[Illustration: "Thus they started in a line, Yhon leading" ... Page 182]

 GIRL SCOUTS IN THE ADIRONDACKS

 BY LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY

 AUTHOR OF THE POLLY BREWSTER BOOKS, THE LITTLE WASHINGTONS BOOKS

 ILLUSTRATED

 GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS NEW YORK

 Made in the United States of America

 COPYRIGHT, 1921, BY GEORGE SULLY & COMPANY

 _The Girl Scouts in the Adirondacks_

 _Printed in the U. S. A. _

 CONTENTS

 CHAPTER PAGE

 I. THE FRIDAY JINX 1

 II. ANOTHER DAY OF TROUBLES 24

 III. IN THE MOUNTAINS AT LAST 41

 IV. A VISIT TO GREY FOX CAMP 60

 V. A STORY OF CREATION 72

 VI. LOST ON THE TRAIL 91

 VII. A LITTLE BUSINESS 106

 VIII. JAKE'S INTERVIEW WITH A SKUNK 127

 IX. LESSONS IN TRACKING 139

 X. THE GIRL SCOUTS ENTERTAIN 157

 XI. A CANOE TRIP 179

 XII. FIRST AID 190

 XIII. SHOOTING THE RAPIDS--AND OTHER THINGS 204

 XIV. THE GRAND SURPRISE 214

ILLUSTRATIONS

"Thus they started in a line, Yhon leading" (page 182) _Frontispiece_

 PAGE

"Would you prefer to sit here and dream, Betzy, or go backwith me and eat sandwiches" 16

"We are lost, come find us" 98

"Where--which way did you hear them?" questioned Joan 211

GIRL SCOUTS IN THE ADIRONDACKS

CHAPTER ONE

THE FRIDAY JINX

"Are we ready to start, girls?" called Mrs. Vernon, the Captain ofDandelion Troop of Girl Scouts, as she glanced at her protegées seatedin two large touring cars. 

"Ready! Why, Verny, we've been waiting for you these ten minutes, "retorted Juliet Lee, one of the original members of the troop. 

"And we're just crazy to be off before that black cloud overhead adds tomother's fear lest I never come home again, " added Ruth Bentley, anotherof the first four girl scouts of Elmertown. 

"Well, then, it seems that all the baggage and outfit we need with us onthe trip is safely stowed away, eh, Jim?" said Mrs. Vernon, looking atthe driver of the other car. 

"Everything that I found waiting to be packed when I drove up to theside door, " replied the chauffeur. 

"All right! Then we're off, folkses, but we'll send you word the momentwe arrive at Old Forge in the Adirondacks, " called Mrs. Vernon, to thecrowd of relatives of the various girls, all gathered to watch thescouts drive away. 

"Good-by! Good-by!" now shouted many girlish voices, and "Good-by!Good-by!" was shouted back as the two seven-passenger cars started onthe long journey. 

Mrs. Vernon led the way in her luxurious automobile, and as they turnedthe bend of the road, where the last of the group still watching on theVernon lawn was lost to sight, she laughingly remarked:

"I never thought a crowd of girls could get ready for such a long outingin so short a time. "

"It all depends on how badly the girls _want_ to be ready, Captain, "retorted Joan Allison, the fourth girl of the number who foundedDandelion Camp of Girl Scouts the summer before. 

"Say, girls! I just felt a drop of rain from that inky cloud!" Betty Leewarned. She was Julie's sister, and they were two who had firstsuggested a scout organization. 

Mrs. Vernon slowed down and turned to the scouts. "Shall we stop to puton the rain-curtains?"

"Mercy, no! It's only a sprinkle, and we're not sugar, " exclaimed Joan, glancing at the sky. 

The other girls followed her gaze, and Julie said: "See all the bluesky! Enough to make the proverbial 'night-cap'. "

In case the reader has not yet met the four girls who had such athrilling time while at camp the previous summer, it will be best tomake their acquaintance now. 

As stated before, Juliet and Elizabeth Lee were the two sisters whoplanned having a scout troop for girls in Elmertown. Joan Allison andRuth Bentley, both schoolmates of the Lee girls, eagerly agreed to addtheir efforts to the others' and secure the interest of enough girls forthem to be able to apply for a charter from the Girl Scout Headquartersin New York City. 

Before they closed their camp on "Verny's Mountain" that summer, fiveother girls had been admitted to membership in the young Patrol, namely:Hester Wynant, fourteen; Anne Bailey, fourteen; Judith Blake, thirteen;her sister, Edith Blake, twelve; and Amy Ward, thirteen. 

Then during the winter, other girls who had heard of the good times thescouts had had in camp that past summer became so insistent to mothersat home that permission to join the organization was granted them. 

Having nine girls in their original Patrol, with Julie as Leader, andJoan for Corporal, the scouts now felt experienced enough to pass allthe tests required to apply for a Troop Charter. The young scouts werean active group and when the Charter arrived from National Headquartersthe same day the girls had planned to start for camp, there was greatrejoicing. 

True to his promise given the Girl Scouts the summer previous, Mr. Gilroy had sent word to Mrs. Vernon when the camp in the Adirondacks wasready for them. When the girls found that Mrs. Vernon planned to use herlarge touring car for half of the number in the Troop to go in, and RuthBentley's father had offered his car for the other half, thus savingthem great expense for railroad tickets, and giving them the pleasure ofautoing the whole long distance, the excitement rose and would not becalmed down again. 

So it was not only a happy Troop that shouted good-by to relatives, butalso a flushed, merry group of nine girls who could not keep silent forlong. 

Ruth was in the rear seat of her father's car, which Jim was driving, when she suddenly sat up and called out to the chauffeur:

"I'm sure one of our suitcases on the trunk-rack at the back must beloose, Jim. I hear it bump about every time you go over a rough place inthe road. "

"It can't be, Miss Ruth, " returned Jim, trying to peer out and see thebaggage; "I strapped 'em on good and tight before we left. "

"Well, it happens to be my suitcase that's on top, and I'm sure I don'twant to lose it, " declared Ruth. 

"Maybe we'd better stop and make sure about it; we can soon catch upwith Verny again, " suggested Judith. 

So Jim sprang out to investigate. "The suitcases are all right, MissRuth, but somethin's wrong in the back all right. "

At that Ruth jumped out and joined the man. "What is it?" asked she, anxiously. 

"The sag in that spring 'pears to me to say it is about done for. We'llhave to travel slow till we find a garage. "

"For mercy's sake! Didn't you and Pa's chauffeur overhaul both the carsthoroughly when you knew we were going on this trip?"

"Your father sent this machine to the garage in Elmertown, 'cause hesaid they'd know how to do the job up better'n us, " explained Jim. 

"Then it serves Dad right if he has to pay for a new spring! The idea oftrusting strangers with his car at this important time! But here we arewith a wornout old spring on our hands!" cried Ruth, stamping her footimpatiently. 

"Oh no, Ruth, not on our hands--but what is ten times worse--on the rearend of the car, " laughed Hester. 

"Well, we've got to go slow, I suppose, and stop somewhere to replacethe old thing, " grumbled Ruth, climbing back in the car. 

"If 'Liza knew of this mischance, wouldn't she gloat over her 'FridayBad Luck' prophecy?" laughed Ann. 

Jim started again, but carefully avoided the ruts and bumps in the roaduntil he came to a large garage. Fortunately for all, they found a newspring in stock and the men were soon at work replacing the bad one. 

"Hurrah for us Jinx-breakers! This bit of luck in finding a new springon hand more than offsets a Friday curse, " gleefully cried Ruth. 

"You young ladies sure are lucky, but it will take some time to do thework, an' you may as well take a walk and see our nice Jersey town, "suggested the proprietor of the garage. 

The scouts followed this sensible advice and stopped at a shop wherethey treated each other to soda, candy, and peanuts. There being nothingmore thrilling to do, they sat down in the Park and ate the plebeiandelicacy and talked. 

"I love peanuts, don't you?" Anne asked of the girls. 

"Yes, but they have to be enjoyed away from home, or folks will make funof you, " added Ruth. 

"Not any more, Ruth. When a five-cent bag of peanuts, these days, onlycontains ten nuts that lifts them out of the cheap class, " laughedHester. 

"And makes them a luxury, eh?" added Judith. 

By the time the peanuts were gone, Jim signaled the girls and theyhurried back to the garage. It took but a moment for them to jump in andurge Jim to hurry after Verny's car, somewhere in the lead. 

Mile after mile of beautiful woodland, with now and then a small town, but with many flourishing farms along the way, were reeled off rapidlyas the machine sped along as if on wings. Finally they reached acrossroad where the signboard warned them: "All travel limited to eightmiles per hour. "

"Slow down, Jim, or you'll land us in a county jail, " called Ruth. 

"Then Mrs. Vernon must be in jail--'cause she ain't in sight along theroad, and to get as far as this she _had_ to speed, " declared Jim. 

"It's funny she wouldn't stop to find out what became of us, when wedropped so far behind, " ventured Hester. 

"They'll look us up at mealtime, never fear, " laughed Anne. "We've gotthe hamper with us, you know. "

The others laughed at this remark, but they had not gone much fartheralong the road before they spied the Vernon automobile waiting under agreat oak tree. When the tardy car came up, both parties began to shout, some asking where the delinquents had been, and the unfortunates todemand why folks wouldn't look behind once in a while!

Finally Jim could make himself heard, and he explained about the springand where they had to stop to replace the old one. 

"Well, _we_ stopped to discuss ways. We ought to decide the route wewant to take before we reach Jersey City, " said Mrs. Vernon. 

"Which is the route you'd chose, Verny?" added Ruth. 

"Well, we can save a lot of time by going along to Edgewater and crosson the Fort Lee boat. That takes us right to 130th Street and Broadway, New York. We avoid all crowds and city streets, but you will not seeanything of the life and bustle of New York City. "

"How much time will we save?" asked Julie. 

"Because we've lost so much over that old spring, " added Ruth. 

Mrs. Vernon smiled. "From upper New York we can drive right onto theState Road that runs direct to Albany. By selecting that way we willsave a great deal of time, because traffic in the city is so congestedthat every driver has to travel slow and fall in line back of endlesscars. At every corner when the signal holds up the entire line one hasto stop to permit crosstown traffic a chance. "

"Then for goodness' sake, let's go through the country on this side ofthe Hudson, and cross where you said--Fort Lee Ferry, " declared Julie. 

Every one agreeing to this decision, the plan was carried out asoutlined by the Captain. Once on Broadway, where it passes Van CortlandtPark, the girls called to Mrs. Vernon. 

"How about lunch--we're famished?"

"Oh, don't let's stop here for lunch. Let's go on till we find a nicerspot in the country, " returned Joan. 

"Maybe there won't be any better place, " demurred Judith. 

"Oh, yes, there is. After we leave Yonkers we will find lots of spots, Verny says, " called Julie, from the first car. 

"We need a shady place where a spring will give us water, " said Betty. 

"A spring failing to bubble up at the proper place, we may have to besatisfied with a pump at some farmhouse, " retorted her sister. 

The two cars sped swiftly along Broadway, through Yonkers, Hastings-on-Hudson, and Dobb's Ferry. At this last place the Captainpointed out the famous old Headquarters used by General Washington atthe close of the Revolution. 

"Girls, there doesn't seem to be any picnic grounds for us along thisState Road, " remarked Mrs. Vernon. "Suppose we take a bite as we travelalong, and cook a regular dinner when we are out in the countrysomewhere?"

"We're willing, in fact, I am more than willing to eat, " called Anne, the scout with the healthy appetite. 

So they drove on while refreshments were passed around, and every oneadmired the river scenes of the ever-changing panorama of the Hudson. 

Just beyond Peekskill the road ran under a culvert and a sharp turn onthe other side made it impossible to see what was on the road ahead. TheCaptain made the turn very neatly and Jim was about to follow theleading car, when several shrill cries from the girls ahead caused himto put on the emergency brakes. 

The passengers in the second car could just see what had caused thefrightened shouts from their friends in the first car. A gaunt farmhorse was standing on his hind legs pawing the air madly, while arickety old spring wagon seesawed uncertainly on the edge of a deepditch beside the road. But the driver of the horse was on the road, hanging on to the bridle while plying a stout hickory stick freely overthe animal's back. 

"Git down! Will yuh come to arth, yuh rascal?" shouted the irate womanwho was garbed in a man's farm hat and a long duster. 

"Do you need any assistance?" called Mrs. Vernon, anxiously. 

"Not ef I kin git him to plant his feet on arth agin. He ain't got nospunk left to run away, 'cause he's ben out plowing all day, and it w'ara shame to drive him to the store. But it hed to be, 'cuz the ole mantuk t'other hoss to go to a meetin'. "

As the unusual character talked, she tugged at the bridle until shefinally had the horse quieted down again. Then he allowed his long earsto droop lazily, his spine to sag in the middle, and his erstwhilespringy legs to bend as if he felt too weary to stand up. 

The woman with the weather-beaten face and toughened hands was a fluentspeaker, even though she paid little attention to the latest style indress for women. She leaned against the shaft of the wagon and plied herquestions to the tourists as freely as she had plied the hickory stickto the horse. 

"Be you-all out fer a lark?" asked she, eyeing the number of girls inboth cars. 

Jim thought to move his car gradually along the road so the scouts inhis charge could join in the conversation with the woman. But the momentthe horse saw the automobile crawling towards him, he jumped aside. Thewagon-wheel turned suddenly and the unexpected happened; the woman whohad been leaning heavily on the wheel was unceremoniously dropped to asitting posture in the dusty road. 

Several of the scouts had to smother with handkerchiefs, a keen desireto laugh, but the owner of the horse seemed to take the situationgood-naturedly. 

"Wal, ef that ain't jus' like Samson! He does the mos' onexpectedtricks, so's that he keeps us guessin' what next. "

Jim sprang out of the car when he saw the result of his innocent actionwith the engine, but the agile woman was up before he could reach herside. She brushed the dust from her long coat and chuckled aloud: "Iallus said that animal oughter be called Delilah 'cuz _she_ was so sly, but my ole man says 'Samson' was close enough to that critter, and thisanimal hez such long hair that it suits with the name. "

"You've just had him clipped, I see, " ventured Mrs. Vernon. 

"Not clipped, Captain--but shorn of his locks like Samson, " laughedJulie. 

"Maybe that's why he feels so tired, " added Joan, quickly. 

Every one but the farmer's wife laughed. She seemed very serious overthe conversation, and nodded her head affirmatively. 

"Well, we have to drive on, madam, but we're sorry to have frightenedSamson, " said Mrs. Vernon, in order to make an end to the scene. 

"Say, couldn't you tell us where there is a nice picnic place nearhere?" called Jim, as the first car started. 

"Yeh--a few miles furder on. You'll find a nice little brook in a groveof sugar-maples, with green grass on all sides. "

Jim thanked the woman, and started his car. Mrs. Vernon was informed ofthe grove which was to be a stopping place for dinner, and all wereeagerly on the lookout for the spot that would offer such an idealresting place. 

But it was the longest "few miles" any of the scouts had traveled, forthe meter showed many, many miles before any grove was seen. There wasno brook in it, but the grass was very green, and the maple grove, whichcrowded a knoll a short distance from the road, looked cool andinviting. 

As usual, Julie was the first one out of the cars and over the fence. She started to cross the very green grass, but instantly sank into thewater that was hidden under the green blades. 

"Help! Oh, I'm drowning!" shouted she, struggling to pull her feet clearof the bog. But she would free one foot, and instantly the other wouldsink. Then she tried to drag that one out, but the first one would godown again. Both together she could not get out. 

"Oh, oh! See the mess poor Julie's in!" called one of the girls. 

Mrs. Vernon was gazing quickly around for some sort of help to get thescout out, but the girls stood about the place sympathizing with thefurious scout. 

"Is it like that all over there, Julie?" called Betty, anxiously. 

"How do I know? Come over and find out for yourself!" snapped hersister. 

The girls laughed at the retort, but Betty added: "I only wanted to knowif it was safe for me to come over and help you out. "

Julie straightened up and glared at her soft-hearted sister. "You soundjust like our Sunday school teacher when she reads: 'Come over intoMacedonia and help. '"

Again the audience of girls laughed appreciatively, but Julie was toobusy keeping her feet "treading water" to pay any attention to theirenjoyment. Meantime, Jim had removed some rails from the fence and wasbringing them to the scout's aid. 

"Now, Miss Julie, when I shove these over, you manage to work an armover each one, and sort of lift yourself out that way. I'll shove othersover for you to step on next, and in that way you can get out and acrossto us, " advised Jim, working as he spoke. 

Finally Julie was rescued from the mire, and then the Captain said:"Every one walk along that elevated bank, over there, to reach thegrove, as this entire area may be a boggy spring. "

But the grass under the trees in the grove was found to be hard and dry, and they soon began to prepare luncheon. While Mrs. Vernon unpacked thehamper, the scouts were detailed on various duties: some to build afire, some to hunt spring water, some to set table on the grass. ButJulie was excused from all these tasks, as she had more than enough workto do in cleaning the mud from her boots and stockings. 

When luncheon was almost ready, Judith and Amy, who had been sent tofind the spring and bring back drinking water, reported: "We couldn'tfind any spring. "

Julie looked up and jeered: "You are fine scouts! Couldn't find a springwhen all you have to do is to find the source of all that water where Iwent down!"

"Water! That looked like mud, " retorted Judith. 

"We'll go for the water, " volunteered Joan, catching hold of Betty'ssleeve to take her along. 

So they started, and as Julie had said, the spring that fed the boggyspot was not far back in the grove. The water gurgled down from a cleftin a huge rock, and on either side of the small pool wood violets dippedtheir fragrant petals into the sparkling mirror. 

Betty sat down upon a flat rock beside the pool to enjoy the scene. Butpractical Joan filled the pail with cold water and then laughed atpoetical Betty. 

"Would you prefer to sit here and dream, Betty--or go back with me andeat ham sandwiches?"

"Oh, I forgot where I was, " laughed Betty, rising reluctantly to helpcarry the pail of water. 

"That's what I thought, " tittered Joan, "but the rest of the girlsprefer something more solid than dreams. "

During the luncheon the Captain said: "Wouldn't it be splendid if eachone of us kept a diary of what happens during this summer's camp? Thenwe can rewrite the facts when we go home and make a good story of it. Perhaps a real publisher will buy it from us and thus give us a fund fornext year's outing--if we have one. "

"Oh, that is great!" exclaimed several voices with girlish enthusiasm. 

"Well then, when we camp to-night, we'll jot down the episodes of theday's trip--not forgetting to dwell at length on 'Samson, ' and Julie'sside-plays, " remarked the Captain, smilingly. 

"Has any one thought of a stopping place for the night?" asked Jim. 

"Not definitely, Jim; but I hope to cross the river at Poughkeepsie anddrive along the west shore as far as possible. Then we can pitch campat any good place we find, " replied the Captain. 

They had not gone much farther before Ruth called: "It looks as if therear tire on Verny's car was flat!"

The Captain slowed up, and every one tried to see the tire. "That's whatit is, all right, Captain!" ejaculated Jim, impatiently. 

"Dear me! That means another delay!" sighed several girls. 

The car had to be jacked up and Jim went to work to mend the puncture inthe tube, then pumped and pumped until the tire was properly inflatedonce more. 

As the tourists climbed into their respective seats in the automobiles, Joan said: "Well, Captain, this wasn't such a bad day after all--inspite of being a Friday. "

"I'm thankful for it, too, " sighed Betty, fervently. 

The cars made good time after that and passed over the ferry atPoughkeepsie, to travel northward on the road that ran along the westshore. They pitched camp in some woods and soon had a fire started toheat the canned soup they had brought. When all else was ready, theCaptain banged upon a tin pan to call the scouts to dine. 

"Um! That tomato soup smells good!" exclaimed Joan, sniffing audibly, as she saw the contents of the pan that stood over the fire. 

"Will you serve it, Jo--you are nearest the pan?" said Mrs. Vernon, passing the basket that held the tin cups. 

"Here! Everybody hold up a mug to fill, while I come around with thepan!" ordered Joan, taking hold of the pan-handle that had been over thefire a long time. 

"Oo-oouch!" cried the girl, whipping her hand up and down as she dancedwildly about. 

"You didn't spill the soup, I hope!" exclaimed Anne, with deep concern. 

"What difference would that make--a little cheap soup? But my hand--oh, it's got a trail blazed clean across the palm!" wailed Joan, showing herred-skinned hand to sympathizing friends. 

"Poor old scout! We have to learn all kinds of blazing, I suppose, "murmured Julie. 

"And the soup _is_ all safe--Jo never dropped the pan!" declared Anne, with gratification in her tones. 

"Here, Miss Jo, " said Jim, who had gone for a bottle kept in the kit. "Pour this olive oil all over the hand and the smart will soon stop. "

He hurried to give the bottle to Joan but his toe caught in a brambleand tripped him. The bottle flew from his hand and struck the root whereJoan sat. The glass shattered and the oil ran out the grass at thescout's feet. 

 [Illustration: "Would you prefer to sit here and dream, Betzy, or go back with me and eat sandwiches" ... Page 16]

"Well, well! it must be the Friday Jinx that still pursues us, " remarkedJim, gazing regretfully at the glistening oil that formed beads on theblades of grass. 

The girls laughed merrily, but Mrs. Vernon seemed serious. She was aboutto speak, when Amy asked Joan to pass the crackers. She picked up thebox that was nearest her, and turned to hand them to her next neighbor, when her foot slipped on the oily grass and she sat down suddenly uponthe stump. The box fell in Hester's lap, but Joan clapped a hand overher mouth and smothered a howl. 

"Goodness me! What's the matter now, Jo!" cried Ruth, seeing the girl'sconvulsed face. 

Joan shook her head helplessly, but her eyes were filled with tears. Every one wondered what could have happened, and when the scout couldspeak she said thickly: "Oh, that oil! I slipped and bit the end of mytongue clear off--I'm sure of it!"

"Stick it out and let's see, " demanded Ruth. 

"That's what comes of having too much of a good thing!" declared Julie, teasingly. 

Every one but the Captain laughed, and she said seriously: "Do you know, girls, that I've had an idea about all this talk over Friday being a'bad luck' day. Of course it is perfectly absurd to intelligent people, but there are enough superstitious folk left in the world who actuallythink Friday has some power to bring ill luck with it. 

"Now I believe that it is the _fear_ and general belief in thesuperstition that carries any weight with it. If we, as good intelligentscouts, will try to break this silly fear for others, we shall have tobegin with ourselves, by not referring to the superstition with thesense of its having _any_ power to act. "

The girls listened seriously, as they always did when their Captainstarted one of her "sermonettes" as Julie called them; and when she hadconcluded, Joan said: "In other words, you want us to starve the poorwraith still more by withdrawing any thoughts from the matter whatever?"

"Exactly! You've worded it better than I could have done myself, "responded the Captain, emphatically. 

When supper was over and everything about camp had been prepared for thenight, Joan suggested taking a stroll down the picturesque country road. 

The gloaming was so inviting that the scouts decided to saunter down thewoodsy road. They continued along the inviting footpath for more than amile before they noticed a heavy fog settling upon everything. 

"Better turn and go back, girls. This fog is obscuring everything alongthe way, " suggested Mrs. Vernon. 

"B-r-r-r! Isn't it damp!" shivered Joan. 

"Yes, and it will be worse before we get home, " added Judith. 

They retraced their steps, but the fog came thicker and heavier all thetime, and before they had gone more than half the way back, it wasnecessary for the scouts to go single file in order to keep in thefootpath that ran along the top of a high grassy bank beside the narrowroad. 

"It would be so much simpler to hike along the road, Verny, " suggestedHester. 

"But there are so many machines traveling back and forth, and we'd haveto scramble up this wet slippery bank to get out of the way every timeone rushed past, " explained Julie. 

Julie was in front, heading the line. Being Scout Leader of the Troop, she naturally led in most things. Suddenly she stopped short and warnedthose back of her:

"Look out for this big boulder right in the pathway--have to detourtowards the fence!"

"Boulder! Why, there wasn't any boulder here on our way over, " arguedRuth. 

"The fog's in Julie's eyes, " laughed Joan. 

"Maybe we didn't notice a rock before, " ventured Amy. 

"Maybe we are on the wrong road, " said Anne. 

"We're right, all right, but I see a boulder in the way. If you don'tbelieve me, come here and sprain your toe kicking it!"

A few of the scouts crowded in front to peer through the puzzling fog tosee the questionable boulder, but IT unexpectedly got upon its clumsyfeet and started for the girls. In the fog it loomed up as big as anelephant. 

"Murder! Fire! Help! Help!!" came in confused screams from the scouts infront, as they turned precipitously to flee from this unknown danger. The confusion, as they fell back upon the scouts behind, while the great"boulder" still advanced slowly, was awful!

But the soft earth of the bank had been washed out from under the toplayer of roots and grass, and when so many stamping, crowding girlsbrought their weight upon the crumbling ground, it caved in with them. Jumping, screaming, tumbling scouts now went headlong down the slide offive feet into the roadway. 

The Captain and Betty had been far enough in the rear to escape thisgeneral stampede, but they, too, saw the dark object trying to skirt thenewly broken-down embankment, and they slid quickly down the wet weedybank to get away from this ghostlike creature that crept towards them. 

While brave scouts were getting up from the little ditch where they hadrolled, a plaintive call from the "boulder" above identified thecreature as belonging to the bovine kingdom. A second "Moo-oo, " as thecow passed slowly down the bank to the road, where she hoped to findsome one to lead her home, created a wild laugh from every one. 

CHAPTER TWO

ANOTHER DAY OF TROUBLES

Early in the morning the scouts heard Jim rattling the pans while heessayed to cook breakfast. They were soon up and dressed, and beingready for another day's adventuring, they offered their services to thecook. 

"Last night after you-all went for that hike, I mooned around somemyself. I saw a little farmhouse over that hill, and I think a couple ofgirls might try to get some milk for breakfast, " suggested Jim, pointingover the brow of a slight grade. 

"All right, Hester and I will go for it, Verny!" exclaimed Amy. 

"Very well, girls; the rest of us will do what we can to help Jim. Breakfast will be all ready by the time you return, so don't dawdle onthe way, will you?" replied the Captain. 

"Take the big thermos bottle that will keep the milk cold all day, andbring the breakfast milk in this pail, " suggested Julie, handing thegirls both articles as she spoke. 

Hester and Amy disappeared over the brow of the hill where Jim said thefarm was located, but breakfast was ready and waiting a long timebefore a sight of the girls was had again. 

Hester carried the pail very carefully, and Amy held the bottle, so itwas evident that they had milk, but why should they seem to laugh somerrily over something, as they drew near the scouts?

"What do you think happened to us?" called Amy. 

"You'll never guess--we got chased by a bull!" added Hester. 

"Oh, never!" cried the scouts who had been waiting anxiously. 

"Yes, sir! We heard a cow and knew there must be a farm, " began Amyexcitedly, but her companion interrupted her and said: "That wasn't acow we heard, but the bellow of this bull!"

"Do tell us all about how you escaped, " chorused the eager voices ofmany girls. 

Every one was anxious to wait on the heroines, and after they had beenserved everything at one time, they began to munch and talk. 

"Well, first we left here and thrashed through those bushes back there, "said Hester, nodding her head towards the alder bushes, "to reach theplace where we heard the cow--as we thought. "

Here Hester choked over the egg, and Amy quickly took up the story: "Andwe were halfway across a pasture lot when Hester, who was first, yelledwildly and waved her arms. I looked up, 'cause I was watching where Iwalked, the lot was pawed up into such hummocks, and saw Hester racingfor the low boughs of an apple-tree. Then I heard a thumping, and saw abig bull charging across the meadow, making straight for us!"

Amy gasped and needed a drink of water, then Hester continued the tale:"Oh, girls, it was thrilling! I managed to scramble up in theapple-tree, and turned to see what had become of Amy. There she was, sprinting like a Marathoner for the barbed-wire fence that enclosed thelot. She back-trailed over to it, and up over it she went, just like aswallow flies, but look at her stockings and skirt!"

Every one looked at Amy's apparel and sympathized with her, yet everyscout wished she had had such an exciting time. 

"Now they can win a badge for story-telling, can't they, Verny?" saidBetty, glad for her two pals. 

"And another one for mending, " laughed Julie, vindictively. 

"Poor Julie's awful sore about that mud, " murmured Amy, winking an eyeat the others. 

Every one laughed, but the Captain said: "Go on and finish the yarn. "

"Well, I left Hester in the tree--safety first, you know--with the bullstanding under it, waiting for her, while I skirted the lot and reachedthe house. When I told the old lady how we happened to be in such a fix, she threw her gingham apron over her head and sat down on the doorstepto laugh. 

"I was beginning to feel offended, when she glanced up. She understood, and said: 'Deary, that ole bull has to be helped to his stall everynight after a day in the pastoor. He oughter been butchered years an'years ago, but you see he saved me from a wicked tramp one day, an'father sayed Bill had earned his life-pension fer that. So Bill's safefrom the slaughter-house, but he sure is a nuisance these days. Why, this mad run of his'n will keep him wheezin' fer a hull week. Now comewith me an' I'll show you how he's payin' the price fer actin' like athree-year-old!"

"I followed the old lady to the fence, and there, sure enough! Bill wassprawled out under the tree, puffing for breath, but poor Hester sat inthe branches wailing because she dared not come down while the bull wasmaking such a snorting noise!"

The scouts laughed heartily at the graphic picture of Hester crying upin the tree, but the girl retorted, "Well, isn't 'Discretion the betterpart of valor'?"

"Of course it is! We'd have done the same thing, " agreed Mrs. Vernon, still laughing at Amy's story. Then she suggested breaking camp. 

After cleaning away all signs of camping, the scouts climbed into thecars which were soon speeding along. They were keen, now, for somethingnew that they could write in their diaries, and many interesting thingswere seen and dilated upon as they rode past. 

As the autos neared Schenectady, one of the scouts began singing; in afew moments all the girls were singing with her. But a hound ran out ofthe gate of a farmhouse and barked at the oncoming singers. Then thedistracted dog sat down and lifted his snout high in the air. His dismalprolonged howl of protest at such singing effectually ended the song, and Julie called to the animal, "Wise doggy--to be able to tell singingfrom _singing_!"

The weather was all that could be desired, and the two cars were in fineshape for the run. After they left Amsterdam, where the largecarpet-mills would have offered interesting entertainment had not thescouts a greater ambition in view, that of reaching camp--they voted tostop for no sightseeing along the way. So they kept along the road toFonda. Here they left the railroad turnpike and went northward toJohnstown. 

At this place Mrs. Vernon made an error in judgment. She should havegone westerly, through Rockwood, Lascelville, Oppenheim, and so on toDelgeville. But she took the northward road, which looked better and wasmore traveled. Not until she came to Gloversville did she realize themistake. Then she stopped and questioned a policeman how to reach herdestination. And he explained about the country road she must followdue west in order to reach Rockwood, where the state roads would bepicked up again. 

This advice was followed, and they traveled over the bad road until acrossroad was reached. There was no mention made of this spot on theroad-map, and there was no signpost to direct a lost tourist. So theCaptain said, "We'll take the right-hand turn, it looks best. "

Further on, the road descended and ran close to a river. "Dear me, Ihope we didn't take the wrong turn, anyway!" cried Mrs. Vernon. "Thatofficer never told me about a crossroad. "

"And it's going to pour, too. Just look at that black cloud, " said Joan. 

"It hasn't thundered yet, " Hester said, trying to be cheerful. 

At the same moment a flash satisfied every one that a shower wasimminent, and Jim failed to relieve their fears when he said, "We don'twant to get caught on this low land when it rains. The road is lowerthan the river and will soon be flooded over. "

That spurred on the Captain, and she made the car fairly fly, in orderto reach higher ground before the shower came. But the storm won out. 

