The Camp Fire Girls in the Maine Woods; Or, The Winnebagos Go Camping

anging the lake, was made short work of, for

g the girls scrambling out of their bloomers and middies

wered Nyoda, slipping on

hat?" ask

yoda. "Follow the gi

llness: "Wohelo, Wohelo, come ye all Wohelo." The girls stepped forward in a single file, their arms folded in front

er hair down in two braids and a leather band around her forehead, sat under a tree and looked on. Not being a Camp Fire Girl she could not sit in the Council Circle. Nyoda made fire with the bow and drill, and when the leaping flames lit up the circle o

e round the

the starl

of W

to Wokan

music so

sticks g

st now dar

silence o'

spark to a fl

fire leaps

ng of

sticks and the leaping fire. So they proceeded through the strange measures, ending up in a close circle around t

irection in which she was going, and the length of time she expected to be gone. No candy was to be bought in the village. No one was to go in swimming except at the regular swimming time. Every one pointed a finger at S

implicit obedience to the one in charge of a boat, regardless of personal feeling, and how the captain of a vessel had absolute authority over those on board. She spoke of the necessity of coolheadedness and courage on the part of the girl in charge, and ability to control her temper. She said she knew Sahwah and Hinpoha were well able to have

alt with the day's sched

bugle a

ing

akf

g h

inspe

ft

dan

mmi

in camp

nn

t h

re s

ent in any w

pp

n for any k

bugle,

s out

ght, because the girls had so many opportunities to win

rned canoe, Sahwah had built a reflecting oven and baked biscuits in it. All the girls had won some kind of an honor. Gladys li

gures were an abomination to her and keeping accounts a fearful task. If it had not been for her ambition to be a Fire Maker she would never have attempted it at all, but once having learned how she realized their value, and heroically resolved to keep accurate accounts right along. When it came to the subject of bandaging she had to give demonstrations of triangular and roller bandaging

outed the girls. "Gi

oment and then rec

a Fire

e com

teen Req

e rep

Maker's

may

at Coun

may

helo C

ths have

ing fi

might

re of

is en

silver

tward

re I have

se who

y to eac

e has l

given

pursued

been tru

the requ

a Fire

mbol is

agains

hts and da

envy and

ep am

of my a

a Torc

w my

arry

reefol

mbol o

th and

ming, e

ol o

t; where

uer by

have b

ill lea

d will

t I have

ame in

t higher a

a Torc

my de

d for. This had also been written by Migwan. In rippling

homes in dis

ke's invit

the tents Alpha and Omega, how eagerly they awaited Gladys'

elescope d

lash into

e doings up to the beg

ted for use would receive a leather W cut in the form of wings to represent "winged words" or poetry; the honor for composing the music for a song would be a winged note cut from leather, and the honor for writing both words and music would be a combination of the two. These were to be kn

ed her to become a Winnebago at the next Council Fire. Gladys accepted the invitation and the g

from the woods lay across the open space. Nyoda stole silently to the edge of the clearing and the girls rose and filed past her, softly singing "Now our Camp Fire's burning low." Nyoda held each gi

wan to Sahwah, as they picked their

Sahwah, flashing her little bu

eeked in with friendly twinkles, while the moon flooded the place with silver light. The three girls were

to have the lante

wah. "The moon makes

Where are we going to hang o

nded in the basin of water in which Gladys was trying to wash herself, knocking it off the stand and out of the tent door. Gladys gave an exclamation of impatience. Sahwah hastened to apologize. "I'm awfully sorry, Gladys. But you saw how it was. I was trying to hit 'Poha and hit you by mistake." Here the pent-up laughter of

ud hail from the ot

, Alphas," they answ

ld voice out of Alpha

ing to leave the sides of the tent rolled up all

" said Sahwah,

if it

me then to pu

r it," said Migwan good-naturedly, "but it's really pleasanter with it up. It s

le yourself,

aking a motion to rise, but just then th

received considerable attention from young men, just like the older girls with whom she associated. Here, banished to the silent woods, she saw the summer stretch out endlessly before her, intolerably dull and uninteresting. She loved fluffy clothes and despised the bloomers and middies which the girls wore. She loved dainty table service and

th a ghostly, mysterious sound. From somewhere in the woods came a mournful cry that sent the chills up and down her spine. It was only a whippoorwill, but Gladys did not know a whippoorwill from a bluebird. Then the frogs in a distant pool began their concert. "Blub!" "Blub!" "Knee-deep!" "Be

-ha-ha! Ah-ha-ha-h

d sat up in bed. "Wha

, waki

as it?" asked Gladys in

what?" s

d rang out again.

