jane, woefully.
"Oh, Miss Miller! do you remember the day we took our _coup_ for the
walking within the hour--how Nita had to sit down and take off her
high-heeled slippers, rub her feet and go back in the wagon with you!"
and Elena laughed at the memory.
"It wasn't so funny that day, Elena, but I've learned lots of things
since then, and won a walking _coup_, too!" laughed Nita.
"And I noticed that you never wore those high-heeled slippers again!"
added Zan.
"And never expect to again! I've found out what solid comfort I have
missed in wearing freak shoes instead of sensible ones!" commented Nita.
All these things pleased Miss Miller immensely, for she saw permanent
good in the summer's work. But one of the unlooked-for results of the
camp that summer was revealed just before the Band prepared to pack up.
Mrs. Sherwood came up one day and said, with tears in her eyes, how she
would miss the happy family on the Bluff.
"Why," said she, turning to the Guide, "even Bill and me tried your
new-fangled idee of sleepin' on'y we pulled our bed out on the porch.
And say, Miss Miller, it really air fine, ain't it!"
"Do you mean to say that you have been sleeping out of doors, and never
won a _coup_!" cried Zan, laughing.
"I don't know what your coo means, but I know we both like the nice
sweet air of summer nights!" said Mrs. Sherwood.
"Do you still sleep on feathers?" asked the Guide.
"Naow, that's anuther queer thing! The first nights the featherbed was
all right! Then Bill began squirmin' and sayin' it was too heatin'.
Then I felt the same way, so we took it off one night and slept a heap
better on the mattrass. Sense that, we've ben usin' th' plain mattrass!"
"Stick to it, and never go back to feather-beds, Mrs. Sherwood, and
you'll feel a hundred percent better this winter," advised the Guide.
"Bill said somethin' 'bout your sayin' I ought to git rid of my stiff
joints, an' d'ye know, girls! Sense I have hed to climb up an' down
this hill so much every day, I reely am feelin' limber again! I'm
shore I tuck off at least twenty pounds extra fat durin' this summer!"
exclaimed the simple woman, gladly.
"My! That is some reducer! It ought to be advised to city folks who
spend money on massage and Turkish baths!" laughed Hilda, while some of
the girls thought to themselves that Mrs. Sherwood could lose another
fifty pounds and not miss it.
The day before the Band planned to start back to the city, a letter
came from the doctor saying that a whole Tribe of girls were anxiously
awaiting the arrival of the Band of Wickeecheokee girls, each one eager
to plead to be taken in the Band for the winter work.
Miss Miller laughed at the picture drawn by the doctor, and Zan pouted.
"We won't have half the fun when a lot of others are in with us!"
complained Jane.
"Oh, yes, we will! The more the merrier! You have had such a nice time
this summer, that you feel there can never be another as good. And, of
course, twenty girls would be too many for the Bluff or the Farm," said
the Guide.
"Why don't you think we shall come here again next summer?" asked
Elena, sadly.
"Wait till you hear of the plan Dr. Baker and I have for the Tribe. You
will be so far advanced in Woodcraft by that time that you will want to
broaden out and follow after some of the big achievements planned by
the Head Council in New York. Even this winter, you will often think
of this summer and smile at the childish fears and foibles!" said Miss
Miller, smiling.
Those last days a general washing had taken place. All the canvas,
bedding, clothing and other things were washed in the stream just below
the willow, Mrs. Sherwood assisting in all of the work. Toward evening
Bill's horse was brought up and the Guide's patent cradle was used to
carry the camp outfits back to the barn. It had been decided to store
all tents and camping things on the farm until the next summer, so it
spared Miss Miller a great deal of trouble.
The Bluff was finally left as free of any camp-signs as it had been
before the Band arrived, all excepting the log cabin which had been
completed and stood as a strong memorial of some girls' persistent
effort and ideals.
And Miss Miller said, "No good Woodcrafter ever left a camp-spot in a
disorderly condition. It must be vacated and left in as neat and clean
a manner as Nature provided it."
Wickee was going back to the city with Zan and live at her house, but
Cheokee was to be sent back to pasture on the Hamilton farm. It seemed
as if the dear old horse knew the time for his friends' departure was
nigh, for all the night previous to their leaving, he whinnied as he
stood with his head over the lower half of the barn-door, watching
every movement of the girls as they went in and out of the house.
Finally, Zan said she could not stand Cheokee's mourning any longer,
so she took Wickee with her and went up and had a long talk with the
faithful old horse. Wickee was told to remain and keep Cheokee company
that night, and she came out closing the barn door behind her.
Early the following morning, Bill drove up to the porch and placed the
baggage in the wagon under the front seat, while the girls ran about
saying good-bye to every corner and tree near the house.
"Oh, it doesn't seem like two months since we got out of this very
wagon, does it?" sighed Nita, as they were driven through the stone
gate-posts on the way to the train.
"No, and really, not very much has happened, has there?" said Jane,
wonderingly.
"Not as men reckon happenings, dear. But the greatest of all happenings
actually was experienced by each one of you, and that was, that you
each have learned to know yourself and to make the most of all the good
that the Great Spirit gave you to enjoy!" said the Guide, softly.
"Amen to that, says I!" came from Bill, in emphatic tones that made the
sorrowful Band smile again.
THE END
FOOTNOTES:
[A] Author's childhood home.
[B] See "Birds Through the Year" by Albert Field Gilmore.
_This Isn't All!_
Would you like to know what became of the good friends you have made in
this book?
Would you like to read other stories continuing their adventures and
experiences, or other books quite as entertaining by the same author?
On the _reverse side_ of the wrapper which comes with this book, you
will find a wonderful list of stories which you can buy at the same
store where you got this book.
_Don't throw away the Wrapper_
_Use it as a handy catalog of the books you want some day to have.
But in case you do mislay it, write to the Publishers for a complete
catalog._
GIRL SCOUTS SERIES
By LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY
Author of the "Polly Brewster Books"
Handsomely Bound. Colored Wrappers. Illustrated.
Each Volume Complete in Itself.
Here is a series that holds the same position for girls that the Tom
Slade and Roy Blakeley books hold for boys. They are delightful stories
of Girl Scout camp life amid beautiful surroundings and are filled with
stirring adventures.
GIRL SCOUTS AT DANDELION CAMP
This is a story which centers around the making and the enjoying of a
mountain camp, spiced with the fun of a lively troop of Girl Scouts.
The charm of living in the woods, of learning woodcraft of all sorts,
of adventuring into the unknown, combine to make a busy and an exciting
summer for the girls.
GIRL SCOUTS IN THE ADIRONDACKS
New scenery, new problems of camping, association with a neighboring
camp of Boy Scouts, and a long canoe trip with them through the Fulton
Chain, all in the setting of the marvelous Adirondacks, bring to the
girls enlargement of horizon, new development, and new joys.
GIRL SCOUTS IN THE ROCKIES
On horseback from Denver through Estes Park as far as the Continental
Divide, climbing peaks, riding wild trails, canoeing through canyons,
shooting rapids, encountering a landslide, a summer blizzard, a sand
storm, wild animals, and forest fires, the girls pack the days full
with unforgettable experiences.
GIRL SCOUTS IN ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO