It was the first time that the members of the Band had walked along the road that ran through a section of the farm. When they neared Sherwood's place, a small section of woodland lay before them. The shade was dense and the ground damp as the location was rather low at the foot of the slope. Fern grew to a great height and wild flowers of every kind blossomed profusely.
"Almost feels like the forests in Florida," said Jane, who had visited the southern part of Florida with her mother.
"Have you ever named these woods?" Elena asked Zan.
"No, we never come this way, much," replied Zan.
"Then let's call it 'Everglades'—it's a lovely glade and the dampness and luxuriant vegetation will bear us out in the name," suggested Elena.
"Now, perhaps, as we have had lots of rain this season; but you'd find it a far different glade during July and August of a dry season," replied Zan.
When the travellers reached the bridge that spanned the creek, and looked up at the Bluff from a new point of view, they were surprised to see how high their camp seemed to be above the road.
"I didn't know the camp was visible from the road," said Nita.
"I had never noticed the road from the Bluff, did you, Miss Miller?" asked Hilda.
"No, I hadn't thought of looking for it, yet I knew it must be in plain sight, as it runs by Bill's cottage and that is in full view from our tents."
"Let's sit down on the bridge and rest a bit before taking that climb," suggested Nita.
"I never did see any one get as tired as you do, Nita. When it is anything that you don't particularly fancy, you are the most tiredest person!" said Zan, impatiently.
"Well, come to think of it, I don't see why it was necessary for me to help when there are so many other useless hands here—Nancy is doing all the work!" retorted Nita.
"You'd better get rid of all the ire you have stored up, Nita, for we are going to pay fines for every mistake—I said mistake for politeness' sake—after our next council!" warned Zan.
Nita laughed musically, but Zan knew that laugh and was aware that Nita was in one of her most stubborn moods.
She sat down on the heavy cross-bar of the bridge to rest but the other girls had no desire to wait, and Nancy kept on going until the foot of the slope was reached. Here, the wheels were removed and the load of wood was dragged up by the ropes.
With the lumber deposited on the Bluff, Nancy was given a piece of sugar and discharged from duty. The old horse stood watching the girls for a short time until Zan spied her standing in the foot-path that led down to the cottage.
"Just look at that horse? Did you ever see a more intelligent look in a dumb animal's eyes? She seems to say, 'What under the sun did you want those old boards for—I'm going to wait and see!'"
The others turned and laughed at Nancy's look. At that the old horse turned and went down the hill.
"There, now she's insulted at our laughter!" said Miss Miller.
The girls undid the rope that held the wood together, while the Guide went to her tent and gathered her books and papers. Coming back to the group she said, "We will hold a council before further work or play is proposed."
"But Nita isn't here—she stopped on the bridge," said Jane.
"I'm afraid Nita will be tardy then, or perhaps miss the meeting altogether!" replied the Guide, positively.
The girls were beginning to understand their teacher better than they had ever thought of comprehending any one; not from her words, for she did not need to say much when her face and voice expressed so much. Thus, they knew that the council called was because of Nita's delinquency.
"Zan, as Big Chief, you will call the roll," said Miss Miller.
This was done and Elena was called upon to read the entries in the Tally Book.
"Now, girls, we must recognize our obligation to each other and not feel as if this camp was started for pure pleasure and indolence. We must feel that a certain amount of fun combines with study or work to make the time well spent. I detest this constant nagging or advising, and regret that it seems necessary to talk so much about duty. I wish to call your attention to a page in the Manual of Woodcraft that I had no idea would ever be needed for us, under the sub-title of Law and Punishments."
The girls looked at each other in dismay. To think that one of their small number should make it necessary to take up the question of punishment!
Miss Miller read: "Punishments are meted out by the Chief and Council, after a hearing of the case. They consist of: Exclusion from the games or boats for a time. Reduction in rank, or of fines, etc. The extreme penalty is 'death'; that is, banishment from the Tribe. Elena, enter these items in the Tally Book."
Silence reigned when Miss Miller finished speaking.
"It is high time our Council took note of the stubborn conduct of one of its members. Last night we were submitted to certain unpleasantness but later the cause of it appeared contrite. Twice to-day the appearance of undesirable qualities has turned our thoughts from duty and pleasure. Now, the Chief is empowered to write down a copy of these fines and place them in Little Chief's possession. Fine will be omitted for any cause occurring before she reads of the Council's decision. After that, penalty will be served on any one committing a fault or omitting a given duty."
Miss Miller was the stern teacher of the school-class as she spoke and the girls felt the same awe with which she inspired them at school.
Nita could not be seen on the bridge or along the road, so Zan placed the paper in their tent on Nita's pillow.
"The Council is adjourned," said the Guide, and they got up with pleasure.
"Now for the cupboard!" cried Miss Miller.
The boards were measured off the same length, and some of the girls began sawing them along the pencil-lines. When the boards had been approved, the two sides were nailed to a bottom section. Then, a top was fastened to the sides. The girls were beginning to thoroughly enjoy the construction work and every one was eager to nail the back on the frame just made. It therefore became necessary for the four to take turns in placing a narrow board at the back. As four boards covered it exactly, one girl after the other took her board and attached it. But Jane had the last board and found it much easier to nail down than the first girl did.
While the back was being fastened firmly, Miss Miller whittled and cut six strips of moulding. These she divided, one for each girl and two for herself. The first two she nailed inside the cupboard on marks made on the side lengths of the boards. The girls saw at once that these strips were rests for the shelves.
Three girls nailed their strips on very nicely, but Zan, impatient to get through with hers, drove the last nail in so that it bent double and forced the strip down from the pencil-line.
"Oh, bother! Will that do, or must I pull the nail out?" asked she, looking up at Jane, who was watching the work.
"Guess Miss Miller wouldn't give a reward for that!" said Jane, meaningly.
"Well, out she comes!" and Zan took the hammer and turned it about to use the forked end on the nail. The head of the wire nail was not broad and the hammer stripped it, leaving the remains of the wire still sticking in the wood.
"Did you ever! I s'pose the old thing will come off altogether, next!" grumbled Zan.
She tried the hammer in every conceivable position but the nail seemed to be stuck for good. "I'll get you this time!" added Zan, placing the hammer under the strip and bending back the handle of the tool until suddenly the strip cracked and half of it came out with the hammer while the carpenter rolled backward.