"I felt a drop of rain!" called Julie. 

"So did I--two drops more!" seconded Ruth. 

"We'd better stop to button down the rain-curtains, Captain, " advisedJim. 

"Maybe we can reach high ground soon, Jim!" called back Mrs. Vernon, still speeding along the marshy road. 

A loud peal of thunder and inky clouds warned her, however, that thiswould be no trifling shower, so she stopped reluctantly for the curtainsto be fastened down over the sides of the cars. The girls got out whilethe rain-curtains were sought in the box under the seat, and Jim removednumerous items before he reached them in the bottom. 

"Gee! everything under the sun was piled in here!" growled he. And bythe time he did get the covers out, the rain was falling hard. 

While Jim and Mrs. Vernon secured the curtains on the buttons, thescouts transferred the pyramid of camping necessities back into theboxes under the seats. Then when all were snugly sheltered from therain, the Captain proceeded to start her car. It failed to respond, however. She tried again, with no success. Then she turned and called toJim. 

"Something must be wrong, Jim!"

"Mebbe it's 'cause the wheels is sunk so deep in that soft mud, " saidhe. "It's 'most up to the hubs. "

"No--something is wrong with the engine, " returned she. 

"I'll slip on my oilskin and see, " said Jim, finally. 

"Oh, Jim! Don't slip on it--just _put_ it on, " giggled Julie, theirrepressible. 

"Humph!" was all the reply she got at the stale joke. 

"Jim, I'll help you, " now offered Betty, willingly. 

"You gals just sit still, will you?" growled Jim impatiently, as hejumped out into the muddy road. 

The wind came tearing down the valley that lay between the mountains, driving shreds of storm-clouds before it. Gusts of rain dashed againstJim's face as he peered and poked about the stubborn engine, but stillthe obstinate machine refused to budge. 

"I can't see a durn thing that's the matter with it!" shouted he, tryingto make himself heard above the whistling of the wind. 

"Better get back in your car until the worst is over, " called back Mrs. Vernon. 

So they all waited patiently for the rain to cease, but the storm grewworse, while the clouds seemed to fairly empty themselves right over thestalled cars. Suddenly Jim gave a frightened cry:

"Great Scott, Captain! The river's overflowin' her banks, and thisroad's gettin' under water!"

"Then we've just _got_ to get out of this fix somehow!" wailed Mrs. Vernon, gazing helplessly around for aid. 

"I'll try to work my car close up to the other and see if I can't pushyou ahead, " suggested Jim, starting his engine as he spoke. But thisidea failed to render the assistance they looked for. 

"I think you need a good hard impact to send you out of that mud. Thewheels are stuck, " called Julie, who had been considering the plight. 

"But how can we _get_ an impact? Jim can't crush in the radiator on hiscar, you know! And the fender won't do it, " said Ruth. 

"Let a few of us get some of those stout rails from that fence and shovethem under the back of the machine. The rest of the girls can tie a ropeto the front and pull. Then when we give a signal, Jim can push with hismachine, while Verny throws hers into high--something ought to happenwith all that!" suggested Julie. 

Anything seemed better than sitting helplessly while seeing the waterslowly rising in the roadway. So the plan proposed by Julie was put intooperation. Two long rails were shoved, one under each side of the backof the car, with two scouts ready to apply all their youthful muscle upon each rail. Four scouts stood in front holding to a rope, ready topull. The Captain sat at the wheel ready to speed, and Jim waited in hiscar behind, ready to drive on. 

"Now, when I yell 'go, ' every one strain your muscles fit to crack. It'sthe only way we'll get out of this, " ordered Julie. 

"Tell us when you're going to say 'go'!" begged Ruth. 

"I'll shout 'One, two, three--GO'--then _go_!"

Julie braced herself, took a deep breath, and cried, "All ready--one, two, three--GO!"

Four in front pulled with might and main. Mrs. Vernon's engine chuggedready to break. Jim almost pushed the radiator in, and the four scoutspushing on the rails--well, "they were not. "

Jim was heard roaring unrestrainedly, while four girls in front werestanding and staring as if at an apparition. All the time, the rain fellin a deluge, but Mrs. Vernon jumped out into the mud to see what hadhappened at the rear. Then she, too, gasped. 

Both the rails were completely worm-eaten, but how should girls haveknown that? They were placed under the car at a dangerous angle fortheir future use in the fence, and when the good strong muscles of fourscouts brought their weight upon the rails to lift the car somewhat, thetimber quickly split up and precipitated the four boosters, facedownward, in the mud. 

"Oh, dear me! This is the last straw!" moaned Mrs. Vernon. 

"No--the last rails!" sputtered Julie, trying to laugh. 

"Girls--hold your faces up to the rain and it will wash the mud fromyour eyes!" yelled Judith, who waited on the running board for furtherdevelopments. 

She had hardly spoken when a swift shaft of blinding light and adeafening crack of thunder sent a panic into every one. They werestunned for a moment, and then such a howl as went up from nine lustythroats!

"We're struck!" yelled some. 

"Oh, we're killed!" added others, but it took only a second after theyhad caught their breaths to pile, willy-nilly, into the cars, where theyhuddled until the fright had subsided. 

Shortly after the lightning had struck a large tree further up the road, the rain suddenly stopped and the sun shone out as hot and bright asever. 

"My! I feel like Pollyanna would, " sighed Julie. "'I'm glad, _glad_, GLAD' we weren't standing under that tree!"

"We can only die once, " responded Ruth, sighing as she gazed down at theflooded road. 

"Ruth thinks she'd rather die quickly, than by slow degrees in beingchoked in this mud, " laughed Julie, catching Ruth's thought. 

Every one laughed and that made them feel more cheerful. Then just backof them came the sound of horses' hoofs and a kindly voice called out, "Well, well, this is some plight you-all are in, eh?"

They turned and beheld a nice old man sitting astride one plow-horse andleading a second. 

"Reckon you didn't know this was one of the worst roads in the countywhen it rains. "

Mrs. Vernon explained how it came about that they were there, and theold man said, "Fortunately, I cut across that field in order to reachhome. I was late and, as this is meeting night, I have to leave homeearlier than usual. Now I can help you pull out, 'cause my team ispretty powerful. "

He hitched his horses to the front of the stalled car, and it was soonpulled up on higher ground where Jim could crawl under and see what waswrong with the works. 

"We are most grateful to you, sir, for your timely help, " said Mrs. Vernon. "How much do we owe you for this great service?"

"I'm glad I could help, madam. I am the parson of the district, hereabouts, and I try to do good by the wayside as I walk thislife-road. "

"Then, if you will not accept a gift for yourself, you cannot refuse itfor your flock. We will give to any needy one in your parish, " said Mrs. Vernon, handing him a folded bill. 

Being sent along the right road with the minister's directions andblessing, the cars soon reached Rockwood, and from there, followed theusual route to Delgeville. The highway now ended, and a pretty countryroad took its place as far as Salisbury, where a turnpike road began andcontinued as far as Middleville. From the latter town onward, the roadswere indifferent or bad as far as Gravesville. 

There were many interesting experiences for the scouts to write up intheir books later on, such as running into a balky herd of cows andbeing threatened for damages by the farmer; holding their breaths whenMrs. Vernon ran over a lot of broken glass sprinkled across theroad--but the tires held and no damage was done; stopping to bargain fora string of fish that a little freckled-face boy had for sale; and last, but not least, just before reaching Gravesville, being warned by a girlof twelve of a masquerading constable, further up the road, who arrestedmore speeding drivers than any other constable in the county. 

When asked why she showed the scouts this partiality, the girl said:"Because I'm going to be a scout myself, as soon as that new Manual getshere. I wrote fer it t'other day, and I've got five schoolgirls ready tostart with me. Maw says she will ask the teacher to be our Captain. "

Thereupon followed a good scout talk by Mrs. Vernon, the country girllistening with all her wits alert. 

"How'd you know we were scouts?" asked Julie, curiously. 

"By that pennant flyin' in front, of course!" retorted the girl. 

As the scouts drove away, Mrs. Vernon said, "She'll make a first-classscout, because she uses her eyes and other faculties. "

After leaving the town of Gravesville, the scouts took a short cut toProspect, but the roads were steep and rough, and it was all the enginescould do to mount the grades. Then the opposite down slopes were sosteep and sudden that it was necessary to put on all brakes and shut offthe engines. 

One of these down grades had a sharp turn at the bottom, with a purlingstream running under a rustic bridge immediately at the base of themountain. On the other side of the bridge, the road rose abruptly up theside of another mountain. The descent was made nicely and the Captain'scar crossed the bridge, but Jim's car stopped unexpectedly just as itreached the bridge at the foot of the mountain. 

"Another case of push!" laughed Julie. 

"All out!" ordered Jim. 

"What now?" called Mrs. Vernon, as she also stopped her car to ask whatwas wrong. 

"If only your car was behind, you could shove us across the bridge, butthere isn't enough room in this trap to do anything. "

"Every one will have to help, Jim; the girls can push and pull the carback to the grade, while you work the engine. Maybe it will start thatway, " suggested Mrs. Vernon, waving her passengers out to help thestranded car. 

After half an hour's work, Jim suddenly called, "My! what a lot ofcotton-heads we are! Here, Captain, just back up and give us a towacross the bridge--that's all!" At this simple remedy every one laughed. 

The steep climb of the mountain was accomplished without trouble, andthere the road wound back and forth like a serpent's trail. Rocks, weighing tons, overhung with lovely vines, jutted out from the sides ofthe cut-out road that edged the cliff. Again, mossy dells wheremaidenhair fern waved fragile fronds at the girls, nestled under giantgroups of pines. The chorus of wild birds mingled with the subdued musicof falling water, to the keen appreciation of the tourists who delightedin this impressive scene as only scouts can. 

The cars continued slowly through this peaceful place, but Jim's enginesuddenly stopped short again. He frowned and got out to examine it. 

"Gee, Captain! the tank needs gas and no place at hand to buy the feed. What shall I do?"

"We didn't cross that other bridge until we came to it, " giggled Julie, quickly. 

"I suppose I've got to tow you along until we find gas, somewhere, " saidMrs. Vernon. So the second car was harnessed to the leader and theystarted again. 

In this manner they traveled until they came to a small settlement thatboasted an "Emporium" where all the "latest styles and goods weresold. " On the front porch of this store, in a low rocking-chair, sat theowner, a lady of doubtful years. She jumped up spryly when the carsstopped at the steps, and smiled invitingly. 

"Do you sell gasoline?" asked Mrs. Vernon, politely. 

"I guess I kin oblige you, " replied the lady, going indoors. 

Jim jumped out and began to unscrew the plug on the tank. 

"Now who'd a thought we could get gas in this little shop?" declaredRuth, surprised. 

"You never can tell! I s'pose she wants to make all she can in everyway, " added Hester. 

Meantime the lady returned to the door and called out, "Won't you pleasestep this way?"

Jim thought she had to fill a measure from some barrel in the back, sohe went in. But the lady was searching diligently along a shelf ofbottles until she saw the one she wanted. 

"Here they be--I knew I had 'em somewhere. One's ten cents, and theother's a twenty-five cent bottle. But you have to take keer of fire, you know. "

Jim scratched his head, as he said, "I'll take a five-gallon can, please, ma'am. "

For a second, the old lady was amazed, but she rose to the occasion andshowed herself a true business woman, "Oh, I'm sorry, I'm just out ofthat size to-day, but can't you come back to-morrow--I'll have itthen?"

Jim laughed. "I need it for the tank. The car won't go on nor come back, unless I get some gas for it. "

"Oh! I thought you wanted some to clean gloves, or shoes. That's theonly kind I keep on hand. "

"Maybe you can tell us where we can get a gallon or so, " said Jim, trying hard to keep a straight face. 

"If you kin wait until Jed gits back I kin send him to Prospeck Junctionfor a gallin. He can't carry five gallins, I fear. "

Jim started out and the shopkeeper followed as she spoke. So Mrs. Vernonasked, "Where is Prospect Junction?"

"Jus' over yander, a bit of ways. It's quite a gay resort, I've hear'dJed say, where they sells gas to riders what come through. But I hain'tnever gone there, 'cause I don't mingle with society. I am a churchmember and 'tends to my business. " The lady tossed her head with aself-righteous air as she said the last words. 

Jim said: "I'm sorry that four-ounce bottle wouldn't do, Missus. " Andthe scouts bowed as they left her standing on the "stoop. "

CHAPTER THREE

IN THE MOUNTAINS AT LAST

The scouts finally reached Old Forge, where they had been due a full daysooner. Mr. Gilroy was worried at their non-appearance and hadtelephoned to their homes to learn that they had left on time. Then hefollowed them along their route and at some places he heard they hadstopped and gone again, and at others that they had not yet arrived. Butthe moment the girls saw him and heard his complaint, they laughed athis concern. 

"Nice way to treat your adopted father--laugh at him, because he worriedover his girls!" said he in pretended grievance. 

"But what could possibly happen when we had Jim and Verny at thewheels?" asked Ruth. 

"That's just it! With the Captain leading, I was sure you would bejailed for speeding, and would need me to bail you out, " teased he. 

"We needed baling out when we got in the river-flood, but not in jail!"laughed Julie. 

"If we had dreamed you had a 'phone way up here, we would have calledyou to help us, that time, " added Joan. 

Then the story of the mud and flood had to be told, while Mr. Gilroy saton the side-door of the car and directed the Captain which road to taketo reach his bungalow. 

"Did our outfits get here all right, Mr. Gilroy?" asked Ruth. 

"Yes, and they have been down at your camp several days now, " repliedtheir host. 

"How far is our camp from your bungalow, Mr. Gilroy?" asked Betty. 

"Not very far--just a nice walk. Your camp is right on the shore of onelake, while my bungalow is on the shore of First Lake, one of the FultonChain, you know. "

The scouts then learned that Mr. Gilroy's estate extended from FirstLake, where his bungalow was built, across country to Little Moose Lakewhere their camp was to be. This was a distance of about three-quartersof a mile between the two places. 

"We'll stop at the bungalow first and give you a good square meal afterall your experiences; then we'll go on over to camp. When your baggageis all out of the cars, Jim and I will drive back to my garage where themachines can stand. "

"Oh, Jim is going back home with Dad's car, to-morrow, " said Ruth. 

"And Verny is going to keep hers here for the summer, " added Julie. 

The cold luncheon had been waiting a long time, and when the scoutsfinally arrived they did justice to the viands. Then, every one beingeager to see the new camp-site, they started for the Lake. Hereeverything was in order to receive the tenants. Three fine tents, fullyequipped with every possible comfort for the campers, were waiting forthe girls, and a smaller tent for the Captain. 

"Oh, how wonderful! Why, this won't be like roughing it, " declaredseveral of the girls as they inspected their camp. 

"Everything is ready but the fancy touches. You girls will have to addthem as your experiences pile up, " said Mr. Gilroy. 

"What do you mean?" asked Julie. 

"Oh, collections of butterflies, flower-prints, willow-work, andbirchbark articles--all these are fancy touches. "

It was late in the afternoon when the scouts arrived at the bungalow, and it was twilight before they had their baggage all unpacked and intheir individual tents. Then when the cars were emptied and it was timeto drive them back to the garage, Mr. Gilroy said:

"As this is your first night, and everything is strange, you'd bettercome back to the house for a light supper. Get your beds all ready toturn into, and then let everything else go until morning. "

Mrs. Vernon approved of this plan, so they finished their tasks andjumped in the cars to drive back to the bungalow for the evening. Darkness crept into the woods and everything was silent as they reachedthe house. 

While Jim followed the host to the garage with the cars, the scouts saton the verandah and enjoyed the quiet of the woods. The stars now beganto peep out of the deep blue that could be seen here and there throughthe trees, and the Captain reminded the girls:

"Now that we are here for the summer, you must resume your study of thestars. You dropped that, you know, when schoolwork took so much of yourtime. "

"Most of us know all the stars by heart, Verny, " said Betty. 

"The names of them, yes, but how many of you can find them as they areplaced in the sky?" returned Mrs. Vernon. 

"I can show you where the Pole Star is. Look there!" replied Joan, running out on the grass to find the bright point of light. 

"And I can find Great Bear and The Pointers, " added Ruth, joining herfriend on the grass. 

The other scouts now jumped up from the verandah and ran to join thefirst two, so the Captain followed, also. 

"I know Alcor, Mizor, and the Square of Pegasus, " said Amy. 

"That panlike group of stars is known as Andromeda, " added Julie, notto be outdone by her chums. "And those three little stars are called TheKids. Off to the left of Perseus--oh, I forgot to say that Perseus is agroup of stars at the end of the pan-handle, --well, to the left of themare the bright stars known as Capella. "

"Bravo! you scouts are going to be marvelous astronomers some day, " camethe approving voice of Mr. Gilroy, as he joined them. 

"I was just telling the girls they would have to take up the study ofthe heavens again, " mentioned Mrs. Vernon. 

"And we were showing off to let the Captain hear how much we know, "laughed Julie. 

"Who can find The Lady in the Chair or The Guards?" asked Mr. Gilroy ofthe scouts. 

The girls eagerly sought for and described these groups, then their hostasked for the Seven Sisters and Demon's Eye. When they had answeredthese, Ruth said:

"If the trees were not so thick I could show you Orion, Taurus, and lotsmore, like the Lion, the Sickle, Canis Major, etc. "

"Hoh! Some of those--and the Clown, the Ox-Driver, the Southern Cross, and the Northern Cross--can't be seen at this time of year, Ruth, " saidJulie. 

Ruth frowned at the correction, but Mr. Gilroy quickly calmed thetroubled waters with praise for the girls. 

"You scouts certainly know the stars better than the boys of Grey FoxTroop. I should like to have the two Troops have a match game about thestars, some time. "

"Who are the Grey Fox boys, Mr. Gilroy?" asked Julie. 

"Do you remember I told you, last summer, of some Boy Scouts who campedin my woods every year? Well, four of those boys are here now. The restof the Troop are coming up in August, but these four have all summer tocamp in. I'm going to introduce you, soon. "

"Verny, why can't we see all the stars all the year?" now asked Ruth. 

"Because the earth turns on its axis, you know, so that certain planetsare out of sight for us, and are seen on the other side of the globe. Then when the earth turns fully around we see them again. "

"And the Pole Star is reckoned to be the center of the star-sky for allthe others to move about it. The Pole Star is always in the same fixedplace, so we can always locate it. But not so with the other stars, "added Mr. Gilroy. 

"I wish some one would tell us a story about the stars, " Hester nowsaid. 

"Who will tell one?" asked Mrs. Vernon. 

"I know that Mizor and Alcor were used by the Turks in past days as atest for eyesight. Soldiers who could not sight those two stars weredisqualified for fighting. But in these times I don't believe a littlething like bad eyes will hold up a Turk from fighting!" said Julie, comically. 

Then Joan added: "The Pole Star and Ursa Major, or The Great Bear as itis also called, form a shape like a wagon; so in olden times it wascalled King Charles' Wain. Each star in this constellation is known by aGreek letter. The two stars 'a' and 'b' are called the 'Pointers'because they point to the Pole Star. "

"Oh, I didn't mean lesson stuff, like this, " complained Hester. "I meanta real live legend!"

"You tell one, Verny, " begged Betty, sweetly. 

"Mr. Gilroy is better able to do it. Besides he is the host and issupposed to entertain us, " returned Mrs. Vernon, glancing at Mr. Gilroy, who was stretched out comfortably upon the short grass. 

"Your host claims to be completely disabled for the time being, Captain. Pray proceed with the legend yourself, " laughed Mr. Gilroy. 

Then Mrs. Vernon said: "I never could see why Cassiopeia, or The Lady inthe Chair, should be named that. To me, the stars look more like atipped-over letter 'W' than a lady in a chair. "

"Don't you know the story, Verny?" asked Julie, eagerly. 

"You do, so why not tell us?" retorted the Captain. 

"Oh, well, then, all right!" said Julie. So she began:

"Once there was an Ethiopian Queen, the wife of Cepheus, who was veryproud of their only child, a daughter named Andromeda. They were alwayspraising her and speaking of her beauty to every one, so that after atime folks who also had lovely daughters felt jealous of the princess. 

"In the depths of the Inner Sea, which is now the Mediterranean, livedOld Nereus and a number of charming daughters. They heard of the Queen'sbragging about Andromeda, and they made up their minds to stop it. Sothey got their father to help them. 

"Then Nereus and the nymphs sent a flood of water over all the countryof which Cepheus was king, and devastated the kingdom. This causedfamine and pestilence, and in the wake of these awful plagues came asea-monster in the form of a dragon. This fearful beast bellowed----"

At that moment a deep thrilling call from some creature close by in theforest-edge caused every one to jump, and they all huddled together. They turned and stared apprehensively at the darkness behind them, butMr. Gilroy instantly whispered, "S-sh! Don't breathe, and you will see asight worth watching for. "

The moon now sailed from back of the cloud that had obscured it for atime, and its cold white light etched everything it touched. Again thestrange whistling call sounded directly back of the group, and acrashing and tearing of underbrush ended with the sudden spring of afine buck, that landed him out on the grass not twenty feet from thescouts. 

At the same moment, a plaintive call came from the direction of SilverFalls, which was up on the mountainside in front of the bungalow. Thebuck lifted his gigantic antlers in the moonlight, and his sensitivesnout sniffed angrily as he sensed the invaders of his range; butanother imperative call from his mate at the Falls compelled him toleave these usurpers; so he wheeled gracefully and, with an answeringcall to let his doe know he was coming, trotted down the trail until hereached the stream that came from Silver Falls, and there he disappearedin the forest. 

"What a wonderful sight!" breathed Mrs. Vernon, when the buck was gone. 

The girls listened to the dying echoes of those pounding hoofs, andsighed. Mr. Gilroy sat up and spoke eagerly, "That is the first buckI've ever seen near my bungalow. There are deer in the Adirondacks, butthey seldom come near a habitation. It is said that they feed in thebarnyards in winter, looking for stray grain, but I am not here inwinter, you see. "

"How I would have loved to have had a snapshot of him, " said Julie, sighing. 

"You've all got it in your memory--the best place to frame a picture forall time, " replied Mrs. Vernon. 

"You know, girls, there is an old hunter's saying, that goes: 'A deer towelcome you on your first night will bring luck to you all that year, '"said Mr. Gilroy, as he turned to lead the way into the bungalow. 

"Wait, Mr. Gilroy; Julie never finished her story. She broke off justwhere the beast bellowed--then came the buck!" said Joan. 

"The deer finished the story better than we ever could, " laughed theCaptain, as she followed Mr. Gilroy. 

"But, at least, tell us what happened to those Nerieds?" asked Betty, who wished to see the wicked punished. 

So Mrs. Vernon had to end the story, although it was condensed in thetelling. But Betty persisted, "You haven't told us yet what the Neriedsdid when they found the wonderful Prince Perseus saved and married tothe Princess. "

Every one laughed, but Julie replied, "Why, like most jealous people, the Nerieds had to move away from town when every one found out how itall had happened!"

The "bite" they had before leaving for camp would have been classed asa first-class supper in the city restaurants, and then, when good-nightswere being said, the host gave Jim a laden basket to carry for thescouts. 

"You'll be glad of this in the morning, for breakfast. If you needanything else, run over here and get it from my man who cooks, "explained Mr. Gilroy. 

But next morning, the contents of that basket were found to be more thanenough for any one breakfast. The fruit, cereal, biscuits, and ham tobroil, were highly appreciated by the hungry girls. This was soon gone, and then Mrs. Vernon said they must buckle down to genuine camp life. 

"I'd rather sleep out under the trees, Verny, when the weather is sofine, " suggested Julie. 

"So would we, " agreed the other scouts, and the Captain said, "Well, wemight make willow beds for out-of-doors, and keep the cots as they are. "

"How do we know we can find any willows around here?" asked Ruth. 

"I saw some early this morning when I was snooping about. I got up atdawn and left you girls sleeping, while I investigated the premises. Girls, the place is simply perfect for _anything_ we might choose to dothis summer, " declared the Captain, enthusiastically. 

"Tell us where the reeds are, and we will get them, " said Betty. 

"They grow about a spring not far from here. We must follow awild-animal trail along the lake to reach the spot. "

So the scouts each took an axe and knife and followed the guide to thewillow-brook where the reeds grew. Mrs. Vernon showed the girls how toselect the wands, and then began to cut down her own. She took about sixdozen reeds as thick as a lead-pencil, and many smaller ones; these werebundled together, and then she was ready to start back to camp. Finallythe girls were ready, also, and they trailed back. 

"Now girls, each one must cut notches about three-fourths of an inchfrom the butt-ends of the reeds. Then peel the sticks carefully--do notcrack or break them while doing it. " Mrs. Vernon did hers as sheadvised. 

"Now come with me, and select your posts for the beds. I take four youngbirch saplings for the bed-frame, " announced Mrs. Vernon, as she choppeddown the required birches, "and stout birches about four inches thickfor my bedposts. "

Each scout cut hers and then went back to the camp-ground to begin workon the Indian beds. 

"Every one measure the birch saplings and have two of them seven feetlong, and two shorter ones three or four feet long, " instructed Mrs. Vernon. "Lop off all the twigs, and place the two long ones for sides, and the two short ones for top and bottom of the bed-frame. 

"Now, this done, watch me carefully, girls. This is the important partof making the bed, " advised the Captain. 

Mrs. Vernon took a ball of heavy twine and doubled a long strand so thatit was half-length. This was twisted into one strand, and a loop tied inthe middle. Many of these strands were stretched across the frame atequal distances apart, until the entire frame had a warp across it. 

"Now I'll weave in the reeds, " said the Captain, taking one of the thinwillows and weaving it in and out of the cords. At the loop, the rod wasthrust through it to hold it centrally in place, then the weavingprocess went on until the end of the frame was reached. 

The weaving of each reed was done the same way until the whole frame wascrossed with willows held firmly in the middle by the loops in thecords. 

"Next thing, girls, I will cut the posts as I need them. I want themabout three feet high. One end of each post must be sharpened so it willgo down into the ground. " This was done and the four stout birch postswere driven firmly into the ground where Mrs. Vernon wanted her willowbed to stand. 

"And next, I tie a loop of heavy cord, or rope, about the top of eachpost, in which I can hang my willow-frame. " This was also done, and thescouts helped place the woven mat in position. 

"Well, isn't that simple, when you know how!" said Julie. 

"Everything is, my dear, " laughed Mrs. Vernon. 

"Your bed is too wide for me. I don't want one four feet wide, " saidRuth. 

"You can make it as wide, or as narrow, as you like. I think three feetis wide enough for each girl, " returned the Captain. "But the best ofthese beds is, that when one is invited to visit, one can roll up themat easily and carry it along to sleep on. They are very light and notcumbersome to roll and carry. "

All that day was given to weaving the beds, and the scouts not onlyenjoyed the novel employment, but had great fun in joking each otherover the work. About four o'clock that afternoon a shrill whistle washeard from the trail that ran to the bungalow and soon thereafter Mr. Gilroy was seen coming down towards camp. 

"Hullo, there! I waited all morning for visitors, but at last decided tocome and see if my tenants had abandoned the premises!" explained he, ashe went over to the weavers to watch them. 

"Now you understand why we couldn't visit, " said Joan. 

"I came over to ask how many of you have been fishing? And what did youcatch?" said he. 

"No, we haven't fished yet. We planned to try it the very moment we arethrough with these beds, " replied Joan. 

"Then perhaps you have not been near the lake-cove since you wenthunting for willows this morning, " remarked Mr. Gilroy. 

"The cove? I saw two boats there early this morning, " said the Captain. 

"And now there are two canoes there, also, " added Mr. Gilroy. 

"Oh, really! But how did you manage to get them there--by paddling infrom the lake?" asked Mrs. Vernon. 

"No, I had them brought from my boathouse this morning. While Jim washere, I made use of him by having him help Hiram carry two canoes overto the boat-wagon, and then drive down here. Not a soul nor a sound wasseen or heard about the camp, so I surmised you had all gone on a lark. Then we launched the canoes and tied them to a stump to surprise youwhen you should go for the boats. We never dreamed you could keep awayfrom temptation so long as this. "

"Goody! Then the first scout that finishes her bed can go and catch fishfor supper, " declared Amy, who was the slowest of the weavers. 

They all laughed teasingly, and soon afterwards, Julie cried, "I'm done!Now for the fish!"

Joan and Ruth soon completed their beds, too, so Mr. Gilroy went outwith them to fish. That evening he was invited to sup with the scouts, and a jolly time they had. In the evening, while sitting about the dyingcampfire, he said to the girls:

"The first rainy day that comes along I want you all to come to thebungalow and see my collection of moths, flowers, birds, andbutterflies. I have a fine exhibit of butterflies, among them are rarespecimens that have seldom been found in these mountains. You scoutswill want to start collecting after you see what I have done. "

"I shall be delighted to look at them, as I have always wanted my girlsto do something along those lines, " said Mrs. Vernon. 

"If you know anything about butterflies, you will prize the specimen ofswallow-tail I found in these woods, " said Mr. Gilroy. 

"Really! But I've heard they were never found in America, Mr. Gilroy, "exclaimed Julie. 

"I know that is a common belief, but I have one, nevertheless, and afriend who devotes his time to studying insect-life assured me that theone I caught was genuine. Then, the very next day this friend caught onequite near the place where mine was taken. This led us to investigate, and we reached the conclusion that there are rare butterflies hatchedout in isolated sections of this land, but are not found; so, of course, no mention is made of them. 

"Even if the farmers see a swallow-tail, or any other rare butterflyhovering over their gardens, they don't know the difference, and itpasses safely. If that same farmer knew the value of the specimen hewould leave all else to chase the gauzy flutterer. "

When it came time for the visitor to say good-night, he said, "Oh, Iforgot all about the very object of my visit!"

"It must have been awfully important, " laughed Julie. 

"Well, _we_ think it is, " chuckled Mr. Gilroy. "The boys of Grey FoxCamp sent me to invite you to have dinner with them to-morrow, if it isclear. "

"Why, Mr. Gilroy!" exclaimed Julie, scarcely believing her idol couldforget such an important matter. 

Every one laughed at his guilty look, and Judith teasingly said, "Weought to call him 'The Man Who Lost His Memory, ' for that!"

"All fooling aside, scouts, I have a suggestion to make on that veryremark. I've wanted to mention it before, but always there was someexciting or important matter that could not be interrupted. Now I wishyou girls would stop 'mistering' me! I am such an old friend by thistime, I should think I could be to you as much as the Captain is. She is'Verny' instead of 'Mrs. Vernon. '"

Julie was ready with an answer before he had quite finished hiscomplaint. "Oh, we would love to give you a pet name, Gilly, because youdo mean as much to us as our best friends anywhere. By taking a fewletters away from your proper name and adding a little 'nick' to thesyllable, we have one ready-made. "

"Fine! 'Gilly' it shall be henceforth!" laughed Mr. Gilroy. 

"But it is so disrespectful, I think, " remonstrated Mrs. Vernon. "Couldn't we find some other affectionate term that will do withoutimpressing strangers with our lack of courtesy to our friend?"

"Why do you object to 'Gilly?'" asked Mr. Gilroy, quizzically. 

"I can't really find any tangible excuse, except that it makes me thinkof gilly-flowers, you know, " laughed Mrs. Vernon. 

Every one joined in the laughter, but Mr. Gilroy said seriously, "Well, I am not old enough to be 'Granny' to the girls and I dare not requestto be called 'Daddy' by them, or their rightful parents will call me outto fight a duel, so do let us leave it 'Gilly. ' The boys of Grey Foxalways wanted to use a friendlier name than a 'Mr. ' but they never cameto it. Now we will begin the habit. "

Before Mr. Gilroy left the camp, the name was established. 

They were to meet at Mr. Gilroy's bungalow early in the morning, so hecould start them on the right trail. He was going over in the car withsupplies for the boys, but the hikers preferred the novelty ofadventuring on foot. 

Early the following morning, breakfast being cleared away, each scoutwas advised to take an axe, a clasp-knife, a bit of twine, a tin cup, and some waterproof matches. 

"But why should we bother with such stuff?" asked Amy. 

"One never knows whether one will arrive at the right destination ornot. Should we get lost, we at least have something with which to get ameal, " said the Captain. 

"Are you going to carry that little bag of flour?" asked Hester, curiously. 

"Yes, and a strip of bacon that is wrapped in the paper. I'm not goingto starve, if worst comes to worst, " laughed Mrs. Vernon. 

"A lot of good a strip of bacon will do for ten of us!" said Judith. Butshe had not been with the scouts when they camped at Verny's Mountainthe foregoing summer. 

When Mr. Gilroy heard about the bacon and flour, he laughed. "Why, it isonly two or three hours' tramp over the ridge, and a big dinner will bewaiting when you get there. "

Mrs. Vernon held her peace, but carried the bacon and flour just thesame. She was not to be jeered out of what she knew to be a wise act, whether the food would be needed or not. 

CHAPTER FOUR

A VISIT TO GREY FOX CAMP

Each girl wore hiking boots, her camp uniform, and carried a light packcontaining the ax, cup, knife and matches. A few of the girls, secretlyfollowing the Captain's example, packed a strip of bacon and crackers, or other eatables in their packs. Mr. Gilroy saw them safely started onthe right trail, and then drove away in his car. He followed awoodcutters' road that wound around the mountain, but the scouts were touse the trail that ran over the crest to the boys' camp. 

The scouts were brimming over with spirits (Julie said, "not the kindmade in the moonshine, either"), and spent so much time examiningflowers or watching wonderful birds that the time sped by unawares. Thetrail led through small clearings where a brook or waterfall made lifeworth living. But the higher they climbed the more rugged grew thetrail, until there were long stretches that seemed to be sheerwilderness. 

At such places, the scouts had to hunt about and find a blaze to guidethem further. In this way, the hours passed and noon came; still thehikers were far from Grey Fox Camp. 

"And I'm starved to pieces!" Joan assured them all. 

"So'm I!" admitted Ruth. Then it was learned that every one presentwould appreciate something to eat. 

"But what? We only brought flour and bacon, " laughed Amy. 

"How would a fine juicy steak taste about this time?" asked Mrs. Vernon, winking at her old scouts. They knew what she meant. 

"Oh, 'Home and Mother'!" sighed Judith, rolling her eyes heavenward. 

Every one laughed, but the Captain added: "I really mean it! We may aswell stop now to cook that steak as to keep on in a half-faintingcondition. "

"But, Verny! We didn't bring one bit of meat to camp, and the butcherdrives his rounds once a week, " cried Amy. 

"We'll just hunt around and chop down a steak, " suggested Mrs. Vernon. "Who wants to go with me to find the wooden animal that grows a steakready-made?"

Of course, they all went, except Julie and Joan who remained to build afire and start the bacon sizzling in the tiny pan. A scout-twist offlour and water was kneaded by Joan and put to bake near the fire, andthen the girls sat and waited for the others to return. 

The Captain blazed a way slowly into the forest wilderness, peeringunder bushes and wherever a tree had been cut down--on its stump of atrunk she always looked eagerly. After about ten minutes' search she sawwhat she wanted. 

"Ah! Here it is--a porterhouse, this time. "

The new members saw a great chestnut stump, its jagged spears of woodprotesting against its untimely end. But all over the trunk grewfungi--some larger, some smaller, and all of the same flat horizontalshape, like a huge palm-leaf. These were carefully removed and handed tothe girls to carry. 

"What are they for?" asked Judith, looking at the red juice that ranover her fingers when she took the fungus. 

"That's your steak--think it is too big for one?"

"The what?" exclaimed the other new members, skeptically. 

"Beefsteak mushroom--finest steaks ever tasted, " came reassuringly fromthe Captain. "The ones growing on a chestnut stump are always thesweetest, but the chestnut trees are disappearing so fast that soon wewill have no such mushrooms from them. "

When they had gathered enough steaks for that meal, they returned to theclearing where Julie and Joan awaited them. On the way back, Mrs. Vernon showed the scouts the earmarks of the beefsteak mushroom. 

"When I cut these from the tree they bled exactly as flesh will bleedwhen it is cut. Now turn them over and you will see on the under sidethat they have veins of red. That is the life-sap. We will broil or cookthem exactly as if they were steaks and then you shall judge of theirflavor. "

"Isn't it thrilling to think that man can go right into any wildernessand, without carrying food, clothing, or shelter, live with what Natureprovides, " remarked Judith. 

"Yes, and without paying the outrageous prices charged at the presenttime for actual necessities, " replied the Captain. 

The bread-twist was baked, and when the steaks were washed and sliced, Mrs. Vernon dropped them into the hot fat tried out from the bacon. Immediately the smell of frying steak made every scout smack her lips inanticipation. 

"If we weren't sure of such a fine dinner awaiting us, I would have hada few of you girls gather young bracken for a fresh green vegetable toeat with our steak. But we must not stop and enjoy too much by thewayside, " said the Captain. 

There was a liberal slice of steak for each one and the girls pronouncedthe taste of it delicious. 

"And so tender, too! I never had such a juicy bit of meat, " saidHester. 

Having refreshed themselves considerably, with the fun of finding themushrooms and cooking them, to say nothing of eating them, also, thescouts continued the hike along the trail. Just as they reached thecrest of the mountain, Julie came suddenly upon a fawn, standing in theshadow of a tree; it was watching these queer two-legged creatures. 

It is hard to say which was most surprised, Julie or the deer, but thefawn recovered first and bounded away through the forest. 

"Oh, shucks! There we've gone and left that camera home again!" criedJulie, stamping her foot angrily. 

"Wouldn't that have made the most wonderful picture!" added Judith. 

"No use crying now, but, for goodness sake! Julie, remember to bring itnext time, " said Joan. 

"Let _every one_ remember--the last thing to do when we start anywhere, every one is to say to herself: 'Remember the _Maine_!' then we willsurely take the camera, " giggled Julie. 

The scouts now began descending the other side of the crest, and found abetter trail than on the side they came up. So, being able to go faster, they soon reached a lovely camp-site, where the voices of several boysannounced that Grey Fox Camp was reached. 

"We were just being sworn in as deputies to go out and hunt for strayedor stolen scouts, " called Mr. Gilroy, jocularly, as the girls pickedtheir way down from the great rocks that formed a wall back of thecamp-ground; then he introduced the two Troops to each other. 

"You told us it was about a two-hours' hike!" said Ruth, shaking herhead at Mr. Gilroy, as if in despair of saving his soul. 

"Well, so it is, when the boys are in a hurry to get to the bungalow. "

"We've been five hours coming, and had to stop for lunch along the way, too, " said Judith, eager to talk about the beefsteak. 

The boys stared. "Why, you were to have dinner with us! Didn't Mr. Gilroy tell you that?"

"Yes, but we couldn't wait so long. We're ready for more dinner, now, "said Joan. 

"What did you cook for luncheon?" asked Alec, the oldest boy in theTroop. 

"Oh, only a beefsteak-mushroom and a scout-twist, " returned Julie, nonchalantly. 

The boys exchanged glances. "Did you find the mushrooms along the way?"asked another boy named Bob. 

"Sure! Did you think they came preserved?" laughed Joan. 

"No, but _we_ have never found any on this side of the hill. Bob oftengoes out to hunt, but so far we've never seen any, " explained anotherboy, Ned Thompson. 

"When we go back, you can go with us a ways, and we will show you wherewe found the ones we had for luncheon, " said Betty. 

"Is dinner ready, boys, or will there be time to show the girls aboutthe camp?" asked Mr. Gilroy. 

"Show them about, as it will take us ten minutes more to finisheverything in style, " replied Alec. 

So the girl scouts were invited to pass judgment on the fine camp theboy scouts had made. Everything was neat as wax, and the boys hadconstructed many convenient articles from wildwood material only. 

"Last year we had eight boys in camp, but this season only four couldcome in the beginning; so they have lots of room in their big tee pee. When the other boys come out, they will have to make another tent. Theymade and water-proofed this one themselves, " explained Mr. Gilroy, showing the visitors the fine big tent. 

"They built this dining-room, too, to use if the weather is very bad. Itold the boys about your corduroy floor that you made in your huts lastsummer, so they tried it here with very good result. "

The girl scouts now saw their own idea put into use in a differentmanner. The log floor was hard and dry, but at each corner rose a stoutpole, and upon the tops of the four pole ends was stretched a canvasroof, making a shelter underneath. 

"Girls, we ought to do the same thing, to use for meal time when itrains, or if the rays of the sun are too hot, " observed Mrs. Vernon. 

Mr. Gilroy then pointed out to the girls how careful the boys had beenin selecting this camp-site. They had high, dry ground, near plenty offine spring water, on the same lake where the girl scouts camped, but anarm of high land extended out into the water and separated the twocamps. 

"You see, they have ample firewood about without cutting down any trees;they get the early morning sun, and shade all the rest of the day. Theyditched the entire place to carry off all the rainwater that might washdown from the crest during a heavy storm. And they built a refrigeratorto keep things cold; and over there they have a chicken-coop. "

"A chicken coop! where did they get the chickens?" asked Julie. 

"Ned had some at home and he crated them and brought them along. Theboys get fresh eggs in this way, and when the season is over, they willkill the hens for a special occasion and eat them. "

"Verny, that's what we need, a few chickens in camp, " was Joan'sdecision, the moment she saw the hens scratching. 

"I noticed Gilly had a lot of chickens running about the barnyard. Maybehe will loan us a few, just to provide us with eggs this summer. We canreturn them in the fall, you know, " ventured Julie, daringly. 

"Who will buy their corn?" asked he, laughingly. 

"No one. We will feed them scraps and they can scratch!" promptlyreplied Julie. 

"You'll starve them and then they won't lay any eggs, " now said Alec, joining the party. 

"We'll smile on Hiram and get him to bring us some corn from the barn, now and then, " said Ruth. 

"I came over to tell you dinner was ready to serve. We had better gonow, and eat it while it's good, " said Alec. 

The boys had various things hanging over the fire, but the great noveltythat caught the girl scouts' attention, at once, was the roaster uponwhich a nice brown chicken was swinging before the fire. 

"There! That's a fine idea. How did you make it?" asked Mrs. Vernon, looking closely at the contraption. 

Alec described to the Captain the method of making the roaster. "We tooka forked stick, as you see there, of about a two-foot length. We drovethat down into the ground about six inches. Next we took a long pole, six or eight feet long, and drove the end down into the ground just backof the short stick with the forks. It rested in the crotch made by theforks so that its tapering end slanted upward at an angle, as you seehere. 

"From the end of this long pole we hung the cord that holds the chicken. Wire is just as good to use. Then we arranged that flat, paddle-likefan halfway between the top and the rope end where the roast will hang. As your chicken roasts before the fire, that mill-fan keeps itperpetually turning about so it browns alike all over. "

Julie wanted to make one like it as soon as they went back to their owncamp, so she hastily sketched a model. 

"It is a great stunt, all right, and we've cooked many dandy roasts thisway, and never scorched any, " said Bob, when Alec concluded hisdescription. 

The dinner began with oyster-mushroom stew, then they had roast chicken, baked wild-potatoes, stewed bracken that tasted exactly like youngspinach, dandelion salad, and scout cakes for dessert. 

It was mid-afternoon when the girls finally said good-by to their hosts, and invited them soon to visit Dandelion Camp. They started on thereturn hike, but when they reached the highest boulder back of the camp, the scouts stood and waved good-by again. 

"Come as soon as you can, but give us a whole day's warning, first!"shouted Julie, to the four smiling boys below. 

They made much better time going back, as the trail from Grey Fox Campwas plain, and going down the other side of the crest was much simplerthan climbing up. They got back to their own camp by seven o'clock, andwere surprised to find Mr. Gilroy there before them, with supper allready to eat. 

"Well, this sure is good of you!" sighed Julie, dropping upon the grasswith healthy fatigue. 

"I thought you'd appreciate it; I had no exercise to-day, except what Igot running the car, so I decided to 'do a good turn' and digest thatdinner at the same time, " said he. 

After supper, which was unusually late that night, the tired scouts andtheir visitor were sitting about the campfire hoping some one would tella story, when Julie spoke:

"Last summer, Gilly said he would tell us all sorts of Indian legendswhen we visited camp in the Adirondacks. Now we're here and this is theright sort of an evening to tell them. "

The other scouts seconded the suggestion, but Mr. Gilroy said: "Funny, but I don't remember that promise. "

"I told you you've got an awful memory--didn't I want to dub you 'Theman-with-a-poor-memory?'" teased Judith. 

The guest sat gazing silently into the fire for a few minutes, then hebegan:

"I'm going to tell you a story that is told by the Alaskan Indians. These ancient legends have been handed down from one generation toanother, but the original goes back before the days of Moses. I wasdeeply interested in a few of these tales because they sounded so muchlike our story of Creation as told in Genesis, that I wondered if awhite missionary had sown his seeds of Christianity in the fertile soilof the Alaskan Esquimaux' mind. 

"But as far as I could ascertain this legend was told many hundreds ofyears before white man ever stepped on Alaskan ground. Recently Ilearned that Iceland has similar legends, and it may be that the AlaskanEsquimaux are descended from those of Iceland. It is well known thatIceland is the oldest civilized land in the world--that it was famousfor its learning before the days of Solomon the Wise. "

CHAPTER FIVE

A STORY OF CREATION*

A Legend of Raven

 *This legend, given in various ways by different tribes of the Icelandic and Alaskan Indians, each with its own variations, but all with one thread of similarity woven through the tales--was partly interpreted and grouped by the author into the legend that appears in this book. It is said to date back thousands of years before Abraham and our Bible. Acknowledgments for original texts and tales are due the Smithsonian Institute. 

"No one knows just how Raven first came to be, and we have manydifferent beginnings to start from, but in Sitka we know that Ravennever had beginning nor will he have an ending. 

"Raven was always the All-in-all, and, as he knew all things and madeall, he began to wish to have a form of his wisdom that, too, would liveon with him forever. So it was that he made him a son to help in thecreation. And the son's name, also, was Raven. And now it is of Raven, Son of Raven, that we speak. 

"Raven was instructed in every form of knowledge and he was trained inevery wise thing, so that when he grew up he would have everythingnecessary to make a glorious world, where all beautiful wishes and everygood idea would be objectified, and would remain forever a praise andprayer to Raven, the Father Creator. 

"So Raven made the world, but he found there was no light with which toshow the beauty and form of what he had created. Then, after deepthinking, he remembered his father to have said that there was a largelodge far up the Nass where One kept all the Light that ever could befound. 

"Raven tried many ways in which to reach this house on the Nass, but theway was unknown to every one, so he wandered afar, seeking for the truetrail. One day he helped an old lame man along the path and, forgratitude, the old man said: 'You seek the One of Nass who keeps theLight?'

"Raven replied, 'Yea, for many days have I sought Him. '

"Then the lame old man smiled a strange smile, and said, 'I know of butone way to bring this great Light into the world you made, and that wayis to send forth that Light through the daughter of the One with theLight. '

"'But, Brother, how do I know there is such a daughter? And if there be, how shall I receive the Light through her?'

"'O Raven, thou art a great creator! Thy father is All-in-all of theNorth, and the daughter of Light will joyously send forth this Light youneed to show the beauties of your world, ' said the old wayfarer. 

"'Then tell me this, O Brother, for I seem not to know how to reach theVirgin of the Light, despite all the wisdom I have been taught, 'anxiously begged Raven. 

"'Then hark to my words, O Son of Raven: I will turn you into a smalldrop of water, and fly with you over the House of Light. As I pass thepool whence comes the water for drink, I will drop you into a glass theVirgin holds ready to quaff. Then you will know what to do. '

"Raven showed his surprise, for he had believed the old man to be lameand helpless, and now he found he was a Wise Man who could find his waywheresoever he would go. 

"Then the old man, with the wonderful drop of water held carefully inhis palm, flew over the House of Light, and passed low down over thepool where the Virgin stood ready to drink. 

"As she raised the cup to her lips, the drop of pure water which hadbeen Raven, fell into the liquid, and she drank all that the vesselheld. 

"Now this drop of clear water grew and became a man-child, and theVirgin knew she was to bring forth the Light unto the World, that allmight enjoy the beauties of creation. So she was happy and praised Ravenand the Father of Raven, day and night, for having given himself tobecome a little drop of water that the Light might be born. 

"When the time came for the Light to be revealed, the Virgin prepared aroyal bed of furs of great value for the Man of Light to be born on. But the babe struggled and refused to be born in a state of riches, andhe whispered to the Virgin: 'The world of joy and riches needs me not, but the world of sorrow and darkness needs me. I will shed this Light onsuch as are heavyladen and weary. ' So the Virgin knew the Light must beborn in meekness and humility, that all brothers could find Ravenwithout pomp or pay. 

"So the birthplace was lined with common Iceland moss, and the child ofLight was born thereon. The moss-bed was made up in a room that had beenused for the humblest things in the Great House of Light: that is, forthe storing of queer bundles, some large, some small, and all of variousshapes and colors. And when the babe looked around at the walls of hisbirthplace, his eyes shone like stars and a heavenly smile beamed fromhis face, for _he_ knew what those bundles contained!

"As the child waxed strong and beautiful, the mother saw that it yearnedfor something she had not hitherto given him, so a servant was orderedto seek everywhere and find what it was the babe craved. 

"Finally, the attendant moved a bundle that hung at the farthest end ofthe room. And as he did so, the child laughed and his eyes shonebrightly. 

"'Bring that bundle here--it is what the Babe wanted!' declared themother. So the unwieldy bundle was placed upon the bed. 

"The mother carefully removed a wrapper, but found still others to undo. Finally all the wrappers were taken away and but one remained. This wasof a wonderful shimmering material such as no one had ever beheldbefore. The mother reverently opened this cover, and lo! there layrevealed all the Stars of Heaven!

"The Child gurgled with joy, and took the corner of the shimmering coverand drew it, with the contents, over to himself. He looked upwards, andwith a wonderful expression in his sweet face, suddenly flung the brightcover and all the Stars it held, up through the smoke-hole of the lodge. 

"With a happy, joyous laugh, he watched the Stars scatter far and wideto rest finally in the Firmament, and there they shine to this very day!

"The Virgin Mother then knew that this child truly was Raven, the Son ofRaven, and she commanded every one to bow down in worship, for he hadbeen given the power to bring Light to the world of darkness, and nomore would darkness cover the people. 

"Soon after the Stars were fixed in the Firmament of Heaven, the childagain yearned and seemed to pine for something. But now the mother knewwhat had to be done, so she commanded an attendant to take down thebundle that hung in the corner whence the Stars came. 

"This bundle was brought over to the mother, but it was smaller than thefirst bundle that had held all the Stars. The Mother carefully undid themany wrappings of this bundle, and found the last covering was made of afilmy frosty texture which had no opening or end that might be unrolled. 

"But the child held out his hands eagerly for the bundle, and the momentit had been given him, he found the secret opening and then unrolled thecover. When the last frosty bit of gauzy cloud fell away from thecontents so carefully preserved, every one exclaimed in wonder at thebeauty they beheld. There was a big Moon, cool and shining, then as now!

"The child clapped his hands with delight, and wafted the Moon with itsfrosty gauze covering up through the smoke-hole of the room and itbecame fixed as the Stars, to give light through the hours of darkness, that the earth need not stumble and fall upon a black pathway. 

"The third bundle was great and difficult to reach, but the child criedfor it and the servants had to work and struggle to reach it, untilfinally, down it came. And as it fell, it sent forth sparks of strangefire that consumed not a thing, yet prevented any servant from handlingthe bundle. 

"The child laughed and clapped his hands, but finding no one could holdthe flaming bundle, he crept over and took it. The mother stoodaffrighted lest the Child of Light be consumed. But he unwrapped eachcovering himself, and when the last dazzling wrapper was revealed, nohuman being durst gaze upon that Light. But he who was born of Lightlooked upon what was hidden in that covering and flung all up throughthe smoke-hole to take its place in the Firmament of Heaven, where itshines like unto a Sun--to-day, as in those days. And it was given theworld to shed its rays of Light upon the earth by day, even as the Moonshines for Light by night, and the Stars sing for joy and gladness thatLight came to the world. 

"After the Sun, and Moon, and Stars were made, this man-child did manywonderful things that astonished all who came to the House of Light tohear and see such a marvelous being. But there was still one bundle lefthanging in a very gloomy corner of the birth-chamber, and this bundlewas left until the child grew to the stature of a man. Then he demandedthat it be given him. 

"'No, no, my son, ' wept the mother, 'do not ask for that--it containsDeath. '

"'Know then that _I_ know it, ' returned the young man, seriously. 'Knowest thou not why I came to be born of the Light? Not only that theworld might have eternal Light, but also to dispel all darkness thatEternal Life might come through the overcoming of this Death. 

"'The Light I had, and the Light I gave, but through forever closing thegates of Death to the world I forever fix this Light of Life in theHeavens that no one can darken it more. '

"The mother wept for she knew her son must die if he took down thatbundle, but he replied: 'For this great mission was I sent to you that, through you, should be given birth to Light, and thus establish for alltime the Light for the world. '

"Sorrowing, the mother herself took down the bundle and brought it toher son, and no servant might remain in the room when Raven, Son ofRaven, removed the coverings of Death. As the last wrapper was removedand the mother saw the heavy shroud that folded itself clingingly aboutthe ghastly contents of that bundle, she ran weeping from the room, forshe dared not watch her son accept it. 

"So the birth-room remained closed while Raven fought with Death, butafter three shinings of the Sun, and three shinings of the Moon, andwith the shining of the Stars as they sang softly, a blinding Lightshone through all the walls of the House of Light, and the mother withher attendants ran to open the door of the birth-chamber, now called theRoom of Death. But behold! the man Raven himself was revealed in shiningraiments, shining like the Sun, and he smiled upon those who fell downin awe at sight of him. 

"'I have destroyed Death for all, and now I go to shine in the Heavenswith this Light of Life that was given me. All who will may follow whereI go, ' said Raven. 

"'And at that, he rose through the smoke-hole and took his place inHeaven, but his Light shone then and shines now into every corner ofdarkness in the world. And the day is come when there is no moredarkness, for rich and poor, good and bad, and every created thing madeby Raven, see the Light that transforms everything into lights that findtheir places in the Firmament of Heaven. '

"Raven, Son of Raven, sat hidden in the Great Light that he receivedwhen Death was overcome, but he saw that the earth was without form. Then he desired to create seas and mountains upon the face of the void, and he sat thinking and thinking for many a time. 

"Suddenly he remembered that in the House of Light there was a wonderfulpool of clear water. So he sent a ray from the Sun down through theclouds and thereby drew up enough water to drink. But he did not swallowthe cooling water. He held it in his mouth and flew with it over thewhole earth which was void of form. 

"He spat forth a drop of this water and it became the source of theRiver Nass. Another drop from his mouth became the Stikine River, andthe third drop became the Taku River. Then followed the Chilkat, theAlsek, and finally, all the great rivers of the North. 

"But Raven found he would need more water for seas and oceans and lakes, so he sat again, and by thinking and thinking he received the idea. 

"It was not according to his wish to send a sunbeam to the pool ofeternal water in the House of Light, to bring up more of that pure waterto him, and he was happy when he conceived the idea that came to him. And this it was:

"'If the rivers I made, run on eternally because their source came fromthe House of Light, why shall I not guide them all to one greatmeeting-place and call that the Ocean? But as they run to this one rest, even so will I give them smaller rests along the way, and at theseresting-places they may spread out upon the bosom of the earth. Theserests will I call Lakes. Then there will come times when the Ocean, which is continually filled from the eternal source of the Rivers, mustneeds overflow its boundaries. And these overflows will fill up thegreat holes in the earth. So these I will call Seas. 

"'Even as the Sun sent his ray to carry me the drink from the pool thatis in the House of Light, so will I command the Sun and the Moon and theStars to govern the waters of the earth, and thus the Lights in theFirmament of the Heavens will draw up any surplus overflows, that thesemay turn to moisture in the cloudy coverings that wrapped the Lightsbefore they became fixed in the Firmament. The Clouds will rain downrefreshing drink upon all lands on the earth, that all things mayreplenish themselves and so live eternally, in one grand bond ofBrotherhood, loving and helping each other, from the Great to the Small, and from Small to Great. '

"And it was as Raven desired. So to this day, the Sun and Moon and allthe Stars work together in harmony to keep the Rivers and Lakes, andSeas, and Ocean within their bounds and to replenish all things. 

"But Raven found afterwhile that so much water flowing ceaselessly fromthe Source, and the rain that fell from the Clouds upon the land, madethe earth so wet that it was not a good place to dwell upon. Then hebegan to think and think again, of how he might create something to dryup the surplus moisture. 

"Now he was walking by a great ocean, one day, still thinking of plansto dry away any unpleasant dampness, when he saw a Petrel sitting on arocky promontory. 

"'Brother, ' called Raven to the bird, 'how came you here?'

"'I? Oh, I was born when the waters were sent to earth. How came youhere--and where were you born?' asked the Petrel. 

"'I? Oh, I was born before the world was thought of, so I have nobeginning and no end, ' replied Raven. 

"'Ha! Tis well said, but rings not true, ' the Petrel jeered. 'No oneever was before this world was created, and no one ever shall remainwhen this world ends. '

"'I am Raven, Son of Raven, and because you know not the Truth ofCreation, but believe the Lie, you shall henceforth go about in a fog. Your name shall be earth-made, and you shall dream dreams in this fog, but you may not see the Light until that day when the whole world shallbe freed from all forms of darkness!'

"And instantly, a fog-cover fell over Petrel, because he knew not theTruth told by Raven, Son of Raven. And the fog so hid from the eyes ofPetrel the Sun and Moon and Stars that came from the House of Light, that he believed _them_ to be controlled by a Lie, also. 

"But Raven learned that the fog he had called forth from the waters onthe earth made the place still more moist and not good for a place ofsojourn. Then he planned to dry it away quickly. 

"Petrel, the earth-bound, was left groping in the fog for the Truth hehad scorned and now could not find, and Raven passed to a place where hesaw something floating on the wave not far from shore. He failed torecognize it as of his creating, so he wished to reach it. 

"While looking about for something to use to reach it, he saw a birdwith a very long bill, watching him. This bird was not like anything hehad created so he knew it must be an offspring of the fog, mist-made, and related to Petrel. 

"Raven then commanded this bird, 'Fly out over the water and bring backyon floating object. '

"The bird with a long bill was a chicken-hawk, and it lived by killingweaker and smaller birds than itself. Raven knew this was its way themoment he saw it was mist-made, and so he sent it on this errand. 

"The chicken-hawk dared not refuse to go after the bright objectfloating on the wave, but he said to himself, 'I'll drop it if it is notgood for me to carry!'

"Raven knew this evil intent, and said, 'When you have taken hold of theobject, do not drop it till you have brought it ashore. '

"So the chicken-hawk left in no good humor, and flew out to the wave, where he found a mass of fire floating there. He was a coward, such asall mist-made creatures are, and he feared to bring in the great ball offire, yet he dared not disobey the command of a superior being likeRaven. So he tore off a mouthful only, and that is how he came to be sobadly burned. Had he caught hold of the whole mass of flame, theoutside of which really had been cooled as it rolled about upon thewaves, he could have escaped without an injury. 

"He brought the piece of fire to shore, and Raven said, 'Because youwere cowardly and obeyed me only through fear, your beak shall remainforever burned off and short as it now is. '

"And so it is to this day, and shall be until Light redeems all things. 

"Raven then took some chips of red cedar and some white stones, andmixed them in the fire. These were distributed over all the earth, sothat many great forests grew up from the cedar shavings, and thusabsorbed the surplus moisture on the land. And mighty volcanoes wereformed of the red-hot stones, and these, in consuming the water underthe surface, steamed and spewed forth the massive rocks and varied-huedstones that gave peaks and cliffs as pleasant places for deer and sheepto roam upon. 

"Thus, with the face of the earth so beauteous, Raven sat down andrejoiced. But Petrel and Chicken-hawk were left to wander in the fog. 

"Finally, Raven's mother died, and he sorrowed greatly, for she saw notthe Great Light that he had established to overcome the darkness ofDeath. Still, because she had always dwelt in the House of Light and hadgiven birth to Raven, Son of Raven, she was given an honorable place inthe Firmament of Heaven. 

"And Raven, as the custom was in the realm where his mother had lived, prepared a great feast in honor of his mother. But he began thinking howhe might honor her in a different way. So he cut a witch-hazel wand withwhich to point at anything he wished to use in the preparation of thisfeast. Thus he collected wood and stones and many things on the face ofthe earth. And when all this was assembled he built him a great house. 

"Then he called the rain and sunshine to hide the house until he wasready for the feast. He then sat down to think and think, and this iswhat he thought, and what came of it. 

"'I want fish to swim in the waters, and birds to fly in the skies, andcreatures to live in the forests, and beings to live on the land, to befound in this house when it is opened. And they will all be perfect, lovely, and good, to live with this creation I have made. '

"Thus, having thought all these things, Raven stood up and stretched outhis hand that held the wand, and pointed it over the house that washidden as yet by rain and clouds. 

"And, suddenly, the rain ceased its downpour, the sun smiled, and thehouse stood revealed in all its beauty. Then Raven sang:

"'This made I for an honor to my mother!'

"And as he sang his song of honor and praise, the house opened and allmanner of living creatures came forth--beautiful, perfect, and an honorto the earth upon which they would dwell. 

"So it is that even to this day, when one makes a feast to honor a deadperson who will sit in a place in the firmament, the house of the livingis opened to all, from the greatest to the least of the earth. 

"When the feast was over Raven wished to leave an eternal monument tohis mother, the Virgin who gave birth to the Light, so he called to himthe four winds to help. 

"'South Wind, in the spring and summer when all the sun's rays are warm, blow gently upon the earth and sing of my mother. '

"'North Wind, sit on top of the ice-mountain yonder, and when the earthis chill and sorrowing for my mother, blow fiercely from your snow-ladenhills and sing over her grave. '

"'East Wind, when the earth-people weep salt-water over the biers oftheir dead, and sigh because of their loss, sing to them of my mother. '

"'West Wind, when you blow gently, and tell the earth that storms andcold and sorrow may come but Light shines in the end to bring them joyand peace, sing low and sweetly of my mother. '

"Thus the four winds came to earth to sing to the peoples dwelling here, and every one heard of the mother who gave birth to Light--Raven, Sonof Raven. 

"But after all these things were done, Raven sat down and thought andthought deeply, and as he thought he called upon his father, the GreatRaven, the All-in-all, for advice. 

"And having received advice, Raven stood up and lifted his hands to theHeavens, and sang with a loud voice:

"'I shall make men in my image and likeness, and they shall dwell in theLight and be given dominion over all this earth I have made for my joyand pleasure. Thus we shall be happy and live forever!'

"So Raven made all men like unto himself. They were good and perfect andbeautiful and they all dwelt in love in the Light. And thus they dweltmany, many days, and were happy. 

"But the fog which had been called out for Petrel's error harbored manybirds of evil omen, and these, guided by Petrel, swept through the fogand attacked the Men of the Light. The fog covered all things and causedevery one to grope about, seeking to find one another and escape fromthe mist that hid the Shining Light. 