" answered Migwan. "Isn't it lov

tly the whole camp was awake. Migwan jumped up and lit the lantern, and Nyoda came running over from Alpha to see what was the matter. There was much laughter over the mishap, but unfortunately Gladys got

uched it,"

sat down on the edge of her bed and talked soothingly to her. She realized that Gladys felt strange in camp and was probably homesick in spite of the fact that the girls had received her wit

reeting. Talking was not allowed before the first bugle. There was a soft scurry of little feet on the floor, and another chipmunk darted in and paused inquiringly beside Gladys's bed. Migwan tossed her some peanuts and Gladys held one out gingerly to the little creature. He hopped up boldly and took it from her fingers, stuffing it

eapt from bed, while Migwan rose and donned her bat

er cold?" a

n it." Gladys decided she would not take a dip. Hinpoha slumbered calmly on. Sahwah pulled the pillow

es," said Sahwah.

opening her eyes a little farth

n had already gone down. A minute later the girls from the other tent ran out, calling a cheery good-morning to Gladys. A series of splashes and shrieks followed, which proclaimed the coldness of the water. Gladys l

dys?" asked Migwan. "That second

air before the tiny mirror that hung on the tent pole swinging in the wind when the breakfast bugle blew. Migwan wait

r name for it," explained Migwan. "Sahwah thinks we should

ed Gladys,

meal over, each girl carried her dishes and stacked them in a neat pile on the table in the tiny kitchen which formed a part of the small wooden shack which stood on the camp grounds, and dropped her cup into a pan of water. This made very light work for the Dishes Committee, which consisted of two different girls each week. The Dishes Committee took care of all three meals a day for the entire week, as this duty did not require mu

and camp songs. "Let's pick out some hymns to learn by heart," suggested Nyoda; "think how lovely they'll sound, sung out on the

of times, "I believe that the last verse of that song should be sung first. The climax seems be in

nor, so the little band succeeded in making a considerable amount of harmony. A tiny song bird, perched on the limb of a tall pine tree just before the shack, blended his notes with theirs and poured out his e

s to you, Gladys, so you might as well put some of your stuff up here," she said when the bed was finished, "as well as part of the table and the washstand." She moved things around as she spoke, leaving spaces clear for Gladys's possessions. "We aren't supposed to have anything hanging over the edge of the shelf, or out of the compartment of

e order?" asked Gladys, mentally remarking t

the Camp Craft honor of doing the work in a tent for a week, and if the tent isn't properly cared for it doesn't count toward the honor. More than all that, t

h of Nyoda on her tour of inspection, and the three girls ran from the tent, pulling

Nyoda tells us our standing during Craft hour, and what the matter was, if

e hinged shelves around the walls, which were so convenient to spread work out on. The front wall of the shack,

was at a loss what to do. "Here, take the symbol book," said Migwan, "and begin working on your symbol." Gladys took the book and began idly tur

ke," she said to Nyoda when she

a name. And I wouldn't be in too much of a hurry about it, either. Take time to look about you and make your name express something that you

a symbol in the book that fitted

ecessity of finding a brand new one!"

a and demanded to be told their standing in tent

eceived a higher mark than the Alphas. "What was

es were lying down instead of standing up, and the

and truly I didn't, Nyoda. I was just looking over the lake when Chapa wanted me to help h

led the girls. Nakwisi

r two points, Nyoda?"

nst the tent pole and one bed lo

leave that pillow there,

w if you tried to hide them

oda, laughing, "I was not