Miss Miller and the girls came over to see the cause of the commotion and the Guide soon found that impatience and carelessness had made extra work for Zan and delayed the work.
Zan fully appreciated the cause of the accident and felt repentant the moment she saw the damaged strip.
"Miss Miller, my besetting sin did that! Please let me whittle a new strip while the girls and you continue making the doors. I was just crazy to work on those doors and screw on the hinges, but I'll do the other work as a punishment for impatience?"
Miss Miller heartily approved this attitude and smiled.
"Oh, you needn't show how glad you are that I realise my fault—I find it much pleasanter to obey my own dictated punishment than if you had to suggest it!" added Zan, frankly.
The Guide and Zan's companions laughed, for it was a candid statement of truth. Who wouldn't prefer to endure their own suggested punishments than follow some one else's?
"In case your punishment is not sufficient to humble yourself and cure the fault, let us prescribe again," said Miss Miller.
"Foregoing the delight of screwing on those hinges is almost more than I can stand," said Zan, expressing deepest regret in her voice.
The others laughed again and began work on the anticipated treat.
Zan finally whittled a strip similar to the Guide's and this time it was nailed on accurately. The hinges were on the two plain boards that would act as doors of the cupboard and Miss Miller held one in place while the girls screwed them to the side boards. When both doors were on, the finishing touch was the screwing on of a bolt.
Elena whispered something to Miss Miller and the Guide smiled at Zan, who had stood watching the completion of the closet. "We think that your punishment was more severe than the crime, so it is suggested that you be allowed to put in the last screw. Here is the bolt."
"Wh-eee!" squealed Zan, as she jumped to take the screw-driver from Jane and sat down in front of the door and began to fasten the bolt to the door. The others stood close behind and watched, thereby failing to see Nita creep up through the woods and go in her tent.
"Done, giminy crickets! Isn't it a peach!" cried Elena, her hands clasped in admiration.
"Did that rule become effective—about slang?" asked Zan, comically.
"That was an important matter the Council failed to discuss this morning," admitted the Guide.
"Well, don't inflict punishment to-day—the cupboard is too much for my balance!" begged Elena.
"Then one day's grace is allowed the three members who are so given to crime. Hereafter, the fulness of the law will be meted out!" returned Miss Miller.
"The Chief will have to punish herself some more," laughed Hilda.
While some of the girls shifted the cupboard up to the spot near the fire-place where it would be most convenient, Miss Miller walked over to the tents to replace the papers and book of the Band. She thought she saw something move in Zan's tent, and going over found Nita on the cot, pretending sleep.
When the Guide rejoined the girls she said nothing about finding Nita in the tent. The girls, however, were too busy to notice anything in the Guide's expression and the moment she was within hearing, Zan cried, "Ants! Miss Miller, what shall we do to keep out bugs?"
"And supposin' it rains hard! Won't the water leak in?" wondered Jane, examining the wide chinks.
"I'm afraid it will," laughed the Guide.
The girls stared at her and Hilda asked, "What was the use wasting time on something that leaks?"
"But you've learned the use of tools and constructed a useful article as well. The cupboard will prove most useful as you will find," replied Miss Miller.
"There then, Elena, you've got a swell entry for the Tally Book!" announced Zan.
"And Zan is making most of her day of grace!" laughed Miss Miller, looking at her watch.
"How long did it take us, Guide?" asked Hilda.
"What time do you think it is?" asked Miss Miller.
"Must be 'most eleven," ventured Jane.
"Oh, no, it isn't more than ten," added Elena.
"It is ten minutes to one!" announced the Guide.
The girls were amazed. "Where did the morning go?" Zan wondered.
"So, you see, we must prepare lunch. And I was so eager to take you over to the garden and look over the vegetables to select some for our meals," said Miss Miller, with regret.
"And Nita's not back yet! I forgot all about her in the fun over the cupboard," said Zan, looking toward the bridge.
"Nita is in her tent. She was there when I returned to my tent with the papers," said Miss Miller, quietly.
No further remarks were made to Nita, but every one wondered if she realised the importance of the written law which had been pinned to her pillow where she must have seen it.
For the next hour the Band was very busy preparing dinner and then removing its traces. Nita did not join them and no one felt inclined to go and coax her out of her sulks.
The food was placed in the cupboard and Miss Miller made two propositions: A walk to Baldy Pate on a Nature Quest, or a swimming lesson. As both could be enjoyed, it remained for the girls to say which should be first.
Zan explained. "If we go on a hike we'll be warm on our return and a swim will feel good and cool us off."
The others agreed, so Hilda was sent for the whittling knife and Zan for the hatchet. Miss Miller went to her tent and took a small bottle of chloroform and several layers of absorbent cotton, besides a few specimen boxes and a butter-fly net. Jane had a note-book in case they wished to enter any items. Nita had not appeared, so the Band started without paying any attention to her, knowing it to be the kindest procedure in the end.
They had not gone a hundred yards when Miss Miller suggested that each one go a different direction through the woods and meet on the top of Baldy to rest and relate experiences.
The idea met with approval and each one started alone to find a new and adventurous way leading to the mountaintop.
While the members of the Band were blazing unique trails leading to the top of Baldy Pate, Nita crept from her tent and read the note which had been pinned to her pillow. She threw it down on the ground and stamped upon it with her heel, simply because there was no other way to vent her spite on the innocent paper. Looking about for something to do, she spied the cupboard. With a shrug of her shoulders, she ran over and flung open the door. She was famished for food, so she took all she wanted to eat and threw the rest out in the pool where the current soon carried the bread and lighter edibles away, but the heavy particles sunk to the bottom. Finding nothing she could do to cause discomfort to the other girls, she decided to take a walk along the road she had seen when she rested on the bridge. The sun was blazing down, so Nita took a sun-shade she found in Miss Miller's tent and started on her lonesome adventure. But she felt sure there must be some other estates near the Baker Farm, and perhaps she might meet some young folks—who knows!
Miss Miller, being an adept in the woods, reached the top of Old Baldy some time before the girls did. As she sat on the high brow of Baldy admiring the wide view down the valley, she followed with her eyes the ribbon of silvery water that wound from the Big Bridge, through the woods, coming out in a great green meadow where many horses grazed. A yellow roadway ran parallel to the stream where it issued from cover of the woods, and Miss Miller saw a tiny form—or it seemed tiny from that distance—carrying a purple parasol, and beside her stood an English dog-cart with a young man in it. Miss Miller wondered where she had seen a purple sun-shade something like that one! She had not noticed particularly the one Zan took from the house in case it would be needed some time for Miss Miller's comfort.
The Guide then looked about her and found the mountaintop covered with low bushes of berries. "Blue berries—so early!" exclaimed she, and began picking them while waiting for her charges' arrival.
One after another the girls came up their particular trail, with stories of what they had seen on the way. While waiting for Elena to appear, they lay in the short grass on the summit. Miss Miller had filled her butterfly box with berries and now sat down.
"The clouds over the valley seem to threaten a storm," said she, turning about to examine the sky overhead and behind her.
"I thought I heard a faint rumble a moment ago," added Hilda.
"Oh, no, you didn't," replied Zan. "That was a farm-wagon rumbling over the Big Bridge."
"Where is the Big Bridge, Zan? We haven't seen it yet, have we?" asked Jane. Thus the subject was turned from any reminder of the storm.
"No, it is down at the end of our property just where it connects with Hamilton's place. The river is quite wide there, as several small streams flow into it after it leaves Bill's place."
"Girls, if we had a few more berries, I could make a berry pudding," said Miss Miller.
"Then we'll pick some more," returned Elena, rolling over to rise to her feet.
As she did so she came directly under a berry bush and took hold of it to assist herself in rising. A piercing scream frightened her companions speechless.
"Augh! A snake! I grabbed hold of a nasty old snake!" she yelled, shaking herself and trying to wipe the contaminated hand on the grass in a mad frenzy.
The others ran over to see the snake and Zan said, "He didn't bite, did he?"
"Mercy no! Wasn't it bad enough to feel his body wriggle!" sputtered Elena, nauseated at the remembrance of the touch.
"Don't think of it again! Quick, Elena, change your thought and think of something else!" came from Miss Miller, as she shook Elena suddenly, to make her take notice.
"Eh—what!" said Elena, wondering at the Guide's queer action, but at the same time forgetting to be ill.
"Show me where it went! Hurry—quick! I want to catch it for observation!" Miss Miller said, excitedly.
"That way—under the laurel! But mercy sakes, Miss Miller! Don't go near the horrid thing!" cried Elena, now forgetting her nausea in her anxiety to keep the Guide from the snake.
Miss Miller ran over to the bush followed closely by Elena and the other girls. No sign of the snake could be seen as, of course, the Guide knew it would have slipped away long before.
She turned with a sigh of disappointment to find Elena as eager to see the reptile again as the others were.
"Feeling quite right again, Elena?" asked Miss Miller, smiling at the girl.
"Wh-y, ye-es! But ugh! It was slippery!" replied Elena.
"Then you forgot to use your 'ready help'! What an opportunity for you to have won a point in advance of the others. I was the only one who took advantage of it, so I am ahead in this race," said Miss Miller.
"What do you mean?" asked Zan, puzzled.
"Wouldn't you have screamed and shaken it off, had a snake slid down on your hand?" queried Elena, amazed.
"If I felt startled, I doubtless would, but I would also have applied 'ready help' the moment I felt as ill over the incident as you seemed to be. As it was, not one of you appreciated the circumstances to help, so I had to step in."
"But, Miss Miller, you didn't do a thing!" exclaimed Jane.
"No? I made Elena, as well as all of you, think of something entirely foreign to the snake. By rousing your interest in another object, you unconsciously overcame the nausea, and later, I gradually drew your thoughts back to the very object that seemed to cause your illness, but in what a different frame of mind you examined the idea the second time. Well, girls, after all is said and done, it gets down to using our 'thinking machine more' does it not?" laughed the Guide.
"I guess you're right again—you may go to the head of the class," declared Zan.
"Do you know, girls, if I was President of this land I would have a law made that would make it imperative for every man, woman, and child to think! First of all, to think of what God means to us. Second, to think of what life means. Third, what does brotherhood really mean. Fourth, and all, inclusive, to think more of what can be done to improve the child! The child who will be the future citizen—a father or mother of future generations! Oh, I tell you, it will take thinking to lift the curse of the world, and then when one has thought deeply, to put into execution the good things that came to one in deep thinking!"
The girls smiled at what they considered Miss Miller's hobby, but they also admired her vastly for such thoughts.
While the talk drifted into other channels, Jane and Elena sought for and found some beautiful butterflies which they placed carefully in the boxes. As they turned to go back to their companions, Elena had an inspiration.
"Jane, you know it is Miss Miller's birthday the end of this month—what do you say to our making her a lovely tray with some of our best butterflies?"
"Tray? How would you make it?" wondered Jane.
"Why, we can send in to one of the department stores and buy the wooden frame with the glass and back ready-made. By grouping grasses and butterflies artistically on the cotton under the glass, and screwing the back on again, we would have a beauty!"
"Sure! That'll be fine, Elena! And why can't we try for a coup at the same time?"
So the girls decided to write that night and send for the tray, keeping the whole plan a secret from the others.
Just before the two hunters rejoined the others, a sudden peal of thunder startled every one. Miss Miller looked at the sky with apprehension in her eyes.
"Dear me, it is black as ink over Baldy and those two girls haven't come back yet!" cried she.
"It's surely coming up fast—when a storm comes in that direction, it's generally a hummer, too!" said Zan.
The sun, which had been shining brilliantly, now was partially obscured by the scudding clouds, and Miss Miller was about to shout for the missing girls when they appeared running through the bushes.
"We're too far from camp to make it in time, Miss Miller, and there's no other shelter near, is there?" called Jane.
"Oh, yes! I forgot to tell you what I found on my trail here," replied Zan, hurriedly. "Bob and Fiji discovered a cave last summer but they would never take me there. I tried to locate it but failed. On my way through the woods I accidentally found the great opening under the rock and stopped a moment to investigate. It will easily shelter every one of us!"
"All right, Zan—lead on quickly!" ordered the Guide.
The woods became as dark as evening while the peals of thunder crashed down and forks of lightning shot about the girls as they ran single file along the faint trail made by Zan.
"Dear me, Zan, I felt a drop! We will be deluged if you have much farther to take us!" cried Miss Miller.
"We're almost there—keep up your courage and win a coup!" laughed Zan, trying to cheer the others.
Then after a few more turns in and about the giant trees, she cried, "Here it is—tickets, please! Have them ready!"
It took but a minute for the others to fly after the leader into the dark interior of the cave. It was made by some huge rocks leaning against each other with tree-trunks to brace them from rolling down when the earth had been washed away from underneath. Situated in the side of the steep cleft of the ravine, with the opening toward the valley, it proved an admirable refuge.
After every one had assured herself that there was no immediate danger of the whole side crashing in upon them, Zan explained how the boys used to play Indians and camp out on fine nights. They had a few plates and pans on a narrow ledge in the cave, and some hemlock greens furnished a bed.
"How far from camp is the cave?" asked the Guide.
"Oh, about half a mile! We can follow down the ravine and get to our camp without trouble when it clears off," said Zan.
The rain swept down the mountain-side in torrents, while livid fire flashed in at the mouth of the cave accompanied by crash upon crash of deafening thunder. Miss Miller saw that a few of the girls were timid and looked fearfully about at the rock-ribbed walls of the cave to see if they were still in place.
"Don't you girls love to hear thunder roll and crack forth like the sound of cannon?"
"You really don't mean that you like thunder, Miss Miller?" gasped Elena.
"Why, yes, don't you? I think the privilege of watching lightning is one to be taken advantage of every time it is offered."
"But it is so dangerous! Suppose you were struck?"
"I know that the Great Spirit governs our destinies and I have no more to fear from a streak of lightning, if I am sensible, than I would have from yonder tall pine," said the Guide.
"But that pine is dangerous, too, in a storm!" said Elena.
"Then let's say, for a figure of speech, my bathtub at home. That I am as safe out there as at home."
"Oh, well, that's different. Every one knows a bathtub is perfectly safe, while lightning isn't," declared Jane.
"I see! Then it resolves itself into familiarity with the things you know about—and the danger of lightning is in its elusiveness at being studied and not in its power?" laughed Miss Miller, pleased at the way the girls walked in the trap.
"Mother always closes the doors and windows during a storm and won't let me sit on the porch, either. Why is that?" asked Elena, while the other girls forgot their fear in the interesting discussion under way.
"Some people say that a place might be struck unless tightly closed. I have even heard of folks that refused to have a lamp or light lighted during a storm, for fear the lightning would follow the path of light. But that is sheer nonsense. The only thing that might occur from wide-opened doors and windows is the strong current of wind that would tear along the floor if the draft was strong enough. This might conduct the lightning, especially if the rain blew in with the wind, for water is a great conductor of electricity. Sometimes, the clouds hang very low and the dart might possibly follow the line of least resistance. The notion that it will follow in the pathway of a light, is on the face of it an absurdity, for electricity itself is so much brighter than a pale shaft from a lamp or gas-jet can be, that it would never see the latter. Then, too, it would be allowing electricity to have intelligence to see a pathway of light, and that would be paganism. All intelligence comes from God, the Spirit, and no current of force, or object of material sense can rob Spirit of its prerogative. When we sift out many fears we find them actually based on old superstitions that have in some way been handed down since the days before the Christian Era."
"Miss Miller, why is it that a barn is more often struck than a house in town?" asked Jane, after a short silence.
"I am glad you thought of that, because it is interesting. It is a positive fact that very few accidents by lightning are recorded in large towns or cities. Not because there are no tall buildings or spires for the bolt to follow, but for some unknown reason lightning does not touch thickly populated places but seeks out solitary objects in the country, or on mountains and plains. Probably the farmers know this and that is why almost every dwelling in the country has a lightning-rod at the corners of the roof. Too, I have often thought that the chemicals generated by the cattle that stand in a barn have much to do with attracting electricity. I have even compared cases and find that a barn where the cows or horses are present, is struck and a vacant barn that has not been in use for a time, is left intact."
"Maybe you can tell us why pine trees are struck when the other trees are left without a mark? I have seen pine trees torn and splintered—ten to one of other trees," said Zan.
"Generally, a pine tree grows up straight and tall above its fellows about it. A pine having rosin in its sap should prove a non-conductor for the shaft, so I should say that the cause of its often being a victim to lightning must come from the fact that its spire pierces the low-hanging clouds passing over it and thus letting the electricity out to follow the object that entered the proscribed place. The higher on a mountain-side the pine grows, the oftener you will find one shattered. But I have noticed that other tall trees growing on high places, are as often struck, if the pine is not as tall as the companion trees."
"Miss Miller, who thought of the lightning-rod?" asked Zan.
"Why, my dear, don't you know? I thought every grammar school child remembered our good old Benjamin Franklin for that! He it was who brought it down into subjection for mortals to use. Before that time, people actually believed that God sent it for a warning. In these days, the man we call the Wizard of Electricity, Thomas Edison, has been able to harness it for practical purposes to lighten labour and extend the luxuries of living to mankind."
"I suppose we will experiment some day, and find out that lightning is no more dangerous than the rain-drops," ventured Hilda.
"It doesn't appear to be imminent though!" laughed Jane.
"What makes lightning, Miss Miller?" asked Elena.
"It is caused by a sudden discharge of atmospheric electricity. The identity of lightning was discovered by our Benjamin Franklin in America and Romas in France. There are several kinds of lightning, forked lightning being the dangerous kind. Heat lightning is seen in the skies at night after an unusually hot day. Sheet lightning spreads over a great surface and is of various colours. Chain lightning is swift, in long rippling lines looking like links of a chain. Globular lightning is a ball of fire and travels slower than the former kinds."
The girls were intensely interested in the teacher's explanations, but the rain was ceasing and the thunder sounded farther off.
"Some day we will take up the subject of electricity and look thoroughly into its claims. When you find out more about it you will lose much of your dread of it. The same plan might be adopted by Elena and the snakes. The more she knows about reptiles the less she will fear them, and the more interesting they become. You will look upon them as the living creature formed by the Creator. Then, you will unconsciously extend to them the admiration due them for their various ways of doing good to the earth upon which they live."
"Ugg! Who could ever admire a snake! After the way that slippery thing felt when I had a grip on it! I shall never want to hold one again," said Elena, shuddering.
"That is why I mentioned it again. If you girls had ever studied that form of life you would be surprised how beautiful and interesting snakes are. Maybe we will find time to catch a few specimens and watch them in captivity. I brought a splendid magnifying glass with me, and several pads for taking down notes. We can rig up a small shack and construct some furniture for it; it will be our scientific bureau where all our insects and other interesting data can be prepared and kept."