"And thus any one who had the slightest degree of fear or greed ormalice or lying in his heart, breathed in the fog and thenceforth livedin a dream. They were thenceforth born of the fire of wrath that theChicken-hawk tore apart from the floating mass, and were consumed withfear. They lived their days in the fog that came upon Petrel when hebelieved a lie, and they suffered and sorrowed and died, all in a dreamcaused by the fog; and afterwhile these mist-men forgot there ever hadbeen a perfect earth created by Raven, Son of Raven, where love andbeauty and joy rule everything. 

"So Petrel ruled his world of fog, where hate and sin and death were hisservants, and thus it happened that a Petrel is the sign of storm andtrouble and blinding mist, but the Raven is known to be wise and patientfor it knows where its Light dwells. 

"So Raven sits, and patiently waits for Petrel's dreams to losethemselves in the fog, for such will surely come about. And as theLights ruled by Raven shine stronger, the fog grows fainter and stilllighter, until breaks the Day when all mist vanishes and Raven'sCreation is seen forever beautiful and perfect. "

When Mr. Gilroy concluded his beautiful legend, the scouts were silent. It was the greatest praise they could bestow at the moment, for thestory was not one to call forth applause and noise. Then they began tospeak, but in soft voices. 

"And to think that this story of creation, so similar in many ways toour Bible Stories, was handed down from ancient days, " remarked Mrs. Vernon, thrilled by the realization. 

"I find many interesting similarities between our Bible and the HolyLegends reverently told by the Esquimaux. But this one always struck meas being as fine as any. That is why I told it, " explained Mr. Gilroy. 

Then their Camp Entertainer, as Julie now named Mr. Gilroy, bid them allgood-night and went up the trail. And the scouts were soon in bed, theirlast waking thoughts being of Raven, Son of Raven, the All-in-all ofCreation. 

CHAPTER SIX

LOST ON THE TRAIL

A few days after the girl scouts' visit to Grey Fox Camp, they wereagreeably surprised by having the boys visit them. Mr. Gilroy was withthem, and as each boy carried an ax and a woodman's knife, the girlsknew they came to work. 

"We decided to cut a shorter trail over the crest, and as to-day is socool, we thought it would be a fine time for work, " explained Alec, theleader in the boys' camp. 

"One day's as good as another! We're ready to help any time, " repliedJulie, as leader of the Girl Scouts' Troop. 

"Why didn't you let us know, then we might have blazed the trail up ourside of the mountain, and you boys would have worked from your side. When we met on top, we might have celebrated with a feast, " venturedMrs. Vernon. 

So the girls ran for axes and knives, and all began work together, backof Dandelion Camp. They cut and chopped, and blazed a fine trail up pastSilver Falls, where the doe had called to her mate the first night thegirls were at Camp, and so on to the top of the mountain. But it tookthe greater part of that morning to go as far as they did. 

"We'd better stop here, and go back to see how the trail seems, "suggested Mr. Gilroy. 

"Why not finish the job, now that we're on top?" asked Alec. 

"Because you boys can easily blaze from here on to your camp, and I ambeginning to worry lest my dinner is burning, " laughed Mr. Gilroy. 

"_Your_ dinner! Where's the Indian cook?" asked Alec. 

"He's cooking for fifteen! I have invited guests coming to dine at thebungalow this evening, " returned Mr. Gilroy, meaningly. 

"Oh, hurrah! Isn't that fine? Now we won't have to wash anysupper-dishes!" exclaimed Ruth, who still disliked doing dishes. 

The girls laughed, for they understood, but Alec said, "Why talk about asupper so distant! I'd rather plan about something to eat this minute. "

"So would we all. I guess we are nearly starved, " said Ned. 

"Why not stop work and cook a few steaks?" suggested Bob. 

"You boys have done all the talking about something to eat, but thegirls said nothing. Maybe they are not hungry!" ventured Mr. Gilroy. 

"Hungry! We're too _weak_ to speak, " sighed Julie, rubbing the spotunder her belt. 

"I can eat reindeer moss without its being cooked, " said Amy. 

"That settles it! Cook we must, but what?" declared Joan. 

"Well, some of us will hunt up the mushrooms; some must gather bracken, some, the lichen; and Gilly can hunt up the coffee beans, _alias_ rootsand acorns, " said Alec. 

"What will _you_ be doing, meantime?" retorted Mr. Gilroy. 

"Oh, I'll just remove that package of flour from your pocket and usethis strip of bacon that I lifted from Dandelion larder; and when thesteaks come back, I'll have bread and fat ready over a fine fire. "

"Bacon! When did you manage to steal that?" demanded the Captain, amazed. 

The boys laughed, for Alec's clever sleight-of-hand was an endlesssource of fun for them. 

"Don't all hunt together. Divide your strength and see that results comeback with you, " advised Alec, rolling up his sleeves preparatory tostarting his fire. 

"I can't fish like the other boys, so I'll go with the girls who aregoing for the beefsteaks, " said Dick. 

"All right. And where will you go, Captain?" asked Alec. 

"If Gilly is sent for coffee, I shall hunt for tea. I do not care forhis brand of coffee, but I _do_ know where to find the ingredients fora nice fragrant cup of tea. "

A laugh circled the group, and Mr. Gilroy said, "All right. Now see toit that you don't ask for a drop of my coffee, hereafter. "

So they separated, some of the scouts going with Mrs. Vernon; Bob andNed going for trout; Hester and Amy with Mr. Gilroy; and Julie, Joan andJudith with Dick, for mushrooms. 

After breaking a way through a dense jungle, the latter four scouts cameout to a small clearing, but they had not seen any mushrooms. 

"What a fine baseball diamond this clearing would make!" said Julie, asthey looked around. 

"And there are some chestnut stumps--on the far side of the clearing!"exclaimed Dick, crossing to the spot. 

But they found no mushrooms on the stumps, much to their chagrin. "There'll be other trees about here, where we're sure to find what weneed, " said Dick, eagerly. 

So into the woods they plunged, winding about here and there, but notfinding what they sought. None of them thought to blaze a trail as theywandered, consequently had no means of telling how far or in whatdirection they had gone before Dick found a few small mushrooms. 

"Only enough for a few of us. We need more than these, " he remarked. 

"There's sure to be more where these are. Let's keep on hunting, " urgedJulie. 

So they kept on winding through the underbrush, but with no goodresults. Finally Dick found a plant that he believed to be a wildpotato. 

"No, it is not. It hasn't the leaves or blossom of the Indian potato, "declared Joan. 

"That may be, but when it grows old it dries up, you know, " argued Dick, beginning to dig at the root. 

The girls wandered about seeking for signs of more mushrooms, but couldfind none. Then Dick stood up and stretched his back-muscles. 

"My that was tough digging when you have no tool. And it wasn't a potatoafter all. "

"Well, we've been gone a long time now. Suppose we go back with what wehave, " said Joan. 

"Yes; even if we can't fill up on steaks to-day, let us eat more of thegreens, " added Judith. 

So they turned to go back to camp. They climbed over the boulderssimilar to those over which they had already climbed, over similarfallen timber, and finally came to a stream. 

"I don't remember a brook when we came, " remarked Julie. 

"Neither do I, " added Judith. 

"All places look alike when you're hunting anything. We may have crosseda bog or a brook and never have noticed it, " said Dick. 

"Oh, I would have noticed it! I wouldn't be such a poor scout as not toknow where I was going, " returned Julie, defensively. 

"Now, Dick, I'm sure there was no bog where we came through, but here'sone right ahead of us, " called Joan, who was a few paces ahead. 

"No, there was no bog!" affirmed Julie. 

"Did you bring a compass?" now asked Dick. 

"No, we never thought of being lost, " murmured Julie. 

"We're not lost, just strayed a bit, " Dick assured them. 

"'Lost, Strayed or Stolen'--it's all the same if we have to miss ourdinner, " sighed Joan. 

They managed to cross the boggy spot and then trailed to a place thatDick claimed was the clearing. But it turned out to be a little fen madeby a tiny spring. 

"What we should have done was to leave our marks as we camethrough--broken twigs, or trampled grass, or some such signs, " saidJulie. 

"But we didn't, and now is no time to talk of it!" Dick saidimpatiently, for he began to realize that they really were lost. 

"We can begin right now, however, and then not keep circling aroundwithout recognizing that we were there before!" snapped Julie. 

So the girls began, then and there, to leave their signs as theyfollowed after Dick, who really knew not where he was leading. 

"Had we better separate and go in different directions to hunt thecamp?" asked Dick finally. 

"Mercy, no! Better be lost together than get lost each one alone!"exclaimed Joan. 

"Sort of 'United we stand, ' etc. , " chuckled Julie, in spite of herconcern over not finding the way. 

They kept on forcing a way through the thick bush and resting now andthen when they found a little clearing; but finally Judith cried:"You'll have to go without me! I'm so weak from hunger I can't walkanother step. "

"Girls, suppose we stop and cook the steaks?" asked Dick. 

"I say so, too, " agreed Julie. 

So they cleared a little space in the woods and with two rubbing-stickssoon produced fire. While two of the girls were doing this, Dick washedthe mushrooms in the little spring they had seen, and then sliced themwith his knife. 

"We haven't any salt or bacon, but they'll taste good to starvedwanderers, " said Dick, holding one over the fire to cook. 

Each girl spiked one on a sharpened stick and held it out to broil. Whenthe mushrooms were cooked they each ate until they felt better. ThenDick made a suggestion. 

"Making this fire gave me an idea. Why not make 'two smokes' forsignals. If Alec or any one else is looking for us, they can see them. "

"Why didn't we think of that before! Fine idea, Dick, " said Joan. 

"What will 'two smokes' mean?" asked Judith. 

"Means 'we are lost, ' come find us, " said Dick, busy with two heaps offirewood. 

"But you can't signal here under these trees, Dick! We've got to find anopen place where the smoke can rise up above the tree-tops, you know, "advised Julie. 

Dick realized he had been caught napping by a girl, and he didn't likeit very much but he could not show his annoyance, for Julie was right. So he stood up and said: "I'll shout as loud as possible, --maybe theywill hear us. " So he shouted until he was hoarse. 

"In this dense forest, where the trees break every sound, the smokesignal is as good as any other. Let us find a clearing, " suggestedJulie. 

So they sought again, and soon found an open spot where the sky wasvisible without any obstructing tree-branches overhead. 

"Why, this looks like the same clearing that I said would make a finebaseball diamond, " declared Julie. 

"So it does! And here is a broken twig where we went out, " said Joan. 

 [Illustration: "We are lost, come find us" ... Page 98]

"Then we can't be many miles from home, " laughed Julie, her spiritsrising again at the slightest encouragement. 

They made two smokes, however, and waited to watch the thin spirals riseabove the trees, side by side, until they dispersed in the blue etherfar overhead. But no sound came in answer to the signals. 

"Maybe no one remembered the smoke idea, " ventured Judith. 

"And they'd have to be in the open, or climb a tree, to see it, "asserted Joan. 

"Maybe they made signals, too, and are waiting for us to answer them. Did you bring a rifle, Dick?" said Julie. 

"No, none of us did. But I can climb one of these trees and see if theothers made any smokes. "

"Choose that towering pine, --you ought to be able to see everything fromthat high top, " advised Julie. 

So Dick climbed the tall pine, but after he had reached the top he sawnothing that might lead him to find the other campers. He shouted andwhistled as shrilly as he could from the lofty perch, but no answeringsound came to his ears, so he slid down again. 

"See anything at all, Dick?" asked Julie, the moment he came down. 

"A great sea of waving green tops, one wave back of the other, without abreak, " said he. 

"Well, what now? Shall we keep on hunting for the way back from thisclearing, or just sit and let them find us?" asked Joan, despondently. 

"You know they say a flock of ducks will always fly towards water. Now, I saw some ducks flying in one direction when I sat up in that tree, "remarked Dick. 

"Then you _did_ see something other than waves of green! Why didn't yousay so!" snapped Julie, impatient with his poor scouting sense. 

"I thought they might be flying down towards Little Moose Lake, whereDandelion Camp is, and we want to find our party, " said Dick, injustification. 

"Anything to get out of this tangle. We'd just as lief wind up atDandelion Camp as elsewhere, " said Joan. 

"All right then, follow me and we will go in the direction the birdsflew, " said Dick, and he started down hill. 

Down and down they tramped, chopping away smaller obstructions, untilthey were stopped by a wide fen that belted the section. Advance wasimpossible, for every time one tried to step upon the ooze the footwould begin to sink in. 

"Oh, how awful!" wailed Judith, ready to cry. 

"How can we cross? If only we could find a fallen tree that happened tofall right across, " sighed Joan. 

"If only we had a drink of cold water I'd be thankful, " declared Julie, mopping her warm face. 

"That's the easiest part of the whole trouble, " quickly said Dick. 

"What do you mean? I wouldn't drink that slimy liquid for anything, "said Julie, frowning at the water. 

"Now, just wait a second and you'll see what I can do with that water!"bragged Dick, glad to redeem his reputation as a scout. 

With hands and a stick he quickly dug a hole to the depth of the marsh. Then he squinted carefully at his well, then at the marsh, and backagain. The girls watched him curiously. 

"Guess I can go a few inches deeper, --the well has to be about sixinches below the surface of the nearby pool, you know. "

He dug deeper and soon the well began filling with muddy water. "There, now I've got it!" said Dick. 

"Do you expect us to drink _that_!" scorned Joan. 

"No, but wait. " Dick hurriedly baled out the well until it was almostemptied. Then he allowed it to fill again. 

He baled it out a second time, and permitted it to fill again. The thirdtime the water was almost clear, so he baled once more, and this timethe water filtered in as clear as crystal. 

He stooped, drank from it, and said: "It's cold and pure!"

Then the girls drank, and found it most refreshing to their parchedtongues and throats. 

"Well, I never knew that before! We've learned two things by being lostwith Dick as guide, " said Julie frankly, and Dick was delighted to hearsuch nice things about himself. 

"Shall we try to circle this fen and get across, or go back again?" nowasked Dick. 

"It's hard to tell just what is best to do, " murmured Julie, puckeringher brow in thought. 

Suddenly two shots echoed down the mountainside, and after an intervalof six seconds a third shot rang out. 

"There! Alec's seen our smoke. His signal means 'Where are you?' Whatshall we do?" cried Dick, excitedly. 

"How can we answer them?" wondered the girls. 

"We'll have to back-trail to our clearing. That's where the shotssounded from, " said Dick. 

"Dear me, if only we had waited there, they would have found us, "complained Judith. 

"But we didn't, so the next best thing to do is to get back as soon aswe can, or they'll go away again, " declared Julie. 

They climbed, scrambled and tumbled up the rugged slope, keeping as faras they could to the rough trail they had made in coming down. When theythought they were near the clearing, they shouted with all theirlung-power, and the welcome sound of answering calls soon greeted theirears. 

"Oh, Dick, give that cat-call again so they will know we're on our way, "asked Julie, anxiously. 

So Dick gave his ear-splitting whistle by placing his fingers betweenhis lips and blowing through the crevices. In less than ten secondsafterwards, two shots sounded in quick succession. 

"That means they've heard us and are waiting, " cried Dick. "Come thisway, --that echo is misleading. "

So the girls followed their young guide, and soon they broke through thefringe of great trees into the clearing where the rest of the partystood. Alec gave them no time to explain. He was angry, and no mistakingit!

"Dick, can you tell me of any concession made to you that allows you tostart two fires and then go away and leave them to work their will inthese forests? If we had not found the fires you left, what might haveresulted to this area of mountain land?"

The girls and Dick stood amazed, for they had forgotten all about thefires started as smoke signals. 

"When I broke through the underbrush into this clearing, the fires wereblazing away like fury. They had encroached upon all the brush and handyleaves, and were eating a way to the timber-line. In half an hour morethose same _little_ fires would be raging over the crest and destroyingacres and acres of forest-trees, to say nothing of causing the work allthe farmers and forest-rangers would have in trying to control it. Justbecause a brainless scout _forgot_ his duty!" The scorn in Alec's lastwords was cutting. 

Dick began to apologize, but Alec held up a hand. "No apology willanswer for such a thing. " Then he turned to Ned and said: "Put Dick downfor penance at camp. "

"We ought to be punished as well as Dick, " said Julie. "We neverremembered the fires, either. "

"That's up to your Captain, --I am merely doing my duty to _my_ Troop, "returned Alec. 

"Had anything to eat?" asked Anne, who always felt sorry for any one whowas hungry. 

"We ate the mushrooms we found, " meekly replied Joan. 

"Then come back and eat what we left for you. We had fish and greens andbiscuit, " said Hester. 

While they were munching the cold food, Alec questioned them further. "Why didn't you use what scout-sense you had? You know you could havefound the way you came through those woods by looking for broken cobwebsacross the bushes; by overturned stones with the damp under sideshowing; or by broken twigs and crushed blades of grass; and last, buthardest, you might have looked to see where leaves on trees and busheswere turned awry from your brushing against them. They do not rightthemselves immediately, you know. "

"We never heard of that before, " admitted Julie. 

"But Dick has, even though he has forgotten it, " said Alec. "He had tolearn it from the Manual--what he would do in case of being lost in aforest. "

"But even if you knew nothing about that, you all knew it would simplifythings for us if you were to blaze a way to guide us the way you went. You could easily have broken twigs and left them hanging, or piledlittle heaps of stones along the trail you took. "

"Oh, for goodness sake! Let up on us now, and wait until _you_ are lost, will you?" cried Julie, placing her palms over her ears. 

"Yes, it's so easy to tell the other feller what to do!" was all theretort Dick made. 

"Well, children, after all I have my inning!" declared Mr. Gilroy, chuckling. 

"What's that?" demanded every one. 

"I wanted you to come home and dine with me, but no! you must stop tocook in the woods. Now you'll all be glad enough to hurry home and cometo my party. And the dinner won't be slighted, either, from so muchovereating up here!"

CHAPTER SEVEN

A LITTLE BUSINESS

At breakfast the day following the "Lost Scouts'" adventure, Mrs. Vernonremarked: "Girls, yesterday's experience taught me an important thing, and that is, we need a set of rules for camp, so that every member ofDandelion Troop will have her proper share of work and duty to perform. 

"We have been keeping house in a haphazard way, with no responsibilityattached to any one but Julie and me. Now, each day there must be somesort of regulations and punishments, if duties are neglected. The fireyesterday showed me that that system was good. "

"Your idea is all right, Verny, but what will the rules cover, and whyhave punishments?" asked Julie. 

"Because every day will probably bring new problems to us, so that setrules will not do, but each day must have added rules. If these rulesare not obeyed, the scout who is negligent ought to be made to pay forher lack of obedience. "

"Have you formulated any plan to begin with?" asked Joan. 

"I thought that Julie, as Scout Leader, could consult with me aboutthat. Although I think we ought to select a new orderly for each day, tosee that the other scouts do what is required of them. If we begin withRuth, Betty next day, and so on through the new membership, one eachday, it brings us to the eighth day. Of course Julie, Joan and I willnot be orderlies. But the Leader and Corporal are over the Orderly, andthe Captain over all of you. "

"What do you expect the Orderly to do, Verny?" asked Joan. 

"She will read the rules for the day immediately after breakfast. Everyscout must take turns in being cook for camp one day. One must bewood-gatherer, one must see that food supplies are on hand, some must dothe fishing, and so on through the entire housekeeping list. This trainsevery one alike, and no partiality will be shown one who is a fine cookor one who is an awful one!"

The girls laughed, and the Captain continued: "Then, we don't expect oneto do all the heavy work while another goes free, and by partitioningthe work and control each one does her bit. In case of any grossnegligence or breaking of rules, the Officer of the Day, the Corporaland the Leader will decide the punishment. Should need arise, the wholeTroop may act as a jury to judge the matter. "

After the Captain had finished speaking, the scouts sat down andcompiled a set of Camp Rules, and Ruth was asked to print them neatlyon cardboard, because Ruth was the artistic scout of the group. 

This business disposed of, Julie said: "Now what shall we do to-day, girls?"

"But you haven't chosen an Orderly for the Day!" called Judith. 

"Oh, that's so! Well, it lies between Ruth and Amy, as they are the moreexperienced scouts, to act the first day. "

"Don't choose me. I've got my work cut out already, if you expect theserules nicely printed, " declared Ruth. 

"All right, then; it's Amy. No partiality meant, girls, " Julie remindedthem. 

"More like 'malice aforethought, '" giggled Joan. 

"Why? Isn't it an honor to be the Orderly?" demanded Julie. 

"It may _seem_ like an honor, but when it is thoroughly investigated itturns out to be just plain old hard work!"

"Sure, Julie! Don't you see, all the other scouts go scot free for theday, while the Orderly has to see that everything is done properly andthen take the blame if nothing is right, " laughed Judith. 

"Well, Amy is able to carry the burden, and it is only for a day; thenanother one has to do it, " said the Captain. 

When the weighty business of selecting rules and deciding on arecreation for the day was over, Mrs. Vernon said, "Which did you decideto do first, hike or swim?"

"Is Mr. Gilroy coming over to visit us to-day?" asked Ruth. 

"He invited himself to supper to-night, but I doubt if we see him beforethat time. Why?" answered the Captain. 

"Because if he was coming, he would hike with us, and we'd rather waitfor him, and swim first. But it doesn't matter now. "

"We'll go for the hike first, and when we get back a fine, cool swimwill feel good, " suggested the Orderly for the day. 

"Verny, do you know of any places one might choose for an objective on ahike?" asked Joan. 

"Yes, Mr. Gilroy gave me a county map that shows every good trail withintwenty miles of here. I'll get it and we'll look it over. " So saying, the Captain went to her tent for the paper. 

They all sat about Mrs. Vernon as she studied the map and read aloud ofvarious trails that sounded interesting. At last she said: "Here's onethat seems inviting. It is named 'River Bend, ' and the trail winds alongone of the streams that is an outlet of our lake. The description saysthe blazes are old but distinct, and no one can miss the may. Shall wetry that trail?"

"Where does it end?" questioned Hester. 

"How long is it to anywhere?" asked Anne. 

"It's seven miles, and forks when one reaches the hut of an Indiancanoe-builder. One fork runs to River Bend village, and the other to aravine that is said to be most picturesque. "

"We'll take that trail and decide which place we prefer to see, thevillage or the ravine, after we have hiked a while, " said the Orderly. 

"Why not take a little flour and fat and catch some fish at noon, andsup while on the trail?" asked Julie. 

"Why not carry our dinner stuff and have a _regular_ meal while we areabout it, " said Anne, who could not forego a dinner. 

The other scouts laughed, and Mrs. Vernon replied, "All right, it soundsinviting. "

So each scout carried a tin cup and platter, while the Orderly saw to itthat each one carried part of the dinner material. It fell to theCaptain's lot to carry the frying-pan, and to Anne to carry thetwo-quart pail; the others had the flour, bacon, potatoes, etc. 

River Bend trail led down to the end of the lake, where the streamstarted. It wound in and out, as it followed the uneven edges of LittleMoose Lake, running over mossy knolls, through rivulets, pastwaterfalls, and around impassable obstructions. Thus the detouring addedgreatly to the distance the map had vouched for. 

The scouts had paper and pencils in case they wished to sketch anythinginteresting, but most of the paper was used in writing notes along theway, to be entered later in their records. They had gone about two mileswhen Julie stopped short and held up a warning hand. 

"Verny, listen! I heard a baby crying pitifully over in those highbushes. "

"Mercy me! Do you suppose there can be any gypsies here?" cried Amy, thetimid. 

"Gypsies--nothing! But how could a baby get in that jungle?" retortedJoan. 

Then they distinctly heard the plaintive wail, as of a very young childin fear and distress. Even Mrs. Vernon turned pale at the picture thatpresented itself to her thought. 

"Girls, we've got to investigate this. It doesn't seem plausible thatany one would bring a kidnapped child to this wilderness to lose it, butone can never tell!" declared Julie. 

"It's a baby, that we know, so it's up to us to save it, " added Ruth. 

"The poor little dear!" wept Betty, the tender-hearted. 

So the scouts began cutting a way through the almost impenetrable growththat divided the trail from the place whence came the cries. But as theywent deeper in the jungle and got nearer the spot they were aiming for, the cries ceased. 

"Dear, dear! I hope the little thing isn't past aid?" murmured theCaptain, anxiously. 

That urged the scouts to greater endeavor, and finally Julie broke intoa tiny clearing of about three feet across, and saw a little greyrabbit, which had been caught in an old mesh-wire trap set by some onelong before and forgotten. 

"Oh, you poor little creature!" cried Julie, falling upon her knees torescue the soft little thing. 

"Is it alive, Jule?" asked a chorus of anxious voices. 

"Yes, but it is awfully afraid of me. I can't do anything for it. "

"Maybe it will bite you--do be careful, Jule!" called Amy, deliciouslythrilled at this fearful risk her friend was taking. 

"Bite!" scorned Julie. "It's starved, and too weak to even nibble. "

"Wait, Julie! Let me throw my hat over it so it won't see what we aredoing. Then it won't feel so frightened. Remember the 'Boulder' we allsaw, and when it moved we had a panic? Well, our sense of sight was allthat caused that fear. It is the same now--what the rabbit doesn't seeit won't fear, " explained Mrs. Vernon. 

While it was hidden under the broad-brimmed scout hat, the rabbit wasnot aware of the willing rescuers, and soon Julie had the snare open, and Mrs. Vernon held the little creature in her hat. 

"Shall we let it go now?" asked some of the girls. 

"It may have an injured leg where the trap caught it. I think we willcarry it home and feed it well, and then if it is all right, it can runaway. It is sure to be caught by some larger animal if it is unable tojump or run, " said the Captain. 

"This will make a dandy story to write down in our record book, Verny, won't it?" asked Ruth, eagerly. 

"Yes, but it will also show how inexperienced we are in wildwoodsounds, --to mistake the rabbit's cry for a child's wail. "

"But it _did_ sound exactly like a baby, there's no denying that!"exclaimed Julie, frowning as she realized how they all were caughtnapping. 

"This reminds me of a story Alec told us yesterday when we were waitingat the campfire for you lost scouts, " said Hester. "He and his Troopwent on a three days' hike in the country last year, and at night theyfound an old abandoned barn where they decided to sleep. The floor wasin good condition, with a bit of hay piled up in one corner. But theloft overhead was in such bad condition that in many places the flooringwas broken down completely. As there was no ladder or stairway to reachit, the boys concluded there was no use in examining it--no one would beup there!

"So they stretched out on the hay and were soon sound asleep. But sometime after that--no one knew how long they had been asleep--Ned nudgedAlec and whispered: 'Some one's in the loft!'

"Alec sat up and listened. Sure enough, he could hear a man snoring asdistinctly as he could hear Dick breathe. 

"So he roused the other scouts, and they very quietly crept over to theside where they could get a grip on the joists to help themselves up. Each scout had armed himself in some way. One had an old pitchfork withbut one prong. Another had a rake handle, one found the curved handle ofa feed-grinder, and so on. 

"When they got to the shaky, decayed floor above, the snoring hadstopped, so they knew the tramp was aware of their approach. They had tobe awfully careful, too, so as not to fall through any of the brokenplaces in the floor. But they each had their lanterns, and used thembefore they took a step. Alec went first, and threw the light back andforth to avoid a sudden surprise from the tramp. 

"'There's something moving over on that pile of old burlap sacks!'whispered Alec, the instant he saw a creeping movement there. 

"Several of the boys then jumped and began beating up the sacksviolently. But as suddenly, a pair of wings flapped up in their faceswith a whirring sound, and a barn-owl began to screech madly as sherose and flew through a hole in the roof. "

Hester laughed as she reached this part of the story, and all the scoutsjoined in. Julie, who had not heard it before, said:

"Thank goodness, we girls are not the only ones to be taken in, then!"

"Alec said there are lots of wild creatures that make sounds exactlylike human beings. And that owl snored just like a man. "

By this time they had regained the trail, and Mrs. Vernon tenderlyadjusted the trembling rabbit. The hat so covered it that it could curlinside and not see a thing to cause it any fear, and thus it was carriedalong, to be cared for later on and then regain its freedom. 

The scouts found many interesting subjects for discussion along thetrail, until they reached a wide shallow stream that came down the steepmountainside and emptied into the river. 

"It's not on the map, and it sure cuts off further progress, " said theCaptain. 

"It's shallow--we can wade it, " suggested Julie. 

"Let us go upstream and find a narrow ford, or some rocks that we cancross on, " added Mrs. Vernon. 

They went up on the near side of the stream, but the banks became sorocky and impassable that they found it was useless to try to climbthem. The scenery was wild and wonderful, so several good pictures weretaken of the tumbling waters and rocks, and then they all retraced theirsteps. 

"Now, it's wade or go back, " declared Joan. 

"Stuff your stockings down in your boots and sling them about your necksby the strings, " advised Julie. 

This was done, and one after another the scouts waded through thestream, shouting, screaming if one slipped on a stone, laughing when onestepped in a hole and got wet to the waist, but having plenty of fun. 

"How did bunny stand the voyage?" called Julie, the moment the Captainstepped up on the bank. 

"Bunny is curled up fast asleep, I guess, " said she. 

"I wish it was noon. Did any one hear the twelve o'clock whistle blow?"laughed Joan. 

"Why--are you hungry?" questioned Anne. 

"Aren't you?" retorted the Orderly. 

"Sure! I always am, " laughed Anne, frankly. 

"Then why not say it is dinner-time, Verny?" asked Ruth. 

"You must be hungry, too!" declared Judith. 

"I bet we all are, if Verny will take the count, " asserted Hester. 

"Well, we may as well stop here beside this stream and eat, as to go onand fare worse, " admitted the Captain. 

"Some one's got to fish, " said Judith. 

"Why not all fish and the sooner catch what is needed?" advised Mrs. Vernon. So this suggestion was followed out. 

Four goodly sized fish rewarded the combined efforts of the fishermenthat time, and then two scouts were detailed to clean them, while twowent to build a fire. Others were tolled off to attend to other work, and in half an hour a savory meal was ready. 

When all signs of cooking and eating were cleaned away, Mrs. Vernon tookthe bunny again and said they had best go on. 

"Outdoor cooking and eating always makes me feel fine. I can walk ahundred miles now, and feel it no more than if it were a trifle, " saidJulie, taking a deep breath. 

"All the same, we haven't gone five miles yet, according to Verny's map, and there is still that walk home, so don't brag too much, Julie, "advised Betty, seriously. 

"We haven't voted yet whether we want to go on to the village or to theravine, " now said Ruth. 

"I'd like to visit the old Indian canoe-maker, and have a chat withhim, " said Joan. 

"His time is money, so he will charge us for chatting, " returned Julie, grinning. 

"I think Joan's idea of visiting the Indian a good one, girls; why notgo there instead of to either of the other places?"

The Captain's suggestion was agreed upon, and the scouts turned in atthe willow-arched walk that led to the Indian's hut. A wide brook ranunder the willows, and here they saw several canoes waiting to be used. The pathway that ran alongside the brook was littered with rubbish ofall kinds, --the accumulation of years of slovenly housekeeping and lazycarpenter work out of doors. 

But it was evident that the Indian was neither slovenly nor lazy when itpertained to making canoes. Every canoe there was a splendid example ofworkmanship. When the scouts reached the door, the owner came out to seethem. 

"Morn', " said he, bowing seriously to his visitors. 

"Are you Mike, the Indian?" asked Mrs. Vernon, after acknowledging thesalutation. 

"Me Mike--wan'da canoe?"

"No, we came to visit you. We are friends of Mr. Gilroy's, " explainedthe Captain. 

"Huh! Mees'er Gilloy use Mike's canoes. "

"So he told us. He says they are the finest anywhere, " said Julie, ingratiatingly. 

"Bedder buy one, " came from the Indian. 

"Verny, we might _rent_ another one--we only have two in the lake, youknow, and we all prefer canoes to boats, " whispered Joan. 

"We can't afford any added expense, " replied Mrs. Vernon. 

But Mike understood the meaning of that whisper, so he wisely said:"Come see fine canoes. "

He led the way to his shop on the banks of the little stream anddisplayed the various methods of his trade. The girls found it all veryinstructive and interesting. Then he said:

"Mike take canoe to lake fer leddy--no charge. "

"What do you mean by that?" wondered Julie. 

"Mike give fine canoe--one week try; leddy not like, Mike come take himhome. No pay. "

"But we don't want any more canoes. We have two now, " asserted Mrs. Vernon. 

Mike shrugged his shoulders silently. 

"How much you rent canoe for?" asked Julie, believing the Indian couldcomprehend better if she used bad English. 

"Mike no rent his canoe--sell him cheap. "

"We can't afford to buy one, but we might rent it if you make a lowprice, " bargained Julie. 

Mike shook his head decidedly. "No rent--onny buy. "

"Come, girls! We must start on, now that we've had our visit, " said theCaptain, turning to go. 

The scouts reluctantly turned also, but Mike saw their faces, and alsoknew that the lady was boss. So he seemed to reconsider. 

"Mike got good fren' by Mees'er Gilloy. Mebbe fren's of him be fren'sof Mike. How much you give for rent canoe?"

Every one turned suddenly at that hope held forth. 

"What do you ask?" countered Mrs. Vernon. 

"Got money now to pay?" asked Mike, cutely. 

Julie exclaimed, "Certainly!" But the Captain saw through the shrewdbargainer, and said: "We'll have Mr. Gilroy do this business for us. "

Now Mike had no idea of losing these customers, nor of having to dealwith a good business man like Mr. Gilroy, so he said guilelessly: "Sollydese gals no paddle home in dis canoe. "

Several of the scouts instantly wished to do so, but the Captain said:"Corporal, see that your Troop does not fall for this enticing snare. "

The scouts laughed when they comprehended Mike's intentions, and Mrs. Vernon courageously walked away. But Mike followed. 

"Canoe rent for four dollah week. "

"What! that's sixteen a month! I guess not!" cried Julie. 

"Fren's of Mees'er Gilloy get him fer tree dollah week. "

"No sir-ee!" retorted Julie. "Mike, I'll pay you two dollah week--or sixdollah mont--or feefteen dollah season. What you take?"

All the scouts laughed, but Mike frowned. "Me tak feefteen dollah now toAugus' furst, " said he. 

Every one hushed to get every word of this bargaining. 

"We want him in Augus', too. Him worth feefteen dollah, no more, tillSeptember ten, " declared Julie, slapping her palms together to emphasizeher words. 

Mike sighed audibly. "All light. But Mike no carry him an' lose day. Gals mus' tak now an' pay down. "

Then every one turned to every one else, and word ran round: "Who's gotany money?"

"I've got three dollars--that's all, " said Mrs. Vernon. 

"Mike, we got tree dollahs only. Come to camp and get rest, " said Julie. 

"You tak him along?" asked Mike, anxiously. 

"Are you 'fraid to trust us?" countered Julie. 

"Oh, no! Mike no wan' trouble carry him so far, da's all. "

So the three dollars was paid down, balance to be paid when Mike calledfor it; canoe to be taken along with no added work expected of Mike. 

Mike launched the canoe in the stream that passed his shop, and severalof the girls squatted in the bottom. But it proved overweighted for sucha shallow stream, and two had to get out again. Julie and Joan thenpaddled it safely to the deeper river, where Amy and Judith, beinglightest of the scouts, got in and sat in the bottom. 

Mrs. Vernon and the rest of the Troop stood watching eagerly while thetwo girls paddled silently and swiftly up the river to the place wherethe tumbling stream joined River Bend. Here they halted to allow theirother friends to catch up with them. 

Julie and Joan were complimented upon their prowess, and when Ruth andBetty exchanged places with Amy and Judith, the canoe went on its way upthe river, while the other scouts continued hiking back towards camp. 

"It wouldn't take us long to reach home if we were all in canoes, " saidAnne. 

"It would if _you_ were in one--you are so heavy!" laughed Hester. 

A titter sounded from the girls, but Mrs. Vernon held up a hand forsilence. "Was that thunder I heard from over the mountain?"

"No, that was only Julie's paddle echoing down the stream, " giggledJudith. But a louder rumble told the Captain she was right in hersurmise. 

"Dear me! I hope we won't be caught in another thunder-storm, " said she, holding the bunny closer to her side. 

But in answer to her fear, a sudden flash and a nearer peal of thunderwarned them all to seek shelter if possible. 

"If it rains we're bound to be soaked!" sighed Anne. 

"You big silly! Did any of us think water was dry?" asked Hester, scornfully. 

"I do wish those girls hadn't left us in the canoe! If it rains they mayupset, " worried the Captain. 

"They didn't leave _us_ in the canoe, Captain. And we are just as likelyto meet with mishap as they, " laughed Judith, to cheer every one up. 

"Well, it's going to break mighty quick! See that inky cloud scuddingacross there?" exclaimed Amy, pointing at the sky. 

"Verny, why not make a quick shelter to crawl under?" suggested Anne. 

"Think you can do it?" answered the Captain. 

"Hester's got the rubber cover that Mike gave us for the canoe when itis not in use, and we might stretch that between four trees, " addedAnne. 

"That's so. Let's try it!" agreed Hester, eagerly. 

Quickly, then, the scouts chopped down the scrub bush where four youngtrees were found for the corners, and then, while Anne and Hestersecured the four corners of the cover, the other girls ditched aroundthe spot so the rain would run off and not soak their camping place. 

Anne and Hester completed their work before the others, and then hastilybunched a mass of chopped-down bushes all around the temporary tent tobreak the driving rain when it came. The spot thus enclosed was notlarge, but by huddling together they managed to keep dry. 

"How nice it is to sit in a dry place and watch everything elsegradually soak with the rain, " ventured Amy, comfortably. 

"No one would have dreamed that a shower would come up to-day, theweather was so perfect when we left camp, " said Judith. 

"Do any of you girls understand weather-lore?" asked Mrs. Vernon. 

No one did, so the Captain continued: "If you study wind and cloud, wildwood creatures and other animals, you will find much to interest youin the weather. 

"When rain is coming you will see the sheep turn their tails towindward, but if the day is to be fine the sheep will graze with facesto the wind. 

"Cows always gather and huddle together at a sheltered end of thepasture lot when a storm is approaching. Cattle are restless and uneasybefore a storm breaks. And cows will fling up their heels, or sheep willgambol as if to make the most of the sunshine just before a prolongedspell of bad weather. Pigs, too, will grunt loudly and cavort aboutuneasily in their pens, carrying bits of straw from their bedding intheir mouths, before a heavy rainstorm. 

"With wild creatures you will find partridges sitting in the fields whenthunder is in the air. But the moment the storm blows over, the birdsare alive with energy again. Rabbits and other night-feeders can befound out hunting on a sunny day, but that means there will be a wetnight. 

"Most of our birds in field and forest know when a storm is brewing, andthey can be seen seeking for extra food to carry home, or, perhaps, devouring it quickly, storing it up against the time everything issoaked with the rain. 

"Bees seldom fly far from the hive when rain is threatening; flies areannoying and sting sharply before rain, and many times they clingtenaciously to wall or furniture, --that is to keep flat to a surface, sotheir bodies will not become damp. 

"A large ring can be found to encircle the moon the night preceding arainstorm. Should the storm be two or three days off, the ring is widerand you will find fainter shadows inside the main circle, --one for eachday. 

"Mountain moss is found to be soft and limp, and smoke generally beatsdownward when the East Wind presages rain. Callouses on the feet willache painfully; spiders will be seen strengthening their webs againstmoisture-weight; morning-glories will close up tightly; mushrooms arefound to be numerous; and there are a dozen other weather-signs that Iforget now. "

The scouts had listened with interest, for this was new to them, although Hester added: "I've heard the saying, 'Mackerel sky, twelvehours dry. '"

"Yes, and another one goes, 'Rain before seven, fine before eleven, '"said Judith. 

"You will find in summer that heavy dews in the night mean fine weatherthe following day, " added Mrs. Vernon. "Also any thunder-storm thatcomes with the wind soon passes away, but let it come against the wind, and it is apt to last. "

"This one came with the wind and is blowing away already. See!"exclaimed Amy, eagerly. 

"Yes, girls, now we can do as the Arabs--fold our tent and steal away, "said Mrs. Vernon, rising carefully so as not to jar the bunny which hadremained very quiet all this time. 

"I wonder what the girls in the canoe did while the rain was falling, "said Judith. 

"Leave it to Julie to find a way. I'll say she landed them all on thebank and then turned the canoe upside down over their heads, " laughedHester. 

When the canoeists arrived at camp, sometime after the hikers got there, they exchanged experiences. Hester's surmise turned out to be exactlyright, and the girls in the canoe were as dry as those who sat under therubber cover. 

CHAPTER EIGHT

JAKE'S INTERVIEW WITH A SKUNK

"Gilly, do you know of any vegetable dye we can find in the woods to dyesome burlap for decorations?" asked Julie one day. 

"Yes, you can take the berries and leaves of red or staghorn sumac andboil them together to make a black dye, or ink. If you need ink in ahurry, you can take the _Genus Coprinus_, commonly known as the inkmushroom, and pluck it at the end of its first day. The spores areblack, and the gills turn into a black fluid at the last. This producesa splendid writing ink, or will dye grass, quills, and other wildwoodstuffs. "

"Speaking of quills, Gilly--why can't we have chickens as the Grey Foxboys have?" asked Joan. 

"What would you do if they got the gapes, and no one would feed themchopped onions?" laughed Mr. Gilroy. 

"I'm not looking for trouble, but for pets to have about camp, " retortedJoan. 

"I'd hardly call a chicken a pet!" laughed Julie. 

"Even so, Julie, it would cluck and _appear_ to be friendly, even itwasn't. "

"What you scouts need is a good frisky dog for a pet. You can havechickens, if you like, but they are a nuisance. They stray away to laytheir eggs, and if they were kept cooped you'd have to spend valuabletime making a suitable inclosure. But a dog will go hiking with you, guard you at night from elephants and other prowling animals of thejungle, and be a fine old pal to boot, " said Mr. Gilroy. 

"Oh, why didn't we think to bring Jippy, " exclaimed Amy. Jip was alittle poodle of about fifteen years and had had the rickets for thepast five years, so he had to be carried about. 

The moment the scouts saw that Amy was in earnest they fairly roared, and Judith finally said: "Oh, Amy's catching the _ingénue_ habit fromBetty! What shall we do with two of them on hand?"

"Had we but known of this dire need of a dog, we would have broughtTowser--had he lived. He was only twenty-two this March, and had fulluse of his bark even though he had no teeth or eyesight. But, alas!alas! Towser is no more!" sighed Julie, rolling her eyes. 

As Towser had been one of the "old settlers" in Elmertown, he was knownto every man, woman and child there. Many a time, because he wasstone-deaf and had not heard the blast from the horn, some one wouldhave to rush out to rescue him from a passing automobile. So Julie'slament caused a new burst of merriment. 

"Stop all fooling now, scouts, and listen to me, " said Mr. Gilroy. "Imean a regular dog--an Irish terrier, or a bulldog, to chum with and beof some good to you. How'd you like it?"

"There ain't no sech critter in camp, " retorted Julie. 

"But I know where to get one! His name is Jake, and he is very fond ofthe ladies, I'm told. "

"His name sounds dreadfully rakish, Gilly, " teased Joan. 

"If Jacob is as faithful as his name would imply, we'd like to meethim, " added Mrs. Vernon, smiling. 

"You shall. He lives at the farm where my overseer is, and the next timeMr. Benson is due here, I'll see that Jake accompanies him. If bothsides are mutually attracted, the dog shall stay to give you scoutssomething to do, " declared Mr. Gilroy. 

"What kind of a dog is he, Gilly?" asked Betty, eagerly. 

"He is a prize Airedale. But he is so clever that he tries to runeverything on the farm, consequently Mr. Benson always has to separateJake from the other dogs in the neighborhood. "

For the next two days the scouts were kept busy constructing a finekennel for Jake to live in when he joined their camp. Everythingimaginable was done to add to the comfort and luxury of this "dog'slife"; and the third day they started for the bungalow to be introducedto Jake, who was expected to arrive that morning. 

It was a warm, drowsy day, and the wildwood creatures seemed to bekeeping quiet. Even the bees hummed less noisily over the flowers theywere robbing of nectar. The girls strolled slowly along the pathway, stopping now and then to watch a bird or examine a flower. They werejust passing the bend where the tumbling brook could be plainly seenfrom the trail when, suddenly, Julie held up a warning hand for quiet. 

Every one stopped short and waited. She pointed silently across thebushes in the direction of a long fallen tree that lay on the bank ofthe stream. The scouts looked, but saw nothing to cause this interest. Then she whispered warily, "I saw a big creature creeping along thatlog!"

"Really!"

"What did it look like? Which way did it go?" were questions hoarselywhispered. 

"It crawled on that log and suddenly disappeared. Maybe it jumped intothe water when it saw us. I am thinking it was a beaver, " returnedJulie. 

"Oh, how wonderful! If we could only see it at work, " cried some of thescouts. 

"How big was it, Julie?" now asked Mrs. Vernon. 

"It went so fast that I couldn't see well, but I should say it was aboutas big as a very large cat, --maybe larger if we were closer, " saidJulie. 

"Dear me, if we didn't have to go for Jake we might sit and wait for itto appear again. If it is a beaver, I'd love to watch it build a dam, "sighed Ruth. 

"I hope Jake won't want to chase it, on our way back, " Betty worried, asthe thought struck her. 

"We'll hold Jake on a leash. And if he doesn't make a fuss we mightcreep over and watch for the animal's appearance again, " added Julie. 

"Then the sooner we go and get Jake, the sooner we'll be back here, " wasthe sensible remark of Joan. 

The scouts now hurried along the trail and soon reached the bungalow, where a splendid Airedale was sleeping in the sunshine. He was stretchedout full length right in the way where one would have to pass to go upthe steps to the verandah. 

"Oh, are you Jake?" called Julie quickly, when she saw the dog. 

"Isn't he a beaut?" cried Joan, admiring the shapely form as it jumpedup to growl at the visitors. 

"Why, Jake, don't begin our relations with a growl! Don't you know wehave to keep the peace all summer?" laughed Julie, snapping her fingersto the dog. 

Mr. Gilroy heard voices and came out on the verandah. The moment hegreeted the scouts familiarly, Jake wagged his stump of a tail and ranup to show his friendship for his master's friends. 

The girls fussed over the dog immediately, and Mr. Gilroy smiled. "Well, what do you think of him, scouts? Is he homely enough to win your pity?You know it is said, 'Pity is akin to love. '"

"He's a regular peach, Gilly!" exclaimed Joan. 

"Just what we need at camp, " added Judith. 

And in the next ten minutes the dog had won high favor with his futurecompanions. Then the scouts told about the animal they believed to be abeaver, so they wanted to hurry back and watch. 

"But hold to the leash if you go near the log. Jake is a born hunter, "advised Mr. Benson. 

"Oh, he is very obedient if you speak sternly to him, " added Mr. Gilroy. "If he tugs or wants to run, just command in severe tones, 'To heel, Jake, ' and he will obey like a lamb. "

Jake wagged his tail as he watched Mr. Gilroy, and when the order wasgiven, 'To heel, Jake, ' he crept behind his master. 

"Oh, the darling! Doesn't he mind splendidly!" cried several of thescouts. 

"I'll come along pretty soon. Wait for me near the log where you saw thebeaver. I'll finish up with Benson and then join you there, " said Mr. Gilroy, as the scouts started down the trail again, leading Jake by theleash. 

Every one was delighted with the meek and obedient dog, and the fussingwas accepted by him as his due, but he paid no attention to the numerouspats and endearing names given him as they walked along. Then theyreached the open space where the log bounded the edge of the runningwater. It was about a hundred yards from the trail and distinctlyvisible because the brook was lower than the footpath where the scoutsstood. 

"There it is! I saw it!" exclaimed Joan, excitedly. 

At the same moment Jake also saw something doubtful moving swiftly outof sight back of the log. The girls ran over to the bushes to see thebetter, and Julie's hold on the leash relaxed unconsciously. In thatsame second, Jake took mean advantage of her inattention to him anddarted away. 

"Oh, oh! Come back here, Jake!" yelled Julie instantly. 

But the dog stood upon a rock, his ears erect, his nose sniffing as hepointed it in the direction of the log. His tail trembled spasmodicallyand the hair along his spine stood up stiffly. 

"I say, to heel, Jake. Come back, to heel!" shouted every scout in thegroup. But Jake was deaf to their calls. 

Then the Captain called to him, but he bounded from the rock and managedto force his way through the bushes, the leash catching here and thereon stumps, on sharp rocks, or on bushes. 

"What shall we do? Now he'll kill the little beaver!" wailed Betty, wringing her hands. 

"Some one run back and get Gilly! _He'll_ make him mind, " ordered Julie. 

"Who's Orderly for the Day? I want to wait and watch what he does, " saidJoan. 

"Oh, pshaw! I'm Orderly, and I s'pose I've got to go, " declared Judith, impatiently. 

"I'll go for you, Judy, 'cause I can't bear to wait here and see Jakekill anything, " said Betty, deeply distressed. 

"All right, Judy, --let Betty go instead, if she likes, " agreed theCorporal. So Betty ran swiftly away while the other scouts resumed theircoaxings to draw Jake away from the log. 

Julie now started to break away through the bush to get the dog, andseveral of the girls followed closely at her heels. When they reachedthe place where they had seen something move, they also saw tracks inthe soft soil. 

"It really is a wild animal, " said Julie, excited at sight of thefootprints. 

"But what? Do you know?" asked Judith. 

"No, but it must be a beaver--or a fox. I don't know which, " confessedJulie. 

But they couldn't get at Jake. He was racing excitedly up and down onthe log, his nose close to the strangely odorous scent, and all thecommands and persuasions from the scouts failed to make the leastimpression on him. His nervous short yelps showed how keen he was tohave a face-to-face bout with the animal. 

Julie tried to step on the leash, but he dragged her foot so that shesuddenly sat down violently on the ground. Then he nosed under the grassthat hung over the brook, and finally swam over to the other side. Therehe stood and watched nervously, but the girls could not get him backagain. 

"Talk about his minding! Why, he's the cussedest dog I ever saw!"complained Julie, as she got up and shook her clothes free of thebriars. 

"There's no use standing in this baking sun to look at Jake standing onthe other bank!" exclaimed Joan, angrily eying the disobedient dog. 

"We'll go back to the shady trail and watch for Gilly, " said Julie, starting back to join the Captain. But they kept calling to Jake as theyretraced their steps. 

When they got back to the slight elevation where Mrs. Vernon and Amy hadwaited, anxiously watching results, they saw Jake make a leap and swimquickly back across the brook to the log. 

"He must have seen or heard something that time, " whispered Hester. 

"Yes, 'cause he's stretched out on that log nervously wagging his tailwith his eyes glued on something, " admitted Amy. 

Then they caught their breath. The scouts saw a movement in the greenleaves at the end of the log and then--Jake was creeping stealthilyacross that log, as if he also saw what he wanted to pounce upon. 

"Oh, oh! Jake's got it! He's jumped upon it!" screamed Julie, frantically. 

"Why, it's a great big tomcat! They're fighting!" cried Hester, tooexcited to stand still, but jumping up and down. 

"A cat! Gilly hasn't a cat that color!" declared Joan. 

"Girls!" fairly hissed Julie. "I bet it's a wildcat--and it will killJake as sure as anything!"

"No, no! Oh, girls, I just saw it, too! It's a skunk! Run, run--for yourlives!" cried Mrs. Vernon, turning to run up the trail towards thebungalow. 

But several of the scouts would not desert the dog. He had carried theskunk off its feet with his unexpected leap upon it, and the two rolledand fought madly for supremacy. The leash, instead of tripping Jake, gottangled in the skunk's legs, and both animals rolled back and forth. 

The enraged beast fired the deadly fluid to blind her antagonist, but itdrenched the fallen tree only. Then Jake caught a grip on her throat andshook her head; still she was game and kept on struggling. 

Again they rolled over together, the skunk trying to get to the brink ofthe water, where she would manage to roll them both in. But Jakeunderstood that motive, too, and braced his feet against the stones intheir way. 

A second volley of the ill-smelling spray from the skunk struck atrandom, and then Jake gave her neck another sudden shake. This time itwas effective, and the head suddenly hung limp. Jake had broken herneck, and was the victor!

He now took great pains to drag the trophy through the brush to presentto his friends in the roadway. The leash caught several times and almostsnapped his own neck, and the skunk was heavy, but he managed to drag italong. 

When Julie saw his intent she screamed and warned the girls to flee! Andin running up the trail they met Mr. Gilroy, who had been summoned byhalf-crazed Betty's crying, "Jake and the beaver are killing eachother!"

Mr. Gilroy did not stop to hear what Julie tried to gasp, but he randown and saw Jake bringing the skunk out into the pathway. 

"To heel! to heel, Jake!" shouted Mr. Gilroy, holding his nose when thedog tried to jump upon him in the ecstasy of having achieved such agreat deed. 

"What shall we do with him? He can't sleep at Dandelion camp to-night, "wailed the girls, as they, too, held their noses. 

"I'll have to take him back to the barn and have Hiram turn the hose onhim for twenty-four hours. "

"Isn't there a reward for skunks in the country?" now asked the Captain. 

"Not only a reward, but the pelts are valuable since they became sofashionable, " remarked Mr. Gilroy, complacently. 

"Well, Jake's earned his keep to-day, then, " declared Judith. 

"But it will cost more than the skunk brings to pay for the nine hundredand ninety-nine bottles of _fleur-de-lis_ toilet water Gilly will haveto use to change Jake's scent!" laughed Julie. 

CHAPTER NINE

LESSONS IN TRACKING

"Well, scouts! That shows us how little we know about wild animal'stracks, " remarked Mrs. Vernon, after Jake had been made to go back tothe bungalow, and the Troop went on to camp. 

"I could have sworn that skunk's footprints were a coon's or afox's, --or something big!" exclaimed Julie, trying to justify hermistake. 

"To me, the tracks in the soil looked like a lynx's, or something, "added Joan, hoping to cover the ignominy of having unearthed a skunkwithout knowing the animal. 

"Isn't there some sort of book that will teach us how to recognizetracks, girls?" asked Hester. 

"Is there, Verny? Maybe we can get one at the bungalow, " added Julie. 

"I don't know of any at this moment, but Mr. Gilroy surely will know, "replied the Captain. 

So they all went to the bungalow the next morning to inquire afterJake's scent, and also to borrow any books on the subject they haddiscussed. 

"Yes, I have several books, and let me tell you they are precious, too. There are but few on this subject, and the one I consider the best wascompiled by Ernest Seton-Thompson under great difficulties. He had togather all information from plaster casts made in the tracks themselves, or from sketches, or from camera pictures taken on the spot. 

"As every different animal leaves a different track, there are manyillustrations necessary in such a work, and that makes the book mostdesirable and also very expensive. But it is great fun to study thepictures and then try to recognize the tracks in the woods. "

"We haven't found any about camp, " said Judith, regretfully. 

"There must be all sorts of tracks there, but you don't know how to findthem. Now, if you want to study this book and then practice early somemorning, I'll come down and help find the tracks, " Mr. Gilroy said. 

"Oh, great! Will you come to-morrow morning?" asked the girls. 

"Hadn't we better study the book first, scouts, and let Gilly know whenwe are ready to go tracking?" suggested the Captain. 

So for a time every one was busy reading the book and trying to discovera track in the woods near camp. But Julie laughed as she said, "It isn'tlikely that a wild animal will prowl close to our camp at night. We'llhave to hunt one some distance away. "

Mr. Gilroy overheard the remark as he came down the trail. "Sometimesthe animals will come quite close to camp just to find out what it isthat is intruding on their forest domain. "

"Well, then, I wish they'd hurry and come here!" declared Judith. 

"When you are ready to hunt tracks, I'll arrange some baits around yourcamp grounds; and the next morning I'll vow you'll see that you've hadcallers while you slept. So quiet are they that you won't hear them, either, " said Mr. Gilroy. 

"We are ready to hunt now, Gilly. We know everything in the book and arecrazy to test it, " said Joan, eagerly. 

"Then I'll tell you what we might do. I was going over to Grey Fox Camp, but if you girls will deliver a message for me, I will go home andattend to the bait I spoke of. Hiram and I will do the rest. "

"All right--what do you want us to say to the boys?" agreed the scouts. 

"Now, listen! Tell them that I want them to start out at dawn in themorning and hunt up all the tracks they can trace about their camp. Thento-morrow afternoon they are to come over here with their reports andhave a match with you girls. The side showing the best results and mostinteresting experience shall have a prize. How does it strike you?" Mr. Gilroy glanced at the pleased faces as he concluded. 

"Fine! Do they know much about tracks?" returned Julie. 

"Oh, yes, but then you must understand that they have been scouting formore than four years. Tell them that this is your first summer in agenuine forest camp, and they need not expect you to accomplish wonders. Then you girls must turn in and do your best!" laughed Mr. Gilroy. 

The scouts were most enthusiastic, and gaily agreed to follow Mr. Gilroy's suggestions. When they were ready to hike over the crest, theCaptain said, "We may as well invite the boys to supper to-morrow andmake a party of it. "

"That will be splendid. And I'll contribute my quota to the dinnerinstead of eating it at home, " added Mr. Gilroy. 

"We may have quail or partridge for dinner if we track the birdscarefully, " suggested Joan, giggling. 

"Venison steaks are better, " hinted Mrs. Vernon. 

"What's the matter with bear steaks, while we're about it? They're saidto be gamier in flavor, " laughed Julie. 

"We'll have all three, and serve a ten-course dinner to the boys, " addedRuth. 

With light banter the scouts left Mr. Gilroy where the trailsdiverged, --they to cross the crest and invite the boys over for supperthe next day, and Mr. Gilroy to go home to find the "bait. "

Dandelion Camp was abandoned for a long time that day, and it was toolate in the afternoon when the scouts returned, to ask what had beendone in the woods during their absence; but a great deal had taken placethere, as Hiram and his master could have told had they been soinclined. Even Jake could have testified to mysterious actions, and manyqueer maneuvers of familiar animals from the barnyard, but the girlsnever asked _him_. Their faith in Mr. Gilroy was sublime!

While the Dandelioners sat eating their camp supper, they discussed theboys they had visited that day. 

"I declare! I wonder if we ever _will_ know as much about the woods asthose Grey Fox boys do, " sighed Hester, taking a bite of baked potato. 

"Sure! We know almost as much as they do already, " bragged Joan. 

"They gave us a lovely luncheon--and all with nothing to do it with, "added Judith. 

"And it's up to us, girls, to give them a dinner that will make theireyes pop out to-morrow!" declared Ruth. 

"Let's plan it now, and do as much towards it as possible, then we cangive that much extra time to tracking, " suggested Julie. 

"And, scouts! I want you to display every bit of fine work you have donesince we've been in camp, and all the work we did at camp last summer, as well, and brought with us this year, " advised the Captain. 

"Yes, we don't want those boys to think we don't know a thing! The stuffwe've made is so different from what they have, too, " admitted theleader. 

So the evening was employed in arranging many exhibits to impress thevisitors the following afternoon. Then the scouts rolled into bed. 

"Verny, you'd better set the alarm clock for four in the morning, "called Julie, the last thing. 

"Yes, we want to be up and ready to start when Gilly comes for us, "added Joan, the Corporal. 

"All right. Go to sleep now, or you'll all over-sleep, " laughed theCaptain from her tent. 

But there was no need of an alarm clock. The girls were up half an hourbefore it rang, and were impatiently waiting for the arrival of theirinstructor in tracking. Some of the scouts had gone into the bushes tobegin a search, but had found nothing. 

It took but a few moments after Mr. Gilroy arrived to outline his plansfor the work and fun. "We will scatter in couples to hunt for any sortof track whatever. The first couple that discovers any genuine trackmust call out, then we all will run and study it for what it is, orwhere it leads to. Now, pair off, scouts, but the Captain and I willfollow at a distance and hurry to the first pair who find a track. "

"There are nine of us--how about the odd one?" asked Julie. 

"Let the three youngest go together, " returned the Captain. So Amy, Betty and Judith hunted in trio. 

It was a "still hunt" for a time, since every one was too intent onfinding a track to speak. Most of the scouts took to the dense bushesand woods, but the Leader sought in a clearing and was the first tosummon the others. 

"Oh, come, every one! We've found a great big track!" called Julie, asshe and her companion knelt to inspect the prints. 

Every one raced wildly to the clearing, and, sure enough, there werehoof prints distinctly marked in the soil. The trail led across theclearing into the dense forest. 

"Aren't they big?" excitedly asked Joan. 

"They're made by a deer!" said Julie, boastfully. 

"Are they, Gilly?" asked the girls as the Judge came up. 

He pretended to study them carefully, and then said: "I shall have towait and compare them with those in the book. "

"Maybe it is a reindeer?" suggested Betty, eagerly. 

"Mercy no! We don't have reindeers south of the Pole!" declared hersister. 

"Look here, girls! This creature only had two legs--it left only twohoofmarks, one for each side, " cried Judith now. 

"Then I know what it was! It was that familiar animal that carries apitchfork, smells of sulphur and is known to have hoofs, " retortedJulie, making them all laugh merrily. 

"I'm sure I have no desire to trail _him_!" said the Captain, holding upboth hands as if to ward off such a danger. "Let him go to his lair inpeace!"

"All joking aside, girls, this is a queer track--only two feet insteadof four. Let's follow and see where it goes, " suggested Mr. Gilroy. 

So they trailed the plainly visible tracks, and after a distance, Juliesaid: "Whatever it is, it couldn't have traveled so far as this if itwas a cripple. It just _couldn't_ walk on two hind legs all this way. "

Mr. Gilroy had to laugh loudly at this, but he said, "No, but don't giveup hope! You may stumble right over the prostrate buck. "

But the trail now crossed itself several times, and the scouts wonderedwhich way the two-legged creature finally went, for all tracks wereobliterated after that criss-cross place in a tiny clearing. 

The Corporal was determined to pick it up again somewhere, so shefinally came out to the trail that ran from the camp to the bungalow. Here she wandered up and down for a short distance, and then spied thetracks again. 

"Oh, I've got him again. He goes right up this trail, " so she followed. 

The others followed at a distance, and then she shouted, "He prowledaround Gilly's house, too, last night, for I see the hoofmarks here. "

Julie would have gone after the tracks to the right "lair, " but Hiramcame forward from the barnyard to meet her. He had heard her call to theothers, and offered a solution to the problem. 

"I seen them tracks this mornin', too, Miss Julie, and I'm sure thatanimal come to the barnyard las' night to feed offen the hay and corn hecould find around there. "

"Oh, really! Would one do that?" asked Julie, amazed. 

"Sure he would, if he was a deer. An' them tracks ain't no grizzly, erfox, er other critter, you know. "

"No; of course, it is a deer, as one can see by the tracks. But I'msorry we have to end in such an ordinary place as the barnyard, " sighedJulie. 

"I see'd some queer tracks down by that log where Jake caught theskunk, " now hinted Hiram. 

That was enough! In another moment every scout was bounding down thetrail in order to reach the spot first and win honor by knowing thetrack correctly. 

Hester found these tracks first, and shouted to her friends, "This hassmall cloven feet, but there are only two legs, also! Now and then youcan see where one track looks as if a hind foot had broken in on anotherone!"

"Oh, girls! That explains that other two-footed animal!" now exclaimedJulie, quickly. 

"What, what?" demanded every one eagerly. 

"Most likely the deer stepped daintily with its hind feet directly inthe same track made by its forefeet. It said something about that in thebook, you know. "

"Do you think that is it, Gilly?" now asked several anxious voices. 

"Exactly! I was hoping you'd find that out, " agreed he. 

"Well, does this creature show any unusual tendencies, girls, by whichyou can recognize it?" laughed Mrs. Vernon. 

"Not a thing! It starts from the trail and goes right through the brushwhere we broke a way that day the skunk was killed, and it stopped toquestion nothing. It must have been in a hurry to get a drink, "explained Joan. 

The trail plainly led to the brook, and ended there. No sign of anythinggoing back again could be found, although the girls looked carefullyover the entire place. Then Julie thought she saw something in the softsoil upon the opposite bank. To make sure, she waded through the shallowbut swiftly running water, and there, on the steep bank, she saw thetracks again. 

"Ha! I found 'em! plain as day. Come and follow!" called she. And offshe started. 

Not more than a dozen yards along the top of the bank she found thetracks go down again; and through the brook she went, up the otherside, and back to the brush-clearing on a new trail, following thecloven-footed tracks. Out on the hard trail they were lost. 

"Now, that makes two I've trailed and lost. It's a shame!" cried Julie, stamping her foot. 

"'Better to have trailed and lost than never to have found at all, '"misquoted Mrs. Vernon, laughingly. 

"If the first one was a deer, this second one must have been a littlefawn, " said Judith. 

"Is there any other animal that wears hoofs?" asked Ruth, of no one inparticular. 

Now, Mr. Gilroy must have dreaded the reply, for he quickly changed thesubject. "How many of you brought the plaster and bottle of water?"Every one had. 

"Well, why not make a little cast of both the tracks you do notrecognize and then compare them with those in the book when we go backto camp?"

This sounded fine, so the scouts were soon busy making casts of thetracks. When hard, they were handed to the Captain and Mr. Gilroy tocarry carefully until they all reached camp. 

Quite near the camp ground Hester made a discovery. "Oh, come and see!Here is something with toes. As big as a wildcat, or maybe a littlebear!"

Yes, there were toes in this animal's tracks--as plain as could be. Sothe scouts guessed every animal known, excepting the coyote andwater-loving creatures. After many futile suggestions, they made aplaster cast of these tracks also. 

"I'm going to carry this load back to camp, girls, and be ready for thenext one you give me, " announced Mr. Gilroy, starting to go down thetrail. 

The next two tracks, one that of a large-toed animal and the other ofone whose tracks showed how the hair grew down low on the hindlegs, --for the hair showed in several of the imprints made ofplaster, --strangely ended near the bungalow, and on the other side ofthe hard trail again, they ran as far as the barnyard. 

"I never saw the beat of it! Any one would think Gilly hung the bait onthe barn door to entice the animals here, " said Julie, who was angry atwinding up at such a place three times running. Mr. Gilroy had to laughin spite of himself. 

"Say, where did you put that bait, anyway, Gilly?" demanded the scoutleader, watching the man skeptically. 

"Where we knew it would attract the best results. "

"Gilly, I verily believe you are hoaxing us!" cried Julie. Mrs. Vernonsmiled at her bright scout, but Mr. Gilroy shook his head protestingly. 

"Why should I hoax any one? I was laughing at the way you brave scoutsdodged when Joan said the animal they lost might be crouching on abough of the trees. "

"No, that wasn't what made you laugh. " Then Julie went over and held asecret conference with her corporal and Ruth, and they, grinning, urgedher to do as she suggested. 

So Julie took a sample of the different casts made in the tracks, andleft the others engaged in finding new and intricate tracks. Mr. Gilroyand the Captain were not taken into the three scouts' confidence, butthey must have suspected where Julie proposed going, for soon after shehad gone Mrs. Vernon said:

"Girls, if we expect to entertain the Grey Fox boys at dinner thisafternoon, we'd better go back now and begin work. "

"Without a clue to any wild animal we tracked?" sighed Judith. 

"Oh, yes, Judy--we've got some fine clues, and by the time we're at campand have our books out, Julie will be back with proofs! Come on, " wasJoan's assurance to the girls. 

On the way, the scouts discussed the last track they had discovered. "Iwas sure it was a crow's, " asserted Amy. 

"No, it was more like a chicken-hawk's, " Hester added. 

"There wouldn't be any chicken-hawk around here in these woods, " saidJoan. 

"Maybe it was the American Eagle, " laughed Mr. Gilroy. 

"Yes, it got tired of sitting on the flagpole where the colors have hungfor four days without being taken in at night, as they should be, "remarked the Captain. 

"Dear me, Verny, there is so much to remember in camp. We alwaysremember the flag after we are in bed at night, " complained Ruth. 

"The Orderly will have to appoint a flagman for each day after this, "said Mrs. Vernon. 

They finally reached camp, and had a light luncheon ready before Juliereturned. She came down the trail sprightly, with one hand holdingsomething behind her, and singing as she came. 

"Where have you been, Julie?" asked several of the scouts. 

"Did you find out what you went for?" asked others. 

"Yep! I learned that we have among us the queerest sort of creature, girls. It really walks on two legs, holds its head upright, and belongsto the fox class. I tracked it right to our midst, " laughed Julie. 

The scouts seemed perplexed, and Julie, too full of her discoveries totease very long, said, "His name is 'Foxy Grandpa, ' and you all know himwell!"

Every eye glanced at Mr. Gilroy, and he laughingly replied, "Why do youall seem to think I am that animal?"

"Because you are, Gilly!" retorted Julie. "And I'll prove it now, toevery one's satisfaction. "

"First, then: Did Hiram miss any calves or pigs or other domesticanimals from his barnyard yesterday?"

Mr. Gilroy threw up both hands in submission when he saw the knowinglook in the leader's eyes. 

"Because here are the molds we made of the tracks found in the forest, girls. And here are molds I made of the heifer, a pig, the Great Dane, and a chicken, at the bungalow. Can you find any difference?"

Both the Captain and Mr. Gilroy laughed, but the scouts gasped inunbelief, "Would Gilly do such a thing?"

Not one bit of difference was found when comparing the molds of eachanimal, and then Mr. Gilroy had to tell how he did it. Of course, thescouts laughed mirthlessly, for they were thinking of how those Grey Foxboys would jeer at their woodcraft. But Julie now brought out in front, the hand which had held something behind her. 

"Here is the hawk--or American Eaglet. I brought it with me for dinnerto-night. To Gilly it will be crow-pie, but to us it will be springchicken. " And the Leader tossed a dead chicken upon the grass. Then sheadded:

"That's what happens to all 'critters' that trespass on our land. Hiramtells me that when a farmer catches an animal on his land, he generallyholds it for ransom, or for food for himself, so we have not fared sobadly, scouts, in this day's work!

"Behold the other trophies coming! I took them because they broke thelaw and trespassed on our estates last night. " Julie waved a handdramatically towards the trail, and every one turned to look. 

Hiram was slowly advancing toward camp, leading with one hand afractious pig, and with the other hand dragging an unwilling half-grownheifer on a chain. Jake was jumping about and barking excitedly as theycame over and stood like prisoners at the bar. 

"Mr. Foxy Grandpa, " began Julie, as severely as she could, "because ofyour crime of misleading trusting scouts into a snare, I pronounce thisjudgment upon you, and therefore levy upon your property to satisfy thejudgment. 

"This wild deer and its little fawn shall henceforth be the property ofthe injured ones--insulted past all forgiveness by your fraud. And theinnocent victims used to perpetrate your schemes, being as free fromguile as the scouts themselves, shall dwell henceforth together in peaceand tranquillity!"

Every one laughed heartily at the dénouement for it was so like Julie;but Mrs. Vernon added, "Julie you speak exactly like the millennialtimes, when the lion and the lamb shall dwell in love and peacetogether. "

"The lion will dwell with the lamb, all right, but the lamb will be the_piece_ inside the lion, " added Mr. Gilroy; "just as this pig will livein camp! Such a life as it will lead you!"

"No good talking 'sour grapes', now, Gilly, " advised Julie, wisely. "Thecalf and the pig remain, no matter what sort of life they lead us. "

"What can you expect to do with two such pets?" asked Mr. Gilroy, whowas honestly amazed at the scouts' unexpected appropriation. 

"First, build a pen for them, and second, have veal and pork before weleave for home!" retorted Julie. She then ordered all the scouts to fallto work and construct a temporary shelter for the two creatures. 

Mr. Gilroy seemed too surprised to comment, and when Hiram finallydelivered the calf and pig into Julie's custody, Mr. Gilroy turned toher and said, "Do you _really_ mean to keep the beasts, here in camp?"

"Why, of course! Why should we go to all this fuss for nothing?"

"Well, I can't see, yet, why you should?"

When the calf and pig were temporarily tied to a tree, where they seemedas much at home as back in the barnyard, Julie said, "By the way, Gilly, what did you call the pets when they were yours?"

"They have never been christened, because I waited for an opportunetime. It is here now!" returned Mr. Gilroy, picking up one of thebottles of water that had done duty to make plaster casts that morning. 

He held it over the calf's head and poured half of its contents outwhile he said solemnly:

"Dear little deer, henceforth you shall be known as Julia, in honor ofthe intrepid scout that captured you, single-handed. 

"Likewise, this sweet little fawn, known by its tracks through thewilderness, shall be named Ant-and-ett because of its peculiarhabits, --busy as an ant and eats all that comes its way!" Then the restof the water was emptied over the pig's head. 

"_Antoinette_ it shall be, now and forever, " declared Julie, while theother scouts laughed uproariously. But the two names stuck, andthereafter the calf was "Julia" and the pig was generally called by thename of "Anty. "

After the christening Mr. Gilroy beckoned for the Captain to join himwhere the girls could not over-hear his conversation. "You don't supposethe girls are in earnest about keeping the pig and calf at camp, doyou?" asked he, anxiously. 

"Yes, certainly, " laughed Mrs. Vernon. "You don't know girls of thisage, or you'd understand that they enjoy all these silly pranksthoroughly, and really, they act as safety-valves. "

CHAPTER TEN

THE GIRL SCOUTS ENTERTAIN

"Now, Gilly, you've got to help us build the sheds for Julia and Anty, or go home until its time for the party, " exclaimed the Leader, callingto the still-wondering man. 

"If we're to have any dinner ready for the Grey Foxes; I think Hiram andGilly ought to do the building of the sheds, and let us get busy withthe cooking, " added the Corporal. 

"Yes, that's a better plan, " admitted Julie. "Come on, now, Gilly, don'tshirk your duty!"

So Mr. Gilroy and his man were set to do construction work, while thescouts ran to and fro, fetching and carrying, arranging exhibits, baking, cooking, and what-not, that Dandelion Troop need not take a"back seat" in comparison with the Grey Foxes. 

"Verny, " whispered Julie, soon after the two men were sawing and nailingat the sheds, "it's as plain as the nose on my face, that Gilly thinksthose boys are far cleverer than we girls. "

"What makes you think so, Julie?" asked Joan, who was passing at thetime. 

"Never mind, now, Jo, but we've just got to show him, as well as hisboys, that girl scouts know a heap more than they talk about. That's whyI'm anxious to make a 'ten-strike' with dinner!"

"It is too bad we were tricked with false tracks, " said Mrs. Vernon. 

"I don't believe those boys would have known any better, under thecircumstances, but of course, they won't admit it. "

"Forget it!" said Julie, shortly. "And listen to me. Take all thecontents of our boxes out upon the cots, and call upon all the girls youneed to help in the work. Turn the packing cases upside down and coverthem with some of our embroidered covers; then arrange to the bestadvantage, everything we can show for our past year in scoutdom. 

"Try to group our exhibits according to their relationship with eachother, but leave all the Indian pots and dishes scattered aboutcarelessly as if we were accustomed to using them daily. The birchbarkbaskets and articles can be hung about on tents or trees where they willshow off best, --but don't let it look as if the stunt was done onpurpose for this occasion--see?"

Joan smiled. "Yes, I see! Leave it to the Girl Scouts!"

So, although there was plenty of activity before, now there was no endof rushing and laughing and planning between the scouts. The pots anddishes Julie spoke of were left to Mrs. Vernon to place, and sheaccomplished the task of studying carefully the apparent carelessness ofleaving the vessels about. 

These Indian pots and dishes were the most interesting things the scoutshad made. It was simple work, and took but little time and no cost toproduce the results. And most effective they were. 

They took a lump of clay and worked out all the hard bits, and sticks orstones, then shaped it for the bottom of a bowl or pot. In its firststep it looked like a flat saucer, then it was left an hour or two, according to the thickness of the clay, to dry well. After that thesides were built up on this saucerlike bottom. 

It was shaped the desired form, and patted into the thickness required, then smoothed out nicely, both inside and out, and again dried asbefore. Now it was baked in a hot fire for several hours, so that whenit was cool it was a fireproof bowl. 

The only trouble the girls had had with this interesting art was thecarelessness of a few of them in cooling the dishes too quickly. Theyfound the clay invariably cracked when the pots were too quickly cooledafter taking them from the fire. But by slow degrees of cooling, whichtook about three hours, they came out perfect. 

The scouts had decorated their pots as they felt inclined, so that theypresented a varied and pleasing array as they stood about camp, inplaces where the eye would see them to their best advantage. Some werepainted with wood-dyes, and others were etched in relief patterns. 

When the Captain had finished her task, she silently drew the attentionof the scouts to the groups, and they all stood and smiled proudly attheir handiwork. 

"We didn't see anything like that at Grey Fox Camp, " bragged Judith toJoan. 

"No sir! Nor did they have a cookstove like ours! Alec may have made aroasting-fan such as we never heard of before, but we can show him athing or two when he comes over!" exclaimed Joan. 

At this moment Julie was heard calling the Orderly. 

"How about that chicken? Some one's got to draw it so it can be cooked. It ought to go on the fire in another half hour. "

At this Mr. Gilroy called out, "You're not going to eat my chicken, areyou?"

"Sure! That's why I had Hiram wring its neck. I knew the poor thingwouldn't object to being cooked if once its breath was gone, " laughedJulie. 

"Dear me! It's my turn to draw the fowl and I hate it!" complained Ruth. 

"S-sh!" warned Julie, waving a frying-pan at Ruth, "it is for the Causeof Woman this time, so don't cry, Ruthy!"

"I'll help do it, Ruth, " Betty now offered kindly. "I know how youdislike the work, but 'Liza showed me how to do it so that it reallyisn't half bad. "

Betty poured scalding water over the chicken, and the feathers came offeasily. Then she slit the throat and breast and removed the entrailswithout causing any repulsion in Ruth. When it was ready, Ruth admittedthat she knew she could do the work the next time without a qualm. 

The cookstove the scouts were so proud of was a remarkable affair--evenMr. Gilroy admitted that. Mrs. Vernon had discovered a heap of fine flatstones, such as a surveyor uses for his "corners, " and these were used. The largest stones were placed against a tree that would act as draughtto the fire, and the mound was built up until it was a convenient heightto use without bending uncomfortably low, as is necessary withcampfires. 

Through the center of this mound was a well, and on four sides of therounded mound were windowlike openings backed with tin; in these nichesvarious pots or pans could be kept hot while other viands were cookingon top of the stove. 

The top was made of a sheet of thin stove-iron which the Captain hadbrought from home, and near the bottom of the mound was a tipping-stoneupon which the fire was laid. When the fire was out, its ashes could beremoved by tipping the flat stone over and letting the cinders fall tothe bottom, where they could be raked away quite easily. 

This opening provided draught for the fire, and at the back, from thefire-stone, an opening had been left, and here to several feet above thetop of the stove, a length of stove-pipe carried all smoke out and abovethe heads of the scouts. 

The girls had also built a fireless cooker in the ground just besidetheir stove, where fish, or any article needing steady heat, could beplaced. This cooking-pit was constructed after the plan adopted by mostscouts, and described fully in the manual. 

While Ruth and Betty were busy preparing the chicken, Mrs. Vernon builta good fire in the stove, and had several of the girls heat the stonesin the fireless cooker, to be ready for use. 

Mr. Gilroy had donated several fine lake trout that day, so these werecleaned and washed and placed in the cooker-pit, where they would needno watching but be done to a turn when wanted. 

The chicken was cut up for a fricasee, and diced onions and potatoeswere prepared to add to the boiling liquid about an hour before serving. This would provide not only soup for the first course, but chicken withdumplings for a third course. They proposed having the fish with buttersauce for the second course. 

Just as Julie added the diced potatoes, Hester exclaimed, "Oh, Jule!what did you do that for? Those duck-potatoes were meant to make theboys' eyes bulge!"

"What duck-potatoes? I never touched them!" declared Julie, defensively. 

"Didn't you cut them up and use them just now?"

"I should say not! After all the work we had in finding and diggingthem! Why, they ought to be preserved--not eaten, " laughed the Leader. 

"Thank goodness!" sighed Hester, in such evident relief that every onelaughed sympathetically. 

"Who's doing the Indian cucumbers?" called the Corporal. 

"I am!" answered Judith. "They're all peeled and sliced ready to serve. And Amy gathered the dandelion greens to go with them. "

"Fine! Verny is making a mayonnaise to use with the salad. My! Won'tthose boys have the wind taken out of their sails when they see the duckpotatoes and Indian cucumbers!" giggled Joan. 

Mr. Gilroy had not missed much of all this whispering and joyousconfusion, and he chuckled to himself as he and Hiram finished nailingthe last boards on the sheds and turned Julia into her new home. Thesmall pigsty was soon completed, and then a fence was built about it, but it was not calculated to keep a full-grown pig in bounds; it wasstrong enough for Antoinette, however, at that time. 

Before the pig-pen was quite finished, the scouts heard the whistles andcalls from the Grey Fox boys, as they hiked over the crest trail. Sothey fluttered about anxiously to see that not an item on the programmewas forgotten. 

Hiram was on his way to the bungalow, and Mr. Gilroy had hurried down tothe lake to wash up and make his dinner toilet, when the boys came gailyinto camp. After greeting their hostesses, the Grey Fox scouts lookedaround. 

"Well, guess you girls are planning to spread yourselves for dinner, eh?" asked Alec, jocularly. 

"Oh, nothing more than usual; we live high every day, " returned Julie, tossing her head. 

Nothing more was said about dinner just then, but a loud call from"Julia" drew all attention to her shed. The boys stared in surprise atthe two buildings they had never noticed before. 

"Isn't that a pig--in that pen?" asked Ned, amazedly. 

"No, it's Antoinette--our latest girl scout!" giggled Amy. 

The boys laughed, for the name struck them as awfully funny for a pig. Then they walked from Anty's pen to the shed, which had a door swung onleather hinges, but it was closed. 

"And what sort of scout do you lock up in here?" asked Bob, condescendingly. 

"Bob Veal!" retorted Julie, causing every one to roar at the questioner. 

Bob flushed, but walked over to the stove where the Captain stoodstirring the dumplings in the chicken soup. "That's a fine stove, Captain, " ventured he. 

"Yes, it is something like the one we built last year in camp. That wasso convenient we decided to have another this summer. Wouldn't you boyslike to examine it closely?"

Thereupon the Grey Foxes did examine it closely, much to their advantageon useful ideas of kitchen equipment. Then they saw the fireless cookerthat was in use for the time being; so they passed on to inspect thevarious birchbark hanging-baskets filled with flowers; the rusticfern-boxes, and all the useful articles the scouts had manufactured ofbirchbark and acorns. 

"It takes a girl to do fancywork, all right. Now, we boys are not giftedthat way, you see, but we can make other things, instead, " remarkedAlec, bestowing a male's compliments on feminine accomplishments. 

"Just what can you make, or have done, that we girls are not able todo?" demanded Julie. 

"Oh, I wasn't personal in any way, --I just meant that it is quitenatural for women to do the light things while men have to look afterthe business of life!"

"Well, the quicker you open your eyes to facts, and see that we women ofthe present age are fast outstripping the men in _every_ calling, thebetter it will be for your own good!" said Julie. 

"Just glance around, boys, and tell us if you can make a better showingfor _your_ four years, " added Joan, waving her hand at the variousexhibits. 

It happened that the girls had each been given a cue by Julie, so thatwhen the Grey Fox boys came into camp, Judith was found sweepingcarefully with a camp-made broom, Amy and Betty were placing a tabletopupon its legs and then starting to set the table, and the other scoutswere busy with other unusual things. Now Dick walked over to Judith. 

"How did you know you could make a broom like this?" said he. 

"Why, this is an old one made the first day we came to camp. You oughtto see our new ones. They are fine!"

Dick examined the broom, and called Alec over. "They can make brooms, all right, Alec!" said he, showing the article in question. It was madeof long hickory shavings, well bound about a good handle, and promisedto outlast any dozen store brooms. 

"But why sweep this grass, --that's foolish, " said Alec. 

"No, because this is where we will sit about the table. We always sweepaway the crumbs or trash that fall during mealtime, so the ants andother insects won't annoy us. This morning, however, we were in such ahurry to get out with Gilly, that we forgot the usual routine work incamp, " explained Judith. 

The two boys exchanged glances, but Judith saw them. Alec then said, smilingly, "Oh, yes! How did that track-hunt come off? I suppose youscouts knew every animal, eh?"

Judith now realized that Mr. Gilroy had had the whole joke planned outwith the Grey Fox boys, and that the boys were only waiting to have agood old laugh on the girls. So she deliberately told a lie, --ferventlypraying that it be forgiven for the "Cause of Women. "

She glanced roguishly up at Alec, and winked one eye. "Wasn't it toofunny for anything, --the way we led Gilly about by the nose?"

The boys stared in surprise for a moment, then Dick said, "What do youmean? Didn't you scouts go out at dawn with Gilly to study tracks?"

"Sure! But didn't you boys know about the joke we made up on him aboutthose tracks? That's why he is so late to dinner. "

"Tell us about it?" eagerly begged both boys. 

"Oh! I can't. I thought you knew something about it or you wouldn't havegrinned the way you did. I'm so sorry I let the cat out of the bag, forlikely, our Leader wants to tell you the story while we all are atdinner, " cried Judith, the picture of regret. 

"Oh, come on and tell! Now that you've said so much!" coaxed Dick. 

"Well, you boys walk around and look over our work and I'll run and askJulie if I may tell you the story, " whispered Judith, giggling, andrunning over to the Leader's side. 

When Julie heard the truth from Judith, she was furious, but she soonsaw that she must thrust anger behind her, and plan some clever way toreverse the joke and make it fall upon the originator. In fact, at thatmoment, the scouts wished all kinds of dreadful things upon theirbenefactor, Mr. Gilroy. 

He, however, unaware of their ire, was walking up the trail from thelake to the camp-site. And the boys, who were told to amuse themselvesfor a time, were certainly finding more good ideas put into useful format that camp than they ever dreamed of. 

The large square table was constructed of the boards removed from apiano-case which Gilly had at the barn. These were all nailed to a frameand furnished a strong, heavy top that could be placed, at will, on thefour sturdy posts that were driven into the ground. These table-legswere only fifteen inches above the ground, so one could sit on the grassand conveniently use the top. 

The four boys met at a large rustic shelf-cupboard, constructed ofshort-length boards taken from a cereal box, and placed so as to makefour shelves. Two sides were made of boards that came from one of thepacking-cases from the city. This cupboard stood against a great pinetree that furnished the backing, and on the shelves were the array oflanterns and candlesticks made and used in camp. 

"Gee! They've got the bottle-neck holder, the tin-can lantern, and allthe rest. It seems they know the scout stunts, all right, " whisperedNed. 

"Yes, and look at these candles! Do you suppose they made them in camp?They look like hand-dipped products, " added Alec, examining the tallowcandles. 

"We won't let on that we're curious, but we'll find out from Gilly justhow they made these candles, " suggested Bob. 

From the shelves that held candles and some clay ornaments the boyswandered over to the sun-dial. 

"It's better than the one we made, " admitted Ned. 

"Humph! So it is, " said Alec, reluctantly, but willing to be just. 

"Whoever did that burnt-wood etching around the edge sure made a finejob of it. And the numerals are very good, " added Bob. 

"Gilly said Ruth is the artist of the Troop, " said Dick. 

But the Grey Foxes never found out that the Indian Clock had been madeduring the previous winter when there was ample time to spend over sucha work. The large wooden slab was sent to camp with many other highlydecorative things made the same winter. 

Mr. Gilroy now joined the boys and offered to act as official guide inviewing everything. So interested were the boys in all they saw thatthey temporarily forgot about the joke of the tracking. 

"Come and see the Indian willow beds the scouts made the first day incamp, " said Mr. Gilroy, boastfully, now that he wanted to impress theboys. 

So the beds, the weaving looms, the birdhouses here and there, and otherthings were duly seen and admired. But the exhibit that interested theboys as much as anything that day was the neat and beautiful work donewith wild flowers and a deal of patience. There were blue-prints ofdelicate flowers, as well as shadow-work and pressed and mountedflower-groups. 

Alec recognized the three-leaved arrow-head, and showed it to the otherboys who had never seen it before. This particular specimen was whiteand waxen in contrast to the indigo-hued paper. 

The spiderwort was a rich blue with its two large petals rounded, whilethe third one was tiny and colorless. There was also a purple varietyknown as "Job's Tears. "

The wild leek and garlic flowers made dainty blue-prints, scarcelyrecognizable as coming from such humble family trees as the despisedonion. Wild spikenard, with its crown of tiny white flowers, alsoreproduced beautifully in the blue-print. The Seal of Solomon and purpleTwisted Stalk made scraggy pictures easy to identify. 

Betty had pressed a white trillium that made an imposing picture, retaining all its beauty and lines. The boys had the painted trilliumin their collection but had never seen the white one. 

In the flower collection made by the other scouts were manyorchids, --fringed-purple, ragged-fringed, yellow-fringed, and others. Also the Indian pink, the rattlesnake plantain, the pink snake-mouth, monkshood, bloodroot, pitcher plant, and numerous others that formed awonderful exhibit which it would take a long time to do justice to. 

While the Grey Foxes were poring over the flower books, Mrs. Vernon cameup beside them. "When you boys are through here, we will sit down todinner, as everything is ready to serve. "

"Oh, we'll look at the rest of these another time, " said Bob, quickly. 

So the Captain led them over to the table, where the appearance of thefestive board caused them to smack their lips. Mr. Gilroy and the GreyFox boys were seated according to Julie's directions, then the girls allwent over to the cookstove. 

At each place on the table sat a flat clay-made plate that was to doservice for many needs. Beside the plate were the birchbark cup to drinkwater from, a birchbark napkin ring that held a paper napkin, and theusual knife, fork and spoon. 

In the center of the table stood a lovely fern centerpiece, the holderwoven of split willows, and the fern dug up in the woods andtransplanted into a tin pail that did not show inside the basket. 

The fernery was flanked by two other handwoven baskets of sweet-grass. One held the scout-biscuits just baked, while the other was piled highwith light little puff-cakes. On either side of the centerpiece stoodtwo large flat clay platters, --one held the Indian cucumber salad, andthe other a dandelion salad. 

"Aren't the girls going to sit down, too?" called Alec. 

"Yes, but each girl has to serve a boy's soup as well as her own. Thenwe will sit down, " answered Julie. 

Meantime Joan was whispering anxiously, as each girl held out the claybowls for soup, "Now remember! Leave the tracking tale to Julie, andagree with her everytime! Don't you dare be caught napping this time!"

And as each scout left the stove with her two bowls of soup, shewhispered. "No, leave it to me! We'll get the best of Gilly for thisjoke. "

The chicken soup was highly praised, and truly it was a good broth anddeserved all praise. Then came the fish, --all done to a turn and servedpiping hot with butter sauce. The Indian cucumber went well with thelake trout, and here the boys had another surprise. 

"Indian cucumbers! We never knew they grew around here, " ventured Alec, but delighting in the salad just the same. 

"Oh, didn't you? Well, you see, it takes a girl's fancy touches tosecure these sort of things. You boys, of course, have to give your timeto doing big things, " was Julie's sarcastic reply. 

The third course consisted of the chicken and dumplings, stewed bracken, and a side dish of vegetable that looked for all the world like smallpotatoes. The boys studied these curiously. 

"It's quite digestible, " laughed Mrs. Vernon. 

"But be sure to appreciate them, --they are the only Wapitos we've everfound!" declared Joan, proudly. 

"Wapitos! You don't mean it!" exclaimed Alec, eagerly. 

"Why, where did you find them?" asked the other boys. 

"One morning when we were out tracking, " said Julie, with a carelessmanner. Then quickly added, "Oh, Captain, where are the Brusselssprouts? We almost forgot that vegetable. "

The Orderly jumped up and ran to the stove where, in one of the niches, stood the bowl of charlock hearts, a wild green that tastes exactly liketender sprouts. These are easy to cultivate in a garden, too, and arenot as expensive as Brussels sprouts. 

"My, what a spread this is!" sighed Bob, ecstatically. 

Every one laughed, for Bob and Anne were the gourmands of the twotroops, and were never ashamed to admit when they enjoyed a thing. 

"Yes, it's some dinner, all right. Made a lot of work, didn't it?" addedAlec. 

"Oh, not so much as usual, " returned Julie. "We really had planned amore elaborate affair, but the joke we played on Gilly took longer thanwe allowed for it, and so we had to scramble the dinner. "

Julie smiled benignly upon the guests, but they exchanged looks with Mr. Gilroy at the mention of a joke. So she continued:

"Because of that joke, you have ordinary chicken for a meat course, whereas I had hoped to give you a real dainty, stewed wild rabbit. Butour snares were left unbaited while we planned to come in first on Gillyand his proposed prank. I don't suppose you know a thing about it, doyou?"

The girls gasped at their Leader's mention of a rabbit snare, --this wasthe first they knew of such a thing! And since Bunty Grey had taken uphis residence nearby their camp, after his recovery from the old trapdown on River Bend, not one scout girl could be made to taste rabbit. 

The boys were keen to hear about the joke on their friend Gilroy, but_he_ wanted to know about rabbits. So he asked:

"Where did you set any snares? This is news to me!"

"Is it? Why we caught a rabbit in a snare set down by River Bend, but wehaven't stewed it yet, " returned Julie, smiling angelically at Mr. Gilroy. 

"Never mind snares, but tell us about the tracking, " now urged Alec. 

"There isn't much to tell--excepting that we let him indulge himself inthe belief that he was fooling us, " began Julie. "While we were at yourcamp, to invite you here to-day, Gilly had all his hands turn thebarnyard beasts out and led them a dance about our campgrounds, believing we would fall for his little game. 

"He took so much pains and trouble over the joke, that we hadn't theheart to undeceive him, so we played the game through. 

"But it was hard work to keep straight faces, wasn't it, girls?" Julieappealed to her companions. 

"Yes, indeed! And when Julie left us to bring back the proof of hisjoking, that was best of all, " added Joan. 

"Yes, you see I got him to say that hunters who found a wild animalcould claim it, if it was in season, so I went to the barn where I_knew_ our 'wild animals' would be, and not only found them, but caughtthem, also. Being in season, we claimed them. Thus we turned Gilly'sjoke on himself, as he sure was amazed to find that we took him at hisword, and kept the 'ferocious' beasts!" Julie laughed so heartily thatevery one joined in, never doubting but that the merriment was naturaland genuine. 

"So that is how we became owners of the calf, the pig, and the nicespring chicken you just finished, " added Julie. 

Mr. Gilroy now cleared his throat to say something in self-defence, butevery one laughed loudly again, the boys believing Julie's tale, and thegirls hoping to keep up the deception. 

"Poor dear old Gilly! We renamed him this morning. He is to be FoxyGrandpa hereafter, you know; not alone because he told the Grey Foxeswhat he was going to do, but because he planned such a beautiful snareand ran into it himself, " said Joan. 