"Your plan sounds awfully jolly, if you don't make us catch the snakes!" said Elena.
"When it comes to providing the specimen we will take turns," replied the teacher.
The shower passed over as quickly as it had arisen, so the Band decided to start for Camp. The ground had been very dry and the rain soaked in rapidly, leaving the surface comparatively dry.
"I wonder if Nita was frightened at the shower?" said Zan, as they followed her down the trail.
"I'd rather have had company on that Bluff—but it is her own fault," said Hilda.
"Oh, girls, see the rainbow—isn't it a beauty!" exclaimed Miss Miller at this point.
The girls all stopped and admired the wonderful hues in the bow and Jane asked, "What makes a rainbow, Miss Miller?"
"Look, girls! There's another one—right near the other!" cried Zan, pointing.
"There usually are two, according to the brilliancy with which the sun reflects upon the opposite clouds when they are resolved into rain. Look at those two carefully! See the lower one is brighter than the second one. Also look quickly before it fades and see that the colours are reversed in their order; and in one, red is the highest colour, while violet is strongest in the second."
The girls stood straining their eyes to see things they had not thought of before. Miss Miller waited a moment to give them time to verify her statements, then she said, "Every rainbow has seven arcs presenting the seven colours of the solar spectrum. Sometimes the moon will produce rainbows but they are of very pale colouring. I could tell you all about the degrees and rays that go to elucidate facts about a rainbow, but you would only be in a maze when I was through, so I will tell you the simple fact of causation, then some other time we might go into the subject from a scientific basis.
"A rainbow is produced by the decomposition of the white light of the sun when it passes into the rain-drops, then reflecting from their inside face; or when solar light passes into drops of water under a certain angle.
"When we are placed at a certain angle on the earth, we look up at the spot where the rainbow is said to be, and the sun shining opposite it produces on the retina the sensation of colours. You never see a rainbow at high noon, yet the rays of the sun are intense enough. But there is no reflection at noon, upon clouds that you can see. There may be a rainbow at that time somewhere in the clouds, but you can't see it.
"The geysers in the National Park out West produce the same phenomenon, but in not such brilliant colourings. Sometimes, a double rainbow appears over Niagara Falls, and on almost any clear day you can see one large rainbow."
The girls listened to the interesting explanation while following the Guide down through the ravine. As they neared the Bluff, the sun began shining again in unclouded brightness, and only the drops of water on leaves and rocks told one of the shower.
Arrived at camp, everything was found to be in good condition, the tents having shed water beautifully; the Guide's selection of site proved wise inasmuch as the rain drained away from all sides of the spot where the tents stood.
Zan ran to her tent to see if Nita was sleeping. But no one was there. She came out again and looked at Miss Miller in astonishment. The Guide expected to hear that Nita had gone to bed to hide her ears from the thunder, and was surprised when Zan told her that Nita was not to be seen.
"She took refuge with Sherwoods' when the first peal of thunder sounded," said Miss Miller.
"I'll run down and let her know we are back. If she wishes to join us, all right, but I won't coax her to," whispered Zan, and the Guide nodded her approval.
But Zan came back alone after a long interval. She expressed concern in her face when Miss Miller asked about Nita.
"Mrs. Sherwood said she saw one of the girls coming down her foot-path with my mother's purple sun-shade. She was surprised and watched her go along the road that leads to the Big Bridge."
"There, now! That is where I saw that purple parasol! I sat on top of Baldy while waiting for you girls and as I looked at the valley view I spied a tiny form walking along the road with a dash of purple over her head. I sat wondering where I had seen a purple sun-shade—it seemed quite recently. But now I remember you carried one from the house when you brought some of the luxuries," said Miss Miller.
"How far is the Big Bridge, Zan?" asked Jane.
"Let's walk down there and meet Nita," suggested Hilda.
"Oh, the Big Bridge is at the extreme end of the farm and divides Hamilton's stock-farm from ours. If Nita walked as far as that, she would naturally seek shelter at Hamilton's. And Mr. Hamilton would send her here in a machine, or let one of his hostlers drive her back. Nita wouldn't walk back—it's too far for her," said Zan.
"Well, then, as the afternoon is far spent, what do you girls say to our daily swim? We can't start a lesson on gardening to-day, and I don't believe that any of us want to sew until we are satiated with farm-life and country sights," ventured the Guide.
"We'll all vote for a swim—the rain has swollen the creek so that the Falls will make lots of fun for us in the pool," cried Zan, delightedly.
"That's so! I never thought of that!" exclaimed Hilda.
"Hurry up, get undressed!" ordered Zan.
"Will the pool be perfectly safe if it is deeper?" Elena asked timidly.
"Safe as ever—nothing is safe unless you master it!" added Miss Miller, going to her tent to don her bathing-suit.
"We never thought to write for bathing-suits! We'll have to wear our union suits again," called Zan, as she entered her tent.
"I remembered while I was cooking supper last night and I intended drawing your attention to the matter again without directly reminding you, but Nita's actions caused the subject to fade away. This morning I recalled it again while I was washing, then I forgot again," admitted the Guide.
"I'll just hang a note on my tent-flap—then I'll sure remember to write when I get in," declared Zan.
The bath that day was enjoyed by all, and Elena almost overcame her timidity of the water. Hilda found she would float naturally if she relaxed the tension of her fear thought and let herself go in the water. It was a fine sensation—finding the water would buoy her upon its face.
After the girls had dressed and Miss Miller planned for supper, they wondered where Nita could be! She should have been back if Hamilton's expected to drive her over.
"Zan, if these neighbours have a telephone, can you go to Bill's house and 'phone?" asked Miss Miller, unwilling to admit that she was worried over the girl's absence.
"Bill's wire doesn't connect with anything but our house, but I will run there and get Hamilton's and find out where Nita is," said Zan, jumping up.
"Jane will go with you for company's sake," said Miss Miller.
Evidently, the information Zan heard on the telephone was of a most uncomfortable kind, for she hurried back to the Bluff without speaking of it to Jane, who was supposed to be with her for company's sake.
"Miss Miller, please come over here a moment!" said Zan. Her voice denoted concentrated anger and annoyance.
The other girls plied Jane with questions, but she could say nothing, as Zan had not confided in her.
"Miss Miller, Mr. Hamilton himself answered the call, and I told him who I was and what we were doing down here.
"He said he was glad we were down; Daddy wrote him about our camp, and said he was to drop in now and then and see if we needed anything he could supply.
"I told him no, that we were doing fine, but that one of our girls must have lost herself—was she at his house?
"He didn't speak at once, then he said, 'Did she have a purple parasol like your mother's last summer?'
"'Yes, yes, that's Nita!' I cried. 'Can you bring her over—she isn't accustomed to walking very much?' And, Miss Miller, what do you think he told me?"
Zan was so angry that she almost cried as she spoke.
The Guide soothed her wisely, and said, "Go on, Zan, I am most anxious to hear the rest."
"Mr. Hamilton drove to the next town's freight station to-day to get some dog crates and he says he passed a young fellow on the road who sat in a dog-cart leaning over the side talking to a girl with a purple parasol. He says the fellow is a Military School cadet, of about sixteen, who spends his summers at his grandmother's summer place, several miles farther on from the Hamilton place. Mr. Hamilton did not wait to see what the two finally did, but he did not see either of them on his drive back from town."
Miss Miller was stunned. She stood perfectly still for a time, then said, "Zan, have you ever known Nita to show any preference for boys' company?"
"Oh, yes. And, Miss Miller, she often said to me, what a lucky girl Jane was to have a chance to see so many nice fellows! Then, when she comes to my house, she always acts so silly when Fiji is about. He gets simply disgusted with her ninny airs and foolish things she does to attract his attention!"
"Humph! I see!" murmured the Guide, but she did not explain to Zan what it was she saw.
The two rejoined the girls and supper preparations continued in silence. Miss Miller had almost decided to send out an alarm by Mr. Hamilton when she saw Nita coming up the slope.
"Oh, hello, girls! Anybody get wet?" called she, as she came near enough to be heard.
Although the three other girls knew nothing of Nita's escapade, they felt that she had misbehaved in some way.
"Nita, can you explain satisfactorily where you have been all this time—and not have been caught in the rain?" asked the Guide, sternly.
"Oh, I had a nice time! Better than if I had gone mountain-climbing, I guess. I'm quite old enough to take care of myself, and, you see, I am safe and sound!" laughed she, with a hint of confusion.
"I see more than you give me credit for! You will get a pencil and pad at once and write to your mother, exactly where you went and what you did this afternoon."
"What difference will it make to mother? She isn't down here to take care of me?" replied Nita, impudently.
"Because she is your guardian by law and she must hear what you have to say," said Miss Miller.
"But she placed me in your care!" exulted Nita, triumphantly.
"Very well then, come with me and I will hear you—later I will see what is to be done," came unexpectedly from the Guide.
Nita frowned, but having trapped herself, she could not retreat by saying that Miss Miller had no right to question her.
At first the stubborn girl would not speak a word, so Miss Miller went over to her trunk and began unlocking it.
When she found that she must confess or go home, she told, little by little, about the afternoon's experience.
Finally, Miss Miller heard all she needed to know. Nita had walked along the road past Hamilton's place until a young man in a fine dog-cart came by. He mistook her for a dear friend in the city and stopped to invite her for a ride. When Nita explained that she was not the friend, he was very charming indeed, and wanted to drive her back to the camp. She demurred at first, but the shower threatened and he said she must get in and permit him to take her to his house which was nearby, until the rain was over. The house was much farther than Nita dreamed, and they just got under shelter of the wagon-shed in time. She did not go to the house, as the downpour prevented them. As soon as the shower was over they started back, but Mr. Everton lost the way and took the wrong turn. That was what delayed them so long.
"Nita, you will write and tell your mother everything you told me just now, and anything you have forgotten to say. Will you allow me to read the letter before you close it, please, as it must be plainly explained to her. If she wishes you to come home, all right; but if you remain here, it will be on a very different basis than heretofore. If you do not write, I will, and I will not interpret your act as kindly as you may do for yourself!"
Nita began crying, and begged Miss Miller not to send her home. She wanted to stay at camp. Her mother and father were dreadfully strict with her and she would have a wretched summer in the city if she went home.
"Then I should think you would take the same interest in camp as the others do—if you are sincere in wishing to remain. You have shirked every given task and made things very unpleasant for all of us, since we came to camp," said the Guide.
"Well, please, do not send me back and don't write! I'll explain everything to mother!"
"Sit down and begin. I will have to attend to supper and will look over the letter afterward."
Miss Miller returned to the fire where the girls were busy concocting some food that Hilda and Zan said they could cook. As the Guide joined them, Hilda laughed and said, "I think I'll resign in favour of some one who can bring something appetizing out of this mess!"
Nita took the pad and pencil from her folio and sat down on a stone just outside of her tent. "Just as I begin having a lovely time with Jack Everton! I wonder if that mean old snoop thinks I will let mother know about my beau! I'll write two letters: one she'll read and approve for me to mail, and the other I'll hide until she gives me back the first. Then I'll slip the real one in an envelope and tear up the other! Mother'll answer and say everything is all right; that she's glad I'm here, and that she don't want me to come home!"
Nita chewed the end of the pen for a few moments, planning a letter that would bring back a desirable reply from her mother. The epistle written, she began the second letter which was to be approved by Miss Miller, but the call for supper came before she had half finished writing it.
Nita went over to the group about to sit down and took her place without a word of apology for not having assisted in the preparation of the supper.
The silent prayer period was filled with grateful hearts communing with the Great Spirit, but Nita sat and looked sneeringly at one and the other of her companions. Not that Nita was irreligious, or that she scorned to pray, but she was in a mood that would have refused to obey in anything, no matter how divine.
Immediately after the meal, Nita returned to her letter and Miss Miller joined her later. When the writing was concluded the Guide read what had been written and was delighted to find that Nita had confessed fully the mistake of the afternoon. Miss Miller folded the letter and turned to address Nita more kindly.
Nita was scowling and, at the Guide's words, flounced into the tent. "Hateful spy! What right has she to send that letter?" muttered the girl.
Miss Miller stood silently pondering the sudden change in Nita. Then, having had wide experience with girls at just this critical age, she nodded her head comprehendingly, and went inside.
"Nita, do you object to my mailing this letter now?"
Nita refused to reply, but buried her face in the pillow.
"I was wondering if you had any reason for mailing it yourself. If you have, I will leave it here."