"As if you boys would believe we were 'greenies' in camplife! Why, justlook around and see our work! Is there anything here to prove we aresuch ignoramuses as to believe a calf-track could possibly be adeer-print?" asked Julie, scornfully. 

"You're right, you girls sure can do scout things, " said Alec, admiringly. 

"This dinner alone would prove it!" exclaimed Bob. 

"Any one who can find Indian cucumbers and Wapitos, when we boys havehunted and hunted, and never succeeded, is a first-class scout, and nomistake about it!" declared Dick, enthusiastically. So Mr. Gilroydecided not to speak in self-defence any more. 

The dinner wound up with wild-current tarts, puff-cakes, and coffee madefrom roots and roasted acorns, pulverized. 

"Lady Scouts, let me toast you for this wonderful success, not only inculinary art, but also in founding a curious menagerie, " said Mr. Gilroy, standing and holding up his coffee before drinking it. 

"Before we adjourn from this feast, let me ask one question, " said Alec, as they prepared to get up from the table. 

"What was it in that salad dressing that gave such a palatable flavor? Inever tasted anything like it before. "

The scouts smiled with pleasure, and Mrs. Vernon said, "That taste wasgiven by adding a few leaves of burnet to the salad. It was not thedressing; but few people know what a wonderful flavor burnet gives tosalad. It would be used more often did chefs know this simple littlewildwood fact. "

While the girls were clearing away the dishes, Mrs. Vernon spoke veryseriously to Julie about the tale she told. "You did not tell anabsolute untruth, yet you did not voice the truth, because we all _were_taken in by those tracks!"

"But, Verny! surely you wouldn't have these mere males _think_ we weresuch gullible scouts, would you? It would be a disgrace for the wholeorganization!" cried Julie. 

"I never advocate self-righteousness in covering up an error of judgmentor knowledge. The Scout Committee on Ideals would not approve of thetale you told to vindicate the 'Cause of Women, ' as you claim. "

"I suppose you are right in your viewpoint, Verny, but it wasn't fair ofGilly to play that prank on us, and tell those boys beforehand, too, "pouted Julie. 

"Well, let it pass this time, Verny, and we'll promise never to beguilty of misappropriating the truth again, " said Joan. 

"And don't give us away to the Grey Foxes!" added Judith. 

The Captain shook her head in disapproval, but she said nothing more, sothe girls ran off to whisper to Mr. Gilroy that he was the cause of adreadful quarrel!

CHAPTER ELEVEN

A CANOE TRIP

The scouts were so busy with canoeing, swimming, and hiking, during theweek following the dinner-party that they saw very little of Mr. Gilroy, although they knew whenever he called at the camp, because he generallybrought feed for the calf and pig. These two unusual pets were becomingquite sociable, and would follow the girls around the clearing whenmeals were being prepared. Jake always went wherever the scouts went, and he particularly enjoyed the long walks. But he ignored the calf andpig completely when in camp. 

About a week after the Grey Fox boys had visited Dandelion Camp, Mr. Gilroy came down early in the morning. 

"I have to get up at dawn if I want a word with you scouts, thesetimes, " laughed he, as he caught them eating breakfast. 

"Sit down and have some, " Julie invited, making room for him beside her. 

"Can't--haven't time. I've got an important engagement with the Grey Foxboys, but you were first on my calling list. "

The girls all halted further progress on the breakfast and listenedintently. "What have you plotted, now?" asked Julie. 

Mr. Gilroy laughed as he remembered the tracking joke. "I'm almostafraid to tell you. " But after much coaxing he spoke. 

"Well, then, I am going on a little fishing trip to Racquette Lake, so Iwondered if you scouts wouldn't like to canoe with the party and spend afew days that way?"

The girls gave such a chorus of approval that Mr. Gilroy pretended tostop both ears. 

"Oh, do tell them all about it, Gilly, or we'll be deaf!" begged Mrs. Vernon, laughing at the commotion. 

So Mr. Gilroy described the itinerary to the great delight of hishearers. "But remember, girls, no extra baggage is allowed. You wearyour uniforms, take bathing suits, and sandals, a wide soft hat thatwill stick to your head, as few toilet requisites as possible;individual eating outfit, blanket and sleeping-bag, fishing tackle, andyour powder puffs. "

The last item caused a jeer, for the girls hadn't thought ofbeautifiers, other than those Nature presented, since they joined thescout organization. Nor did they need any, --they were all fine and rosy, with perfect complexions and good health. 

"My Indian, Yhon, is going in a canoe with the cooking outfit and othernecessities for so large a party. He is a splendid guide, you know, andknows the country like a book. "

"What can we do about our pets?" Betty asked, concernedly. 

"Oh, Jake will go with us, of course, and Julia and Anty will have todepend on Gilly's man for meals. They will learn to appreciate us if weare absent a few days, " replied Julie, audaciously. 

"When did you plan to start?" now asked the Captain. 

"Day after to-morrow, as early in the morning as we can. That gives youall day to-morrow to get ready and come up to the bungalow for supper atnight. Yhon will be ready with the canoes at dawn in the morning, and westart from our boathouse. The canoe-wagon is coming here to-day to carryyour three canoes over to First Lake so as to be in good shape for thetrip. Yhon will overhaul them all, and look after any caulking orrepairs. "

"Dear me, I can't wait for the time to come!" exclaimed several of thescouts. 

"And if you become seasick on the voyage, you'll be just as anxious toget back, " laughed Mr. Gilroy, causing the girls to giggle in chorus athis ridiculous speech. 

So on the morning mentioned, a merry crowd of girls and boys followedthe Captain and Mr. Gilroy to the boathouse on the lake. Yhon waswaiting with everything ready, but it was still dim and misty over thewater, as the daylight was not yet strong. 

Jake instantly jumped into Yhon's canoe as if he knew it paid to be nearthe larder. Mr. Gilroy arranged the party so that one lightweight memberwas in each canoe with one of the heavier girls, and one of the boys. Hetook charge of another canoe with two girls in it, while the Captainmanaged still another one with two in it. Thus they started in a line, Yhon leading. 

As they moved noiselessly out from the shadow of the overhanging rocksand foliage, the dew sparkled like silver drops on all the leaves; everynow and then a hungry fish would leap up to bite the paddles, and thenwhisk its tail angrily as it flashed away again. 

The newly awakened sun had not yet risen high enough to cast its raysupon the lake, and the mountain that threw somber shadows over the faceof the lake, still hid the shining of the orb of day. The expectancy andhush that always precedes the bursting forth of shining light, enthralled all the wild creatures in the woods. 

Yhon had been silently guiding his flock over the water, closely huggingthe shore all the way, when the high treble call of a young fawn echoedfar over the lake. It was so unexpected that the scouts were startled, but the Indian called over his shoulder, "Li'l deer lose mammy--call herback!"

Then, not twenty yards further on, Yhon stopped paddling, and pointedwith a long finger towards the shore. There stood the fawn on a rocknear the water's edge, its head held high as it gazed with consternationat so many queer things floating on the lake. 

Mrs. Vernon took a splendid picture of the deer, before a crashing ofbranches and the rattle of pebbles announced that the doe was leaping tothe rescue of her little one. But she could not be seen, as she was wisein woodlore and remained safely screened from men. Possibly she knewthat a human carried a death-dealing weapon when he sought her in theforests. 

The canoes passed through First Lake, then through Second Lake, and atlast through Third Lake--all of which were really one large continuoussheet of water. Where Third Lake Creek emptied into the large body ofwater, Yhon led the canoes close to shore. He knew that the best laketrout were to be caught where the creek emptied, and here he proposed tofish for the dinner supply. 

"But we don't want dinner, yet, Yhon, " called Mrs. Vernon. 

"We eat on Cedar Islan' but him got no fish dere. Get my fish here, "explained Yhon, as he jumped ashore. 

All were glad of an opportunity to stretch their legs, and then theytried their luck at fishing, also. After a time this became monotonousfor the active young ones, and they started up the Creek to adventure. The Third Lake Creek came down over moss-covered rocks, which were heldin place by gnarled roots of giant trees. These ancient foresters stoodlooking benignly down upon the placid waters of the lake, as if watchingthe play of a little child. 

Where the Creek swirled out to join Third Lake, the purplish circlesmade there gradually lost their foaming haste and gently merged into thewavelets of clear cold water. 

As the scouts climbed up the rugged bank of the Creek, the toweringtrees were not the only things that watched silently. Although the happyyoung mortals were deaf and blind to the many alert curious eyes thatfollowed their movements, still those eyes were there, wondering at thisdaring trespass over their domains. Some of these wildwood inhabitantswere furtively anxious, some hostile, but all were curious to follow themovements of these queer creatures. 

Finally the scouts could not penetrate further, and they retraced theirsteps. Yhon had caught enough fish for the day's needs, and was ready tocontinue the trip. 

From Third Lake Creek he paddled across to the opposite shore and thencethrough Fourth Lake. They stopped at Skensowane to purchase crackers, candy, and other sweets, while Yhon took on a supply of staples. 

Cedar Island was at the extreme upper end of Fourth Lake, and longbefore the scouts saw the green knob standing plainly up from the water, they were hungry enough to eat the grass on the island. So every oneassisted with the dinner to facilitate the eating of it. 

Yhon was one of the best guides in the mountains, and his experience incooking was unsurpassed; hence the scouts enjoyed an exceptional dinner. 

When all were ready to continue the trip, Yhon led across from CedarIsland to Inlet, where there was a "carry" of a mile to reach SixthLake. 

"Phew! Carry the canoes a mile in the hot sun!" cried Bob. 

"That's part of the fun in canoeing, " remarked Mr. Gilroy, as theydisembarked and prepared to carry. 

"I'm glad of the change, " said Judith. "My knees are all out of jointfrom sitting with them doubled under me. "

Thereupon every one declared it a relief to walk and get the kinks outof the leg-muscles. But after a mile in the heat, with canoe and outfitto carry, every one was just as glad to get back and sit down in thecanoes. 

The trip through Sixth and Seventh Lakes was wonderful. The grandeur ofthe mountains and the marvelous greens of their verdure reflected in thenarrow lakes, made the water seem a dark emerald green as clear andtransparent as a perfect jewel. 

Occasionally, faint shadows of birds flying overhead, or deer leaping onthe rocks on the banks were reflected in the water as the canoeistssilently paddled along, and such entrancing pictures seen in the placidlake thrilled the scouts with delight. 

Here and there, where a stream rushed down into the lake, the scoutscould look up through the wide rifts cleft between the forest-trees, andthe eye could follow up where falls tumbled over boulders; or to thehigher view, where the blue sky showed a tiny streak between the pines. 

Once a flight of wild ducks suddenly rose from the lake, quackingnoisily. The boys called to Yhon to shoot, but he held up a warning handto show that this was no season for duck-hunting. 

In nearing the upper end of Seventh Lake where the inlet empties intoit, Yhon called out, "Nudder carry--mile to Eight Lake. "

But before they reached land, the Captain called for a halt. She wantedto take a snapshot of the picture made by the inlet, seemingly in such ahurry to reach the lake, yet making no noise nor showing any froth inits haste. The Lake seemed to draw its shores close together to hug theInlet, just as a mother draws her babe to her bosom in love. In smallcoves on either side of the Inlet were patches of green marsh grass andcattails, the home of the wild ducks which rose to escape the coming ofthe canoeists. 

As the faint odorous whiff of marshgrass reached the nostrils of thescouts, they wanted to paddle in and cut cattails, but Yhon said therewas no time then. "Plenty time on home trip. "

Through Eighth Lake to Brown's Inlet Carry was a distance of about twomiles, and when they reached shore on Brown's Inlet, Yhon called out, "Nudder carry--mile-half dis time to Brown Tract Inlet. "

The command to carry began to sound tiresome to the scouts, and theywere glad to hear Mr. Gilroy say that this carry would be the last one, as Brown's Tract Inlet brought them right to Racquette Lake where theyplanned to camp for the night. 

It was quite late when they reached the lower end of Racquette Lake, because the progress had been slow and safe. Mr. Gilroy had nottelephoned for accommodations at any hotel, as they planned to camp atnight. 

But the wind that came with the setting of the sun also threatened astorm during the night, and Mr. Gilroy thought it best to find a placenear a large hotel, in case they had to seek shelter. So they paddled tofind a grove quite near one of the larger hotels. The scouts were eagerto land and get their camp ready before darkness handicapped them, sowhen within a few yards of land, Hester turned to pull out her blankets. 

The sudden motion overturned the canoe, and all three occupants wentheadlong into the water. The frightened screams of the three scoutscaused consternation in the others, and many turned around quickly tosee what had happened behind them. Thus, two more canoe-loads wereunexpectedly emptied into the lake. 

They were soon out on shore, but drenched and shivering from the coldwater. "Now, isn't that the worst thing that could happen to us, atnight!" sighed Mrs. Vernon. 

"We'll have to stop at a hotel, now, and let the scouts get in bed whiletheir clothing dries, " said Mr. Gilroy. 

So the wet ones were advised to dance about to keep warm, while Alec andMr. Gilroy hurried over to the hotel to engage rooms. But they soon cameback with surprised looks. 

"Not a corner to be had, and the manager called up other large placesalong the shore only to get the same answer--no room. He said there wasa family boarding-house some distance along, where we might get in. Thewoman, a Mrs. Dickens, was a nice landlady and might tuck us insomewhere. Shall we try it?" said Mr. Gilroy. 

"It is so dark now, and we haven't started supper or found a spot tocamp, so I think we had best try Mrs. Dickens, " replied the Captain. 

In chilly silence the entire party got back into its canoes and skirtedthe shore until Mr. Gilroy called out to Yhon, "This must be the spotwhere I was told to land. The house is back from the lake, a bit. "

The canoeists had no difficulty in locating the boarding-house, but theywere too late for a hot dinner, although the cold supper served was verygood, especially to hungry young people. 

"I haven't any rooms left in the main house, " explained Mrs. Dickens, "but I can give you several rooms in the annex. That used to be thehelp's cottage, but I had it done over to rent this season. "

"'Any port in a storm, ' madam, and our 'storm' consists of severalsoaking suits that have to be dried, " returned Mr. Gilroy. 

"The cottage has a small kitchen where you can quickly light a fire inthe stove and dry everything. I think you will be very comfortablethere, " said Mrs. Dickens. So arrangements were made for the use of thecottage for that night. 

As they planned to start early in the morning again, the entire partyretired soon after supper. The wet clothing had been hung on lines aboutthe kitchen, where a servant had built a roaring fire. Although they hadto "double up" in bed, or sleep on the floor, they were too healthilysleepy to mind such little things, and before ten o'clock every one wasasleep. 

CHAPTER TWELVE

FIRST AID

Mrs. Vernon was a very light sleeper, consequently she was aroused ashort time after midnight by cries and calls for help. She sprang fromthe bed and ran to a side window that opened towards the kitchen side ofthe boarding-house. All she could see was a dull glare that filled thekitchen windows. But she understood. 

Instantly, she ran to Mr. Gilroy's room and knocked loudly while shecried, "Get up--everybody--the boarding-house, next door, is on fire!"

In a moment Mr. Gilroy jumped up and shouted, "All right--we'll be outin a jiffy!" Then Mrs. Vernon ran back to pull the girls out of bed andhave them dress as speedily as possible. 

The clothing in the kitchen was dry, and soon the girls were dressingand, at the same time, talking excitedly of the fire. 

"I'm sorry Mrs. Dickens has had this misfortune, but as long as ithappens while we are here, we must try to earn a medal, " said Mrs. Vernon, as she breathlessly pulled a middy-blouse over her head. 

"What can girls do?" asked Amy, eagerly. 

"I don't know yet, but every little thing helps in a time like this. Just obey orders from Mr. Gilroy or me, and follow the example Julie issure to give you, " said Mrs. Vernon, glancing at the scout shementioned, because Julie might run unnecessary risks for herself, but ifshe thought she was responsible for the other girls her zeal would betempered wisely. 

"What do they give scouts a medal for, Verny?" now asked Judith, as shetwisted her long hair up in a tight coil on her head. 

"If occasion arises for a scout to display great heroism, or if shefaces extreme danger in trying to save a life, she can have the bronzemedal--the highest award given. If she does a brave deed withconsiderable danger to herself, she wins a silver cross. But no scout isto run needless risk just to win a medal of any kind. "

While the Captain spoke, the scouts finished their hurried dressing andnow followed her out to the lawn in front of the large house. 

Here the scene was one of great confusion and panic. Men were hastilymoving articles of furniture and boarders' personal effects out of thethree-storied building. Smoke poured from all the rear windows, and theroof seemed enveloped in heavy smoke-clouds. 

"Isn't there any volunteer fire department?" called Julie, to every onein general and no one in particular. 

"Where is it?" asked Alec of a man standing next to him. 

"We got a ring and hammer up yonder, and a hand-engine, but I hain'thear'n no one strike the signal, " said he. 

"Come along, show me where it is, " ordered Alec, catching hold of theman's sleeve and pulling him away from the staring crowd. 

Once the man had broken away from the mesmeric influence of thefire-watchers, he ran quickly with Alec to the knoll where a metal hoopand hammer were kept for the purpose of alarm in case of fire. Almostbefore the two reached the spot, Alec caught the hammer and was strikingthe metal at regular intervals. The man then offered to remain and sendthe volunteer firemen to the place where they were needed, so Alec ranback to help as best he could. 

Meantime, the girl scouts realized there was much to do to help others, and the Captain ordered every one to use the utmost presence of mind indoing anything they were called upon to do. 

Julie hastily whispered to Joan, "I'm going to run to the cottage andget that coil of rope we brought from the canoe last night, we may needit. "

"I'll run with you, Julie, for we must tie wet towels over our mouths, if we have to go inside there, " added Joan. 

Both girls raced to their room, and when they came out they wereprovided with the rope, and the dripping towels were tied across theirnostrils and mouths. As they stood momentarily on the little porch ofthe cottage to see where they might render the best service, the uproarfrom the upper stories in the rear was awful. 

"There may be some people trapped in their rooms up there!" exclaimedJulie to her companion. 

"We can climb up this rose-trellis quite easily, Jule, and get in at thewindows of the second story where the piazza roof gives us a foothold, "hastily returned Joan. 

In another moment both girls were quickly climbing up the strongtrellis, and as soon as they reached the tin roof they ran to thewindow. Here they found a young mother sitting on the floor, rocking ababy back and forth while she cried wildly with hysteria. The child washeld so tightly that it, too, was screaming. 

While Julie uncoiled the rope, Joan ran to the washstand and dipped atowel in the pitcher. But Julie called to her, "Bring the jug of waterhere, we've got to break this hysteric spell!"

Joan carried the towel in one hand and the pitcher in the other, soJulie caught the jug from her, and dashed the water in the woman's face. The sudden choking and shock broke the spell. Then the towel was hastilypinned over the lower part of her face and she was hurried to the door. But the smoke and heat caused the girls to slam the door to again andrun to the window. 

"Hey--down there!" yelled Julie, to a group of men on the flower-bed. "Hold out a blanket while we drop the baby down. "

"No--no!" screamed the mother, trying to get away from the grasp ofstrong young Joan. "You'll kill it!"

"Give me the child, I'll carry it down the trellis, " said Julie, but themother would not relax her grip on her baby. 

"Where's that rope, Jo?" now asked Julie. 

"Over by the window we went in at, " cried Joan, having all she could doto restrain the woman from throwing herself and babe down from the roof. 

So in another moment, Julie had the rope tied to a window shutter, andwith the other end in hand was over by the woman. 

"Here--stand still, will you, while we fix this and let you down to theground!" commanded she, and the woman instantly obeyed. 

Then both girls lowered the two slowly over the edge of the roof, downto where willing hands were raised to catch them. There was a wildacclaim as mother and child were saved, but the two scouts were notaware of it, as they were back inside the room again, taking theirprecious rope with them. Before they could determine what to do next, aqueer form burst into the room. 

"Where's the rope you've been using, girls?" demanded the voice of Alec. But he was completely covered by his rubber sleeping-bag, in which hehad slit holes for his feet and arms. 

Had it been any other time than such a moment, both girls must havedoubled over in merriment at his appearance. 

"Here it is, Alec. Where did you come from?" cried both scouts in onevoice. 

"Upstairs. I got up on the roof by climbing the water-spout, and in adormer-room up there I found an old crippled woman, crying for help, butwith no one to hear her until I climbed in from the scuttle-hole. Alittle old-fashioned stairway runs from the third floor down into thecloset in this room. But I can't get her down those narrow stairs, andthe other stairway and halls are a mass of fire. I've got to lower herfrom the roof, but I need help. "

"We'll help!" eagerly offered both the girls. So, with the coil of rope, they followed Alec through the smoke-filled room into the large darkcloset, and thus, up the scuttle-hole stairs that had been abandoned formany years, --perhaps forgotten entirely, until this need. 

In the front end of the third story there was not much smoke as yet, sothe three could see their way plainly. And in a small gable-room havinga small window high from the floor moaned an old woman of more thanseventy years. The moment she saw Alec return with two girls to help, she stopped wailing and tried to be courageous. 

"Now we may hurt you some when you are being moved, but you must bearit, Gran'ma, " said Alec, gently. The old lady smiled reassuringly. 

"Children, anything is better than being roasted up in this little room. Don't worry over hurting me but do whatever is necessary, " quavered thesweet old voice. 

"Now, girls, I'm going to shinny up the scuttle-hole in the roof andcarry the rope with me. I'll tie it securely to the chimney on the roofand let down the other end. Fasten this about Grandma's waist and we'lltry to lift her out that way. You two must help by holding her as muchas possible, and by boosting from below. "

While Alec climbed up the wall-ladder and got out to the roof, Julie andJoan made a roll of blankets and placed it about the old lady's formunder the arms. Then they looped the rope over this and secured it alsounder her arms. 

"All ready, Alec!" called Julie, holding her charge by one arm whileJoan held her by the other. 

As Alec hauled, hand over hand on the rope, the two scouts beneathlifted and then boosted the old lady until she was safely through theopening in the roof. Then Alec leaned over and called to them:

"If you can manage to run down and get through that room again, escapeby way of the piazza-roof and send the firemen up from the outside withtheir ladders. I'll wait on the front roof with Grandma. "

So Julie and Joan rushed down the little attic-stairs, back through thesmoke-filled room which was now dreadfully hot from the fire, and out ofthe other room window to the piazza roof. Once on the ground, a curiousmob tried to surround them to ask all sorts of foolish questions, butJulie was equal to two mobs. With muscular arms and fists striking rightand left, she quickly forced a passage and made her way to the spotwhere the Fire-Chief was ordering the men about. 

"Mr. Chief, run a ladder up to the roof where you see that scoutstanding. He's got an old crippled woman to save. Maybe the rope willreach and maybe it won't, so use your own judgment, " called Julie, pointing up to where Alec could be dimly seen through the smoke. 

"Hoist a ladder, boys! See that scout up on the roof with Mrs. Dickens'mother?" shouted the Chief, anxiously watching the roof. 

While every one stood and in breathless suspense watched the firemen runup a long ladder and assist Alec in saving the poor helpless woman, Mrs. Dickens came distractedly from the rear of the house and ran aboutseeking for her mother. When she learned that it was her mother theywere trying to save, she fainted with fright. But the old lady wassafely brought to the ground, and a great fuss was made over Alec. ThenMrs. Dickens was revived, and when she found her aged mother beside heron the grass, she almost fainted again from joy and gratitude. 

The house was doomed even before the firemen reached the scene, for itwas constructed, as so many summer boarding-houses are at seashore andmountain resorts, of thin novelty-siding outside and oil-stained ceilingboards inside; these act like kindling wood once they are ignited. 

The crowd stood, now, and watched the flames lick up everything insight, but every one was thankful that no lives were lost. The scouts, both girls and boys, had worked so faithfully that all the silver andlinen were saved, and the men had removed much of the best furniture inthe ground-floor rooms. 

The sun, that morning, rose on a scene of confusion and pathos. Guestswho had been able to save most of their effects were assisting lessfortunate ones to dress in all kinds of apparel. Neighbors from nearbycottages were caring for the homeless boarders, until order could bebrought out of the chaotic condition. 

But the cottages were few, and the guests many, so some one must suggesta plan to meet the immediate needs. It was Mr. Gilroy who thought of away. 

"We all sympathize with Mrs. Dickens in her distress, but it might havebeen worse, friends, --we all realize that, --and so we feel grateful thatno lives were lost. But here it is breakfast-time, and there are manyhungry mouths to fill, and I would suggest that you accept a scoutbreakfast with us as soon as it is ready. "

Every one responded to such a hearty invitation, and Mr. Gilroy added, "Then we'll show you how to prepare a good meal with no stove orkitchen, and with but few pots or pans. "

The boys were sent out on the lake to get the fish; the girls were toldto knead the dough for scout-twists, and place them at the fire Mr. Gilroy was building. To interest the weary boarders, Mr. Gilroy hadstarted his campfire with rubbing-sticks and had arranged thebread-sticks upon which the dough was twined, to the best advantage forall to watch while the twists baked. 

Most of the dishes had been saved from the fire, and these were now usedfor breakfast. Several large tablecloths had been spread out upon thesmooth grass, and plates set around on the squares of linen. 

The fish had been cleaned by Yhon when caught, and now the boys returnedwith a nice mess--enough for every one that morning. Mrs. Dickens keptall her extra stock of food in the little loft of the cottage, and asthis annex was spared any damage by the fire, there was a supply ofcereals, flour, bacon, and other necessities for meals. With the thriftof a good housekeeper, Mrs. Dickens had laid in a stock of purchaseswhen the Army Supply had been sold off at auction in the city. So Mrs. Vernon found gallon cans of stewed prunes and other food-products onhand. 

In spite of all trouble and perplexities that morning, breakfast was acheerful meal. Prunes for fruit; hominy and other prepared cereals for asecond course; then fresh fish, fried in corn-meal jackets and brownedin bacon-fat, furnished a delicious third course with the hotscout-bread. And all this was topped off with fragrant coffee. 

Naturally, the conversation was about one thing--the fire and thecourage shown by the three scouts. The equally helpful work done by Mrs. Vernon and the other scouts in caring for those who were rescued, received but small notice. But they never as much as thought of it--withJulie and Joan in a fair way to win a medal that would lift the entireTroop to recognition at Headquarters in New York. 

When breakfast was over, Mr. Gilroy expressed his other idea. "I have aplan that may meet with general approval, but that remains to be seen. Now listen carefully, while I speak, and then do as you like afterwards. My boys and these girls are willing to teach you how to do what I amabout to propose, and help in any way we can to make every onecomfortable for the time being. 

"You have no house to sleep in, and Mrs. Dickens will have no boardersto help her meet her expenses and loss, unless we immediately find someway to change all this seeming trouble. So this is my suggestion:

"We scouts are accustomed to sleeping out-of-doors and thus we know howto make the finest beds out of the material Nature provides. We willshow every one how to weave these balsam beds that are superior to anyhandmade spring and hair mattress. 

"While you people are completing your beds, we will paddle up to a placeYhon told me about, where a number of Indians camp. They make and selltents to parties coming to the Adirondacks for the summer. Then at theend of the season they will buy them back and pay prices according tothe condition the tents are in. Perhaps we can rent a number of tents, as the summer is now half over. 

"If enough boarders agree to this plan, and will insure the risk to Mrs. Dickens by advancing the money necessary to pay for the tents, we scoutswill go after the tents for you and bring them back in our canoes. 

"Mrs. Dickens says she can quickly have a pavilion built that willanswer for a dining-room, but any one who does not care for 'roughing'it in tent-life must find other accommodations. All such can have mealsin the pavilion, but must take second table as boarders remaining incamp will naturally have first claim on the hostess' service. "

After a noisy debate, in which most of the ousted guests found theseplans and future delights pleasant to discuss, the majority voted toremain and take up tent-life. Thus it happened that Mrs. Dickens washelped out of the financial ruin that had stared her in the face a fewhours before, and the guests were treated to a rare experience, --livingin the open in the wonderful woods. 

The scouts started every one cutting the young tips of the balsams fortheir bedding, then paddled after Yhon in the canoes, up the MarionRiver to Bear Creek, where the guide knew several of his friends to havecamps for the summer. They had tents to hire or for sale, and were onlytoo glad to furnish all that were needed for the houseless boarders atDickens' Landing. 

The tent-outfits were carefully packed inside the canoes, and the scoutsjoyfully paddled back, realizing that "What blesses one, blesses all" inthis working out of a good idea. 

When the scouts landed with the tents and found that enough balsam hadbeen stripped for the beds, they began to weave the tips as all scoutsknow how to do. Meantime, Mr. Gilroy, Yhon, and several of the menraised the tents and secured them in such places as Mrs. Dickensselected. The balsam beds were then made up in the tents, and beforeevening, every one was provided with room and beds, thanks to thescouts. 

As the canoes left that shore, they were sped with many blessings, forthey had done a great thing for those standing on the rocks, watchingthem depart. 

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

SHOOTING THE RAPIDS--AND OTHER THINGS

"Well, 'where do we go from here, boys?'" called Mr. Gilroy, laughingly, as he looked back over his shoulder at the scouts. 

"Anywhere but home!" exclaimed Julie. 

"Why not there? Don't you like my camp-ground?" asked Mr. Gilroy, teasingly. 

"Of course, but after such a night and day we won't want to settle downagain into quiet life. We have to let ourselves down gradually, " laughedAlec. 

"Well, then, we'll ask Yhon where to go to-day, " agreed Mr. Gilroy. 

"Ride the rapids, " returned Yhon, as if that was enough said. 

Such a shout that greeted this suggestion proved he was right in hissurmise. Finally, when Mrs. Vernon could be heard, she asked, "Where arethey--far from Raquette Lake?"

"Yhon, I suppose you mean those on the route to Forked Lake, throughRaquette River to Long Lake, eh?" said Mr. Gilroy. 

"Um! Up Raquette Fall to Corey an' 'en to Sar'nac. "

"Saranac Lake! Oh, I've always wanted to see it!" cried Julie. 

"Do let's go, Gilly!" begged other voices. 

"Shall we take a vote on it?" laughed Mr. Gilroy. 

"Why waste time--it is unanimously decided already, " retorted Alec forthe boys. 

"Yhon, I'm afraid you've let me in for trouble!" cried Mr. Gilroy, buthe turned his canoe just the same, and led the way. 

The scouts now followed Mr. Gilroy and Yhon across the mouth of theMarion River, and rounded Woods' Point. Across Boulder Bay, to BluffPoint, they paddled, and carefully rounding this point they enteredOutlet Bay. Then the usual route was taken up the bay until they reachedForked Lake Carry. 

They were all in high spirits and the short carry only added to theirenjoyment. The canoes were launched again in Forked Lake waters and theypaddled until the end of the lake was reached. Where it joins RaquetteRiver was a carry of a mile and a half, and seeing that it was noon andtime for luncheon, Mr. Gilroy said:

"Why not have something to eat first, and carry afterwards?"

"Oh, that will add to the work of carrying, " retorted Julie. "Not onlycanoes but food!"

But the boys were for eating, so they scanned the shore carefully asthey slowly moved through the water, until Yhon saw a place heconsidered suitable for camp. Here a fire was soon started, and thefour boys were sent out to fish. The girls were left to bake the breadand prepare the rest of the meal. 

In spite of their most skillful efforts, the boys did not have goodluck, and returned with but a small catch of fish. Hilarity due to theway the boys told how they had to fish made up for the lack and foreverything else. When everything was packed neatly again, and all wereready to start, Jake gave a wild leap and landed too near the edge ofYhon's canoe. Over it went, staples and outfits all going down into thewater. 

"Oh, all our sugar and salt--and everything!" cried Julie. 

Yhon never changed a muscle of his face, although he must have beentaken by surprise when he was precipitated into the water. The outfits, hampers, and other things were quickly salvaged and restored to thecanoe, but Jake sat in disgrace on the bank, and hung his head as if heunderstood just what he had done. 

So much time had been used in rescuing Yhon, in fishing their food-stockout of the water, and coaxing Jake back into the canoe, that it was latewhen the scouts reached Deerland Lodge. 

"What say you, scouts, --shall we stop at the Lodge, or take a chance upLong Lake until we reach a point where we can strike off to reachHendrick Spring, the fountainhead of the Hudson River?" asked Mr. Gilroy. 

"And where shall we camp?" asked Mrs. Vernon. 

"It might be nice to camp at the spring, " suggested Alec. 

"Oh, yes, let's do that, Gilly!" cried several voices. 

So they kept right on, paddling swiftly along until they reached a placeon the shore where Yhon said they must land if they proposed going toHendrick Spring. 

"Oh, I thought we could canoe there, " ventured Julie. 

"No, we must leave Yhon here to watch the canoes while we hike along thetrail that goes there. We can carry our sleeping-bags and take enoughfood for supper, then come back early in the morning for a goodbreakfast with Yhon, " explained Mr. Gilroy. 

"Is there no way we might take to return to Fulton Chain Lakes otherthan going back the same route?" questioned Mrs. Vernon. 

"No, we shall have to go the way we come, or be willing to _carry_overland for many miles, from one water to the other. "

"Oh, no, that is out of the question, " said the Captain. 

So each scout took a sleeping-bag and cup and plate, while the boyscarried the extra cooking outfit, and Alec his rifle. 

The trail led through a most wonderful primeval forest where lichenedstones, moss-clothed fallen trees and luxuriant foliage of standingtimber furnished homes for countless wild creatures. 

They had not gone far before a ruddy-hued fox tried to back out of theirway on the trail, and managed successfully to merge his color with thatof the yellow-brown verdure about him. Further on, Alec suddenly liftedhis rifle and aimed, but the furtive mottled animal that had beencrouching along the mottled limb of a tree leaped back with the leastpossible noise or disturbance of the foliage, and was gone!

"That was _some_ wildcat, but she was too slick for me!" said Alec, whenquestioned about missing it. 

The scouts saw so many unfamiliar birds that they wished they hadcarried a bird book on the trip to help them identify all they now saw. Notes were taken, however, to help them look up and catalogue thevarieties, later, in camp. There were many other interesting livingcreatures, also; some half-hid under leaves or twigs, others squattingdaringly in the open, with questioning eyes fixed on these clumsyintruders. 

Finally the scouts reached Hendrick Springs, but to their consternationthe place was already tenanted with undesirable tramps. Mr. Gilroypolitely questioned the three men who claimed to be timber-jacks, buttheir empty package that had contained food and the quart bottle thathad once been filled with whiskey, now also empty, belied their story. 

Their hardened faces, unkempt appearance, and other earmarks caused alittle apprehension in the hearts of the girls and Mrs. Vernon; but soonafter the new arrivals started their fire to cook supper, the threetramps got up and quietly left. 

Scanty beds of balsam were soon made for the night for the girls, butthe boys preferred to sleep upon the grass. After a few campfire tales, they decided who was to keep the fire burning all night to ward off anywild animals, and also to guard against the return of the evil-lookingtramps. 

"We girls want to take our turn in watching, as well as the boys, Gilly!" declared Joan, when she heard how the guard was to be divided upfor the night. 

"Oh, you girls need sleep, but we don't, " said Bob. 

"We are just as hale as any of you boys, and we want to do our bit!"exclaimed Julie, decidedly. 

"Well, then, if you must, you will!" sighed Mr. Gilroy, comically. "NowI have to begin all over again and figure out this problem. Let's see:

"First, Alec and Bob mount guard two hours; then Dick and Ned guard fortwo more; then Julie and Joan; and lastly, all the other girls andmyself. How is that?"

Every one laughed, for Julie and Joan were now getting all theybargained for. So Alec and Bob went on duty, while the rest stretchedout and fell asleep. 

At eleven o'clock the next two boys were called; but at one o'clock, when it was time to rouse Julie and Joan, Mr. Gilroy crept over andmotioned the boys to let him mount duty for a time. It was nearly threewhen Julie woke up and rubbed her eyes. She instantly realized that noone had called her, so she nudged Joan and got her up. Then they creptover to the campfire and scolded Mr. Gilroy for breaking faith withthem. He laughed and gladly went back to finish his night's repose. 

Having been so sound asleep just before going on duty, and being utterlytired out with the day's experiences, the two girls sat by the fireendeavoring to keep each other fully awake. But the Sand Man was toopowerful for them to resist his dreamy influence, and soon Joan dozedwhile Julie yawned and did her best to keep her eyelids open. 

An hour passed and Joan was sweetly sleeping, while Julie was nodding, heavy with sleep. Suddenly a crackling of branches behind them causedJulie to start wide awake. 

"Joan, are you awake?" whispered Julie fearfully, shaking her friend. 

"Sure--why?" mumbled Joan, sitting up to rub her eyes. 

 [Illustration: "Where--which way did you hear them?" questioned Joan ... Page 211]

"I heard some one--maybe those tramps are back to do something, "whispered Julie, trying to peer through the misty night. 

"Where--which way did you hear them?" questioned Joan, now fully awake, too. 

"See those long shadows by the trees, over there?" returned Julie. "I'llpile a lot more wood on the fire and make it blaze so we can see them ifthey come nearer. "

So saying, she threw so much wood on the fire that it instantlysmothered the red glow and began smoking like a chimney. The smoke drovethe girls from that side of the fire and caused them to cough violently, while there was a lively scrambling of feet over by the trees, and bothgirls began calling:

"Gilly! Gilly, wake up! The tramps are here!"

That cry brought every one to his feet, and the moment all heads got thebenefit of the smoke, every one began coughing. But they managed tocreep along the ground to the side of the fire, where the two girlsstood gazing at the trees in question. 

Just as Alec crept up beside the scouts with rifle up ready to aim atwhatever he found skulking about them, there sounded a frightfulscreeching, and hoarse calls came from the lower branches of the tree. 

"I knew it! I saw them creep over and heard them climb, " cried Julie, quaking with excitement. 

"They planned to drop something on our heads, I guess, " added Joan, hereyes bulging as she tried to see into the foliage. 

Just as Alec decided to take aim and fire haphazardly, knowing that hecould not see in the dark but could frighten the tramps, Bob caught holdof his arm. He was unaware that it held a gun that was cocked ready tofire. 

The rifle went off prematurely, the shot hit the mark without Alec'strying for it, and a heavy thud informed the scouts that the bullet wasfatal! Instantly, however, there was such a commotion in the leaves, andsuch a Bedlam of screeching! Finally a great flock of crows swept out ofthe high tree and flew away to find a less dangerous roost. 

The first streaks of dawn were penetrating the forest's darkness whenthe offended crows left their ancestral tree; and the scouts looked ateach other in surprise. But Alec was sure it was not a crow he haddowned--it was too heavy for that!

So the boys crept carefully over to the place where they thought to findthe body of a tramp, while the girls followed at a respectful distance. Then the relieved cry from Alec, and the laughing calls from the otherboys, hurried the girls to join their friends. 

There they saw a dead wildcat of truly awesome size. In its clenchedteeth it still held the young nestling--the object of its nocturnalclimb into the tree. Alec's unexpected shot had hit true and had donefor the crafty animal. 

"Well, this is some trophy to carry back home, eh?" cried Alecdelightedly, as he turned the cat over with his foot. 

"I'm glad you didn't kill anything more than the wildcat, " added Mrs. Vernon. 

"If you boys intend carrying that back to camp, you'll have to skin itnow and take only the pelt. You can't be bothered with the heavy beastitself. Leave the carcass for the wild denizens that will be glad tofeed on this, their enemy, " advised Mr. Gilroy. 

"And do give us the crow! If it hadn't been for Joan and me you wouldn'thave had the wildcat!" exclaimed Julie. 

"If it hadn't been for you two imaginative scouts we all would still besnoozing peacefully beside the fire, " laughed Alec. 

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

THE GRAND SURPRISE

When the scouts returned to their camp beside Little Moose Lake, theywere impressed anew with the peace and beauty of the spot. The canoetrip had been delightful and exciting, but all were glad to get back toa simple life once more. 

Having seen the scout girls safely back home, and their canoes in thelake for future use, Mr. Gilroy sighed and said, "Now I shall take along rest and recover from the past few days' work!"

A few days after their return from the "voyage, " as they called it, thescout girls received a bundle of mail. In it were newspapers, manyletters, and other interesting items. The papers were all "markedcopies, " and the mail proved to be letters filled with congratulationsand words of praise for the brave girls. 

"Why, they must be crazy! Every one's writing about what we did at thefire!" laughed Julie. 

"Yes, just listen to this from 'Liza, every one!" called out Betty. Andshe read: "'So I sez to yer Pa, yu've got two fine scouts in them girls, Mister Lee, and this proves it. Any girl what will climb the side of ahouse to save folkses from burning, is wuth a lot of lazy, good-fer-nothin' boys, I sez. '"

Every one laughed heartily at the praise thus bestowed upon them; butBetty said regretfully, "It's too bad I didn't do as much as Julie didat that fire. Daddy won't feel very proud of me, I'm afraid!"

"Oh, but you did, Betty! You ran for the Captain and did all sorts ofstunts we couldn't have done. But not every one could climb like Jo andI do!" said Julie, soothingly. 

"Oh, girls!" exclaimed the Captain, who had been hurriedly glancing overone of the papers received. "Listen to this from a New York paper. Oh, Iam so proud of you all!" Then she read:

"'At a recent fire that destroyed Dickens' Hotel at Raquette Lake, Adirondacks, a group of girl scouts known as the Dandelion Troop savedmany lives and did heroic work in saving property. One of the hotelguests told our local reporter the story and we print his own words. '"

Then followed an account of the fire, and how it started because of adefective flue in the kitchen chimney. It told in detail all that thegirls did, but the story merely mentioned Alec and _his_ courageous act. At the last of the story, a full description was given of how the balsambeds were made, and how the boarders were now enjoying themselves intent-life and out-of-door camp cooking. And all this was due, it said, to the Girl Scouts being able to teach the homeless boarders how tohelp themselves with the bountiful supply from Nature. 

That morning, Mr. Gilroy came down to the camp to hear the news, for healso had received several papers with the story of the fire in them. After the excitement of reading it all over again to him, the girlsquieted down to hear what he wished to say. 

"I came to see about your plans for next summer's outing, " said he. 

The girls looked at him quizzically, for they thought he was joking. Mrs. Vernon gasped, "Next summer! We're not through with this year yet!"

"I know that, but 'In times of peace prepare for war, ' you know, "laughed he. 

"Tell us why you asked?" demanded Julie. 

"Because I am planning a trip for my next outing, and I am debatingwhether to invite any girl scouts to go with me. "

"Where? Aren't you going to stay here next summer?" was the answer fromseveral girls. 

"No, I have had an important letter to-day. And I am going to accept theoffer made me by the Government, but it will cost any girl scout more togo with _me_ than it did to come to the Adirondacks. "

"Then that settles our going! We haven't a cent left over after thisouting. If it hadn't been for those escaped felons last year we wouldn'thave been here, I suppose!" sighed Julie. 

"If it had not been the reward for the capture of the two felons thatproved to be the means to bring you to the Adirondacks, there would havebeen some other way of finding the supply for you. You see, girls, thereis always plenty of everything for you when the Source is unlimited, "said Mr. Gilroy. 

"Not one of us in Dandelion Troop have such a banker, " laughed Judith. 

"Then, if this is so, why need we worry about expenses for next summer'souting with you?" added Joan, in response to his remark. 

"I didn't ask you to worry, " retorted Mr. Gilroy. "I only asked you toremember that you have the invitation, but it is up to you to find thechannel of supply and break down the dam, so the supply will runsmoothly and continuously for your needs. "

"How much shall we need, Gilly?" asked Julie, deeply interested in hiswords. 

"More than a thousand dollars for you all, I know that! But how muchmore depends upon our itinerary, and that depends on the Captain. "

"Oh, does she know about it?" chorused the girls. 

"Not yet, but she will, shortly, " laughed Mr. Gilroy. 

All the coaxings from nine persuasive girls failed to move Mr. Gilroyfrom the stand he had taken--not to tell about the next summer's plans. 

But a week later, when the scouts were well nigh forgetting all abouthis conversation, he brought a pleasant-faced gentleman to the camp tovisit the girls. 

"This is Mr. Everard, scouts. He is anxious to meet Julia andAntoinette, since I told him what clever rascals they are. Do you thinkthey will do their tricks for company?"

Mr. Everard laughed merrily, and it was readily seen that he had notcome to see the calf and pig do the little tricks which the scouts hadtaught them. However, the calf and pig were brought out, and theyperformed as they had been trained to do, during many strenuous hours, and they won the applause of the stranger. Then he spoke of the realcause of his visit. 

"I am one of the investigators of the Carnegie Reward Society, andhaving heard of your bravery in the recent fire at Raquette Lake, I wassent here to ascertain various facts. From all accounts, the rescues youmade were not only courageous and daring, but spectacular as well. Itmade a fine tale for the newspapers. One of the leading men on ametropolitan daily sent us a note asking whether such deeds were notrewarded by us. "

The scouts were too amazed to speak, but Mrs. Vernon spoke for them. Shethanked Mr. Everard for coming, and said how pleased they all were thatothers appreciated the deeds performed by the Dandelion Scouts. 

"The medal will be given at the same time the reward of money ispresented. So I need the names of the girls who took an active part inthe rescues. Those who rendered First Aid to the sufferers may beawarded minor medals--I am not sure of that yet, " explained Mr. Everard. 

"But Alec did as much as Jo and I, Gilly, " said Julie, "although theydidn't say much about him in the papers. "

"That has been corrected, but you didn't see the papers of the followingday. And Alec is to receive exactly the same reward as you girls, "returned Mr. Gilroy. 

Mr. Everard did not mention the amount of money that was likely toarrive with the medals, but Mrs. Vernon spoke of it later. The two menleft camp, and Mr. Everard was taken over to Grey Fox Camp to meet theboys. 

"Verny, maybe that reward will be the nest-egg of the supply we musthave to go with Gilly next summer!" declared Julie excitedly, after bothmen had disappeared from view. 

"I was thinking of that when Mr. Everard spoke, " said Mrs. Vernon. 

"I wonder how much they give to one--about a hundred dollars, Isuppose, " ventured Joan. 

"Oh, no! I've heard their cash rewards range from a thousand and down tofive hundred dollars, according to the valor of the deed, " replied theCaptain. 

"A thousand!" chorused the scouts in amazement. 

"Why, that would take us all on Gilly's trip, " said Julie. 

"Maybe; but we don't know where he plans to go. If it is around theworld, I fear the reward will not carry you all that far, " rejoined Mrs. Vernon, smilingly. 

A few days after Mr. Everard's visit at camp, Mr. Gilroy came again. "Well, scouts! was I right when I told you not to limit your supply toany old-fashioned mill-pond?"

"You're always right--how could you _ever_ be mistaken?" was Julie'sretort. 

He laughed. "Now, this flow of supply from the boundless Source Ipreached about will give you the means to accept my invitation for nextyear. "

"We have already accepted, and are arranging to be absent from home forthe length of time it takes to go to Jericho and back again, " answeredJulie. 

"Not to the Far East, " laughed Mr. Gilroy, "but to the most wonderfulmountains on earth, though the public has not realized that fact, because they are not yet the fashion. They are fast reaching thatrecognition, however. At present one can go there without being pesteredby souvenir peddlers. "

"Do tell us where it is, now that you've told us this much, " begged thegirls. But Mr. Gilroy shook his head and left them guessing. 

The last of August was passing quickly, and the scouts sighed wheneverthey remembered that they must close the wonderful camp the first weekof September. There was still, however, one delight in store for them. That was the County Fair, held the first three days of September. Theyhad entered Julia and Antoinette to compete for prizes in theirindividual classes. 

The boys, as well as the girls, spent those days at the Fair Grounds, showing the tricks Julia and the pig could do, and also going aboutseeking votes for their pets. The result of this faithful work was seenwhen the prizes were awarded. 

Dandelion Scout Camp won First Prize of a hundred dollars for having theheaviest and finest pig exhibited that year. Another fifty dollars camefor Antoinette's being the best amateur trick animal shown that year. 

Julia won second prize of fifty dollars for having the required numberof points in breeding and development. Then, after the fair closed, ananimal trainer who made his living going about giving shows of trickanimals made an offer for the two pets, saying he had seen them performat the fair. 

"What shall we do? Suppose the man is cruel to them?" asked Julie, worried over the disposal of Julia and Anty. 

"It can't be much worse than sending them to a butcher, " remarked Mr. Gilroy. 

"Oh, mercy! We never could sell them for meat!" cried Joan. 

"I shall never eat another mouthful of veal or pork, " added Betty, fervently. 

"None of us will ever eat meat again!" declared the others. 

"But that doesn't answer this letter, " the Captain reminded them. 

"The man offers a good price, girls, and having so much capitalinvested, he will surely take care of the investment, " said Mr. Gilroy. 

"Y-e-s, that's so! Well, I'll tell you what, girls, " said Julie. "Let'smake him double his offer, and that will make him still moreappreciative of Julia and Anty. If he takes it, all right. If hedoesn't, we can write to some other Zoo trainer, now that we know wehave two fine trained pets. "

But the animal trainer expected a "come-back, " and was only too glad tosecure Julia and Anty at the price the scouts mentioned. And that addedmaterially to the fund for the next summer's outing--wherever it was tobe. 

The day the trainer came to take possession of his newly acquired pets, the girls felt blue over saying good-by to them. Anty had been sothoroughly scrubbed that she glistened, and Julia had been brushed andcurrycombed until she looked like satin. 

"Oh, Anty! Shake hands just once more, " wailed Judith, as she held outher hand to the pig. 

Anty immediately stood upon her hind legs and held out a hoof that hadmade such distracting imprints for the scouts early in the summer. 

"I'll buy the little bark shed, too. I know that all pets love their ownlittle sleeping-places and get so used to them they never feel at homein new quarters. I'll take the pen with me, " said the trainer. 

So Anty was the means of adding to the coffer of gold the scouts werenow dreaming of. And the artistic little bark house was taken away forAnty's especial use thereafter. 

After the departure of Julia and Antoinette, the scouts felt lonely, andthe camp was soon dismantled of all the exhibits that had been used fordecorations that summer. Everything was packed and shipped back home, and then came the day when Mr. Bentley came in his touring car to assistin the transportation of the campers to their old homes and families. 

As they all stood on the verandah of the bungalow shaking hands with Mr. Gilroy and telling him what a precious old dear he was to have botheredwith them all summer, he said:

"But you haven't asked me for the itinerary for next year. "

"We have, again and again, but you said it was not yet time for that!"exclaimed Julie. 

"Well, it _is_ time now. I have to spend all next summer in the RockyMountains collecting specimens of glacial deposits, so I need yourcompany to keep me cheerful. It is up to you to win the consent of yourpeople and save the money for the trip. "

Such a chorus of youthful voices as greeted that wondrous prospect madethe adults laugh. 

"You seem to welcome the idea of camping in the Rockies?" suggested Mr. Gilroy, as the scouts piled into the cars ready to go home. 

"Do we! Well, Gilly, just you wait and see if we are not with you nextyear in those Rockies!" laughed Julie. 

 * * * * *

_THIS ISN'T ALL!_

Would you like to know what became of the good friends you have made inthis book?

Would you like to read other stories continuing their adventures andexperiences, or other books quite as entertaining by the same author?

On the _reverse side_ of the wrapper which comes with this book, youwill find a wonderful list of stories which you can buy at the samestore 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. Butin case you do mislay it, write to the Publishers for a completecatalog. _

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 TomSlade and Roy Blakeley books hold for boys. They are delightful storiesof Girl Scout camp life amid beautiful surroundings and are filled withstirring adventures. 

GIRL SCOUTS AT DANDELION CAMP

This is a story which centers around the making and the enjoying of amountain camp, spiced with the fun of a lively troop of Girl Scouts. Thecharm of living in the woods, of learning woodcraft of all sorts, ofadventuring into the unknown, combine to make a busy and an excitingsummer for the girls. 

GIRL SCOUTS IN THE ADIRONDACKS

New scenery, new problems of camping, association with a neighboringcamp of Boy Scouts, and a long canoe trip with them through the FultonChain, all in the setting of the marvelous Adirondacks, bring to thegirls enlargement of horizon, new development, and new joys. 

GIRL SCOUTS IN THE ROCKIES

On horseback from Denver through Estes Park as far as the ContinentalDivide, climbing peaks, riding wild trails, canoeing through canyons, shooting rapids, encountering a landslide, a summer blizzard, a sandstorm, wild animals, and forest fires, the girls pack the days full withunforgettable experiences. 

GIRL SCOUTS IN ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO

The Girl Scouts visit the mountains and deserts of Arizona and NewMexico. They travel over the old Santa Fe trail, cross the PaintedDesert, and visit the Grand Canyon. Their exciting adventures form amost interesting story. 

GIRL SCOUTS IN THE REDWOODS

The girls spend their summer in the Redwoods of California andincidentally find a way to induce a famous motion picture director inHollywood to offer to produce a film that stars the Girl Scouts ofAmerica. 

THE LILIAN GARIS BOOKS

 Attractively Bound. Illustrated. Individual Colored Wrappers. Every Volume Complete in Itself. 

Lilian Garis is one of the writers who always wrote. She expressedherself in verse from early school days and it was then predicted thatLilian Mack would one day become a writer. Justifying this sentiment, while still at high school, she took charge of the woman's page for acity paper and her work there attracted such favorable attention thatshe left school to take entire charge of the woman's page for thelargest daily in an important Eastern city. 

Mrs. Garis turned to girls' books directly after her marriage, and ofthese she has written many. She believes in girls, studies them anddepicts them with pen both skilled and sympathetic. 

BARBARA HALE: A DOCTOR'S DAUGHTER

BARBARA HALE AND COZETTE

GLORIA: A GIRL AND HER DAD

GLORIA AT BOARDING SCHOOL

JOAN: JUST GIRL

JOAN'S GARDEN OF ADVENTURE

CONNIE LORING'S AMBITION

CONNIE LORING'S DILEMMA

AMY BELL MARLOWE'S BOOKS FOR GIRLS

Charming, Fresh and Original Stories

 Illustrated. Wrappers printed in colors with individual design for each story

Miss Marlowe's books for girls are somewhat of thetype of Miss Alcott and also Mrs. Meade; but all arethoroughly up-to-date and wholly American in scene andaction. Good, clean absorbing tales that all girls thoroughlyenjoy. 

THE OLDEST OF FOUR; Or, Natalie's Way Out. 

A sweet story of the struggles of a live girl to keep a family fromwant. 

THE GIRLS AT HILLCREST FARM; Or, The Secret of the Rocks. 

Relating the trials of two girls who take boarders on an old farm. 

A LITTLE MISS NOBODY; Or, With the Girls of Pinewood Hall. 

Tells of a schoolgirl who was literally a nobody until she solved themystery of her identity. 

THE GIRL FROM SUNSET RANCH; Or, Alone in a Great City. 

A ranch girl comes to New York to meet relatives she has never seen. Heradventures make unusually good reading. 

WYN'S CAMPING DAYS; Or, The Outing of the GO-AHEAD CLUB. 

A tale of happy days on the water and under canvas, with a touch ofmystery and considerable excitement. 

FRANCIS OF THE RANGES: Or, The Old Ranchman's Treasure. 

A vivid picture of life on the great cattle ranges of the West. 

THE GIRLS OF RIVERCLIFF SCHOOL; Or, Beth Baldwin's Resolve. 

This is one of the most entertaining stories centering about a girl'sschool that has ever been written. 

WHEN ORIOLE CAME TO HARBOR LIGHT. 

The story of a young girl, cast up by the sea, and rescued by an oldlighthouse keeper. 

WHEN ORIOLE TRAVELED WESTWARD. 

Oriole visits the family of a rich ranchman and enjoys herselfimmensely. 

THE OUTDOOR GIRLS SERIES

By LAURA LEE HOPE

Author of the "Bobbsey Twins, " "Bunny Brown" Series, Etc. 

 Uniform Style of Binding. Individual Colored Wrappers. Every Volume Complete in Itself. 

These tales take in the various adventures participatedin by several bright, up-to-date girls who love outdoor life. 

 THE OUTDOOR GIRLS OF DEEPDALE; Or, Camping and Tramping for Fun and Health. 

 THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT RAINBOW LAKE; Or, The Stirring Cruise of the Motor Boat Gem. 

 THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A MOTOR CAR; Or, The Haunted Mansion of Shadow Valley. 

 THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN A WINTER CAMP; Or, Glorious Days on Skates and Ice Boats. 

 THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN FLORIDA; Or, Wintering in the Sunny South. 

 THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT OCEAN VIEW; Or, The Box That Was Found in the Sand. 

 THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON PINE ISLAND; Or, A Cave and What it Contained. 

 THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN ARMY SERVICE; Or, Doing Their Bit for Uncle Sam. 

 THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT THE HOSTESS HOUSE; Or, Doing Their Best For the Soldiers. 

 THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT BLUFF POINT; Or, A Wreck and A Rescue. 

 THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AT WILD ROSE LODGE; Or, The Hermit of Moonlight Falls. 

 THE OUTDOOR GIRLS IN THE SADDLE; Or, The Girl Miner of Gold Run. 

 THE OUTDOOR GIRLS AROUND THE CAMPFIRE; Or, The Old Maid of the Mountains. 

 THE OUTDOOR GIRLS ON CAPE COD; Or, Sally Ann of Lighthouse Rock. 

THE BLYTHE GIRLS BOOKS

By LAURA LEE HOPE

 Individual Colored Wrappers and Text Illustrations by THELMA GOOCH Every Volume Complete in Itself

The Blythe girls, three in number, were left alone in New York City. Helen, who went in for art and music, kept the little flat uptown, whileMargy just out of a business school, obtained a position as a privatesecretary and Rose, plain-spoken and businesslike, took what she calleda "job" in a department store. 

THE BLYTHE GIRLS: HELEN, MARGY AND ROSE; Or, Facing the Great World. 

A fascinating tale of real happenings in the great metropolis. 

THE BLYTHE GIRLS: MARGY'S QUEER INHERITANCE; Or, The Worth of a Name. 

The girls had a peculiar old aunt and when she died she left an unusualinheritance. This tale continues the struggles of all the girls forexistence. 

THE BLYTHE GIRLS: ROSE'S GREAT PROBLEM; Or, Face to Face With a Crisis. 

Rose still at work in the big department store, is one day faced withthe greatest problem of her life. A tale of mystery as well as excitinggirlish happenings. 

THE BLYTHE GIRLS: HELEN'S STRANGE BOARDER; Or, The Girl From Bronx Park. 

Helen, out sketching, goes to the assistance of a strange girl, whosereal identity is a puzzle to all the Blythe girls. Who the girl reallywas comes as a tremendous surprise. 

THE BLYTHE GIRLS: THREE ON A VACATION; Or, The Mystery at Peach Farm. 

The girls close their flat and go to the country for two weeks--and fallin with all sorts of curious and exciting happenings. How they came tothe assistance of Joe Morris, and solved a queer mystery, is wellrelated. 

CAROLYN WELLS BOOKS

 Attractively Bound. Illustrated. Colored Wrappers. 

THE MARJORIE BOOKS

Marjorie is a happy little girl of twelve, up to mischief, but full ofgoodness and sincerity. In her and her friends every girl reader willsee much of her own love of fun, play and adventure. 

 MARJORIE'S VACATION MARJORIE'S BUSY DAYS MARJORIE'S NEW FRIEND MARJORIE IN COMMAND MARJORIE'S MAYTIME MARJORIE AT SEACOTE

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THE TWO LITTLE WOMEN SERIES

Introducing Dorinda Fayre--a pretty blonde, sweet, serious, timid and alittle slow, and Dorothy Rose--a sparkling brunette, quick, elf-like, high tempered, full of mischief and always getting into scrapes. 

 TWO LITTLE WOMEN TWO LITTLE WOMEN AND TREASURE HOUSE TWO LITTLE WOMEN ON A HOLIDAY

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THE DICK AND DOLLY BOOKS

Dick and Dolly are brother and sister, and their games, their pranks, their joys and sorrows, are told in a manner which makes the stories"really true" to young readers. 

 DICK AND DOLLY DICK AND DOLLY'S ADVENTURES

THE BOBBSEY TWINS BOOKS

For Little Men and Women

By LAURA LEE HOPE

Author of "The Bunny Brown Series, " Etc. 

 Durably Bound. Illustrated. Uniform Style of Binding. Every Volume Complete in Itself. 

These books for boys and girls between the ages of three and ten standamong children and their parents of this generation where the books ofLouisa May Alcott stood in former days. The haps and mishaps of thisinimitable pair of twins, their many adventures and experiences are asource of keen delight to imaginative children everywhere. 

 THE BOBBSEY TWINS THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE COUNTRY THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE SEASHORE THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SNOW LODGE THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON A HOUSEBOAT THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT MEADOW BROOK THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT HOME THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN A GREAT CITY THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON BLUEBERRY ISLAND THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON THE DEEP BLUE SEA THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE GREAT WEST THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT CEDAR CAMP THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE COUNTY FAIR THE BOBBSEY TWINS CAMPING OUT THE BOBBSEY TWINS AND BABY MAY THE BOBBSEY TWINS KEEPING HOUSE THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT CLOVERBANK

THE BUNNY BROWN SERIES

By LAURA LEE HOPE

Author of the Popular "Bobbsey Twins" Books, Etc. 

 Durably Bound. Illustrated. Uniform Style of Binding. Every Volume Complete in Itself. 

These stories by the author of the "Bobbsey Twins" Books are eagerlywelcomed by the little folks from about five to ten years of age. Theireyes fairly dance with delight at the lively doings of inquisitivelittle Bunny Brown and his cunning, trustful sister Sue. 

 BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON GRANDPA'S FARM BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE PLAYING CIRCUS BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CAMP REST-A-WHILE BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT AUNT LU'S CITY HOME BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE BIG WOODS BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON AN AUTO TOUR BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AND THEIR SHETLAND PONY BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE GIVING A SHOW BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CHRISTMAS TREE COVE BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE SUNNY SOUTH BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE KEEPING STORE BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AND THEIR TRICK DOG BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT A SUGAR CAMP

SIX LITTLE BUNKERS SERIES

By LAURA LEE HOPE

Author of The Bobbsey Twins Books, The Bunny Brown Series, The BlytheGirls Books, Etc. 

 Durably Bound. Illustrated. Uniform Style of Binding. Every Volume Complete in Itself. 

Delightful stories for little boys and girls which sprung into immediatepopularity. To know the six little Bunkers is to take them at once toyour heart, they are so intensely human, so full of fun and cutesayings. Each story has a little plot of its own--one that can be easilyfollowed--and all are written in Miss Hope's most entertaining manner. Clean, wholesome volumes which ought to be on the bookshelf of everychild in the land. 

 SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDMA BELL'S SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT AUNT JO'S SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COUSIN TOM'S SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDPA FORD'S SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT UNCLE FRED'S SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT CAPTAIN BEN'S SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COWBOY JACK'S SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT MAMMY JUNE'S SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT FARMER JOEL'S SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT MILLER NED'S SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT INDIAN JOHN'S

GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK

 +-----------------------------------------------------+ |Transcriber's Note: | | | |The word catalogue appears in the main text, but is | |catalog in the advertisements at the end of the book. | |Raquette Lake is also shown as Racquette Lake. | +-----------------------------------------------------+