Nita was trying to figure out whether the teacher heard her mutter or not. Then, realising that she must pretend to be penitent, she said, "I don't care, Miss Miller, one way or the other! Only, a girl doesn't like to feel that she isn't trusted to send her letter to her own mother!"
"Very well, then, I'll leave it on your trunk and you can attend to it!" replied Miss Miller, leaving it and going out.
It was the work of a minute for Nita to tear the letter into small bits and then insert the one she had first written. This done, the envelope was addressed and stamped.
Long after the girls had gone to bed and were asleep that night, Miss Miller sat by her little stand and wrote a long letter to Dr. Baker, telling him all about their camp-life and the various things the girls had already accomplished. Then she mentioned the episode of Nita's afternoon and asked what he would advise her doing in the matter. She also said that Nita had sent a letter to her mother and naturally, she (Miss Miller) would await a reply before taking further steps.
This letter was carried down to Bill's early in the morning before the girls arose, and Bill promised to place it in the mail-box with one Elena had given him for the postman.
Miss Miller heaved a deep sigh as she returned to the Bluff, for she was a conscientious Guide and felt her responsibility to the five girls. She also made all allowances for Nita, and realised that the present environment was just the right antidote for her advanced ideals of company and pleasure.
Nita carried her letter to her mother down to the post-box and mailed it herself. She was not eager to return to the Bluff at once, so she followed a faint path through the fields and found herself on the border of the farm-land where the stream broadened out into a sluggish shallow pond near the bridge. Here, she found great cat-tails and rushes growing, while birds and bees flew about in great numbers. She sat down on the fallen trunk of a tree and enjoyed the peaceful scene, and for the first time since her arrival at the farm, the full beauty of the place appealed to her higher self.
As is natural with any one, particularly at the age of Nita, the change from one state of consciousness to another is sudden when conditions and environment are such as to support it. Consequently, the soothing of Nature's quiet had its effect on the emotional senses of the girl. From the appealing scene of the spot and the musical zum of insects, it was but a step to the next upward thought.
"I did just as I wanted to yesterday—I had a stroll and met a rich young fellow, but why is it that this simple spot gives me more real pleasure than the ride and acquaintance yesterday?" wondered Nita, never realising that outdoor life and wholesome association was changing her likes and character, slowly but surely.
Had Miss Miller but heard the girl's admission, how relieved she would have been, but Nita kept her thoughts to herself.
During the girl's absence, the other girls indulged in gossip, as is most natural with a group at that age. Miss Miller was in her tent planning some work for the afternoon while the girls were busy making sets of rubbing-sticks after the model used by the Guide.
"Say, girls, did you ever hear of anything so nervy as Nita's going off like that?" exclaimed Jane, looking toward the Guide's tent to ascertain where Miss Miller was.
"Hum! If my mother dreamed of such things she would make me come right back home!" added Elena.
"I s'pose Nita thinks it is perfectly all right! You see she was brought up that way and can't gauge actions as we do," said Hilda, in apology for the absent one.
"I'm glad to hear you say that, Hilda, because my Daddy asked me as a personal favour to him to bear as much as I could from Nita and do everything possible to wean her from her habits of the past by helping her to look at things as we do! I'll confess, she tries me awfully, sometimes, and I haven't much patience with her weaknesses, but I've given my word to Dad!" said Zan, flushing at the thought of her shortcomings in the ordeal.
"How do you suppose she ever met that boy?" asked Jane curiously.
"She just was brazen enough to invite acquaintance! Why, Nita'd flirt or dance with any one—as long as he had on fine clothes and was an easy mark to her glances!" scorned Elena.
Miss Miller had come from her tent unobserved and overheard the latter words. She felt distressed at the attitude the girls took and sat down beside them.
"I heard what was just said, girls, and I feel that I must add my opinion to yours. I shall be greatly relieved to know that this is the last we will hear of the discussion over Nita's short-comings. I am not reckless enough to permit her to continue this conduct without having deeply considered every phase of the matter. I am merely giving her, as one might say, rope enough to hang herself! That is, to let her find herself and the real enjoyment of camp-life, or let her rush on until she is too far in to recover her footing with us. I have every hope now, that she is finding herself and will be one of our best Woodcrafters!"
To this the girls had nothing to add, so the Guide concluded by saying, "Please do not discuss this again, and try not to think of it either. Just leave the case to me and let me handle the situation as I am advised to do. I am not alone in this plan of regenerating the child, and it was with the sense of my obligations that I promised to do all I could."
Miss Miller went slowly back to the tent to get the papers for a Council and left the girls bending low over their work but no more was said about Nita's short-comings.
Before the Council convened, Nita came back to the Bluff and took her place in the semi-circle. After the opening song and roll-call, the Guide looked over her honour roll.
"Nita, I'm sorry but we will have to give you a demerit for absence at Council yesterday, and also defer giving you any coup for following a trail accurately as we did. I know you can soon catch up in this but it is more fun when we all work together," said Miss Miller.
Nita said not a word and controlled her features admirably at the mild reproach from the Guide. The marks were placed on the paper and Miss Miller looked up smilingly.
"Who can claim a reward for not chewing gum for three months?"
"I haven't chewed any since that day in school when you lectured the class, explaining what bad effects it had on the glands and throat, to say nothing of the waste of saliva!" said Zan.
"How long was that?" asked the Guide.
"Oh, that must have been more than three months ago, Miss Miller. I haven't chewed since then either!" cried Hilda.
It turned out that not one of the girls had indulged in gum-chewing since that day when they heard how the habit hurt one's health eventually. So Miss Miller was proud to give credit where it had been won.
"Now, girls, Jane and Zan have won a coup for fire-making with rubbing-sticks and material of one's own gathering, but no one has aspired for a grand coup in this line. I should think it to be a simple matter to practise until the fire could be made in one minute—try for it and see! At this meeting we will fill out and sign the claims for fire-making coups." Miss Miller then took a number of printed Honour Claims from her leather case and the two girls each received a coup claim duly witnessed, and a duplicate to paste in her Tally Book, while the original would be filed at Headquarters when the Band was registered.
"I am going to try for a degree in swimming, Miss Miller. I'd love to have the right of being called Shingebis as you are," said Zan, eagerly.
"Good! I like to hear that, Zan. And I don't see why Jane couldn't try, too. The other girls are learning fast and will soon be able to swim correctly and begin to practise fancy swimming."
"Shall we swim now?" asked Hilda, eagerly.
"Hardly!" laughed the Guide. "I wanted to have the others make the rubbing-stick fire and at least do a Test for the Degree of Gleeman, then take a walk over to the garden and find out how many of you can identify vegetables and fruit trees without being told."
"That will take all morning!" pouted Nita, who was becoming very expert in swimming.
"Yes, I know. Then we will have lunch and finish sewing on our suits. Later we will take our daily swim," replied Miss Miller, preparing to bring the Council to an end.
The Fire Tests were completed and the Band started across the woods toward the garden. They reached a section of the corn-field where the beautiful stalks were almost ready to tassel. Between straight rows of the green corn thick-stemmed vines crept in and out. Here and there a deep orange flower lifted its head.
"Aren't those yellow lilies a queer kind?" said Nita, stopping to examine one.
Zan laughed merrily. "They're not lilies, Ninny! They're pumpkin blossoms!"
Even Nita smiled at the wide difference between the two flowers, although the form was so similar.
"I never knew pumpkins grew like this!" said Elena.
"There's lots of things you girls don't know now, but you will before we leave this farm!" retorted Zan.
"I don't see what you folks need so many pumpkins for! Just look at all the vines," said Jane, waving a hand at the large expanse of field where yellow spots of colour showed.
"Oh, Mrs. Sherwood cans lots of them, and we keep lots in our cellar through the winter. Dad sends lots to Homes and the boys use dozens for Hallowe'en night. Last Fall Fiji had over a score sent to the boys at the Y. M. C. A. for their party."
"If I had a lovely place like this, I'd just love to make others happy by giving away the things like Zan's folks do," murmured Hilda.
"Yes, and when you think of all the money we spend on visiting summer-resorts and paying high prices for travel, then compare it to cost of maintaining a farm like this one, it would about balance each year, and soon pay for the first cost of a farm," said Miss Miller.
"That's just what Dad said before we took this one. We used to pay exorbitant rents each Summer for cottages in the big mountain-resorts or at the sea-shore and only have a few weeks' good out of it. Dad only paid as much for this farm as it cost him for two Summers' outing previous to coming here. And will you believe it, Muzzer kept strict account of everything that year to satisfy herself of the truth, and we really had more first-class food produced at the farm, and for next to no cost, to say nothing of the different times we used to come down and spend week-ends all Fall and Winter, and paid off the cost besides!" said Zan.
By this time the Band reached the fence between two fields. Here was a new kind of a vine that looked like the pumpkin vine.
"Oh, and see the cute little pumpkins already forming!" exclaimed Hilda.
"That's summer squash! Anybody like squash?" said Zan.
Miss Miller had been the last member of the party, for she had stopped here and there to inspect growing things. She came up to the girls at Zan's question and replied, "Yes, I like it when it's fresh, and I know how to cook it, too."
"Then we can have some squash, pretty soon. Bill can pick it when it's ripe—he knows the right time," said Zan.
"Seems to me, Zan, that the squash vines haven't enough soil to nourish the roots during the demand made upon its strength by the ripening fruit," commented Miss Miller, examining the stem where it entered the earth.
"We'll speak to Bill about that," replied Zan, watching the Guide with interest.
Having passed through the corn-field, the Band reached the general vegetable garden. The first plants they found needing attention were the tomato vines. They had been trained on trellises but many of them had slipped and fallen with the weight of their own fruit and foliage.
"They seem to be all green leaves!" said Hilda.
"What do you call this—and this here!" exclaimed Zan, exultantly displaying a cluster of bright green tomatoes.
"They must be late tomatoes, Zan, aren't they?" asked the Guide.
"Yes, the others are down by the barn—we can pick some of them to-day if you like. Bill says there are lots of them."
"Look, girls! All the cabbages over there. Who'll ever eat them?" called Hilda.
"Bill sends all we need for winter, and lots that are left over are fed the cattle. Pigs like cabbage, and all the cows and horses eat it. Even the chickens cluck over a handful of leaves and peck for hours until nothing but the heavy vein in the centre is left," explained Zan.
"Zan, you're a real farmer! We never knew how much you understood about these things!" said Miss Miller.
"I just love the country and everything in it—that's why!" exclaimed Zan vehemently.
"Well, girls, there's plenty of work for us to do, if you want to do it. I see lettuce all ready for the table, but the weeds are thick about it so that you can hardly tell which is lettuce or which is chick-weed. We ought to clean that out!" suggested the Guide.
Without waiting for consent, Miss Miller carefully stepped between rows of growing things and reached the lettuce patch. Here she stooped and began pulling handsful of green weeds that were just beginning to show a tiny white flower on its head.
Zan followed the Guide and also began weeding. In a few minutes, all of the girls were weeding out the chick-weed and in a short time the lettuce bed presented a very different appearance.
"My, how nice it looks! And how much better the lettuce seems to be already!" cried Jane.
Miss Miller was delighted at the interest manifested by her charges, and from the lettuce bed she led them to the radishes.
"Oh, the dear little buttons!" laughed Elena, dropping on one knee and digging up one of the red balls.
"What a small bed—doesn't any of your family like radishes?" queried Nita of Zan.
"This is only one seeding; Bill plants some seed at different times so all of the radishes won't be ready at the same time. They're not fit to eat after they are too large and pithy. These are the second planting. We have had radishes sent to the city all spring and summer, thus far."
"You are certainly to be envied, Zan—having all the fresh vegetables, eggs, butter and tender chickens you want!" exclaimed Miss Miller.
"More than we want—Daddy gives loads of farm truck to the Poor House and the Old Ladies' Home, of which he is the visiting physician."
"I suppose the poor things are as glad to have nice things to eat as anybody else—we're all human as far as eating is concerned," commented Miss Miller.
"We may as well pull some of these radishes for lunch, Miss Miller; they will soon be too pulpy to be good," said Zan.
"All right, but you must show the girls how to pull them out of the ground—so many smaller ones grow in the same soil and the roots often twine together. By pulling out one at a time and loosening the soil first, the younger one will remain safely and continue growing until large enough to use," advised the Guide.
Hilda had found an old basket near the tomato vines and this was taken for the vegetables that might be chosen for camp.
After taking the radishes wanted, the Band moved over to the other patches of vegetables. Miss Miller saw some young, growing beets, and turned to Zan, asking if she might cut off some tops.