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

dinner table, "to-morrow is the Fourth

lowered one eyelid. "Yes, yes," crie

nued Nyoda, "a flag raising and

have one in the Scout camps. My brother is a Scout and he t

get the flag?

bottom of my trunk. I knew that sooner or l

the raising?"

course," said Mi

Migwan write a poem suitable t

rom Migwan." Migwan demurred at first, but

are we going to get the pole to raise the flag

e in the woods and strip the branches off and fasten it to the top of the tower and run

r chair. "Wouldn't you like a committee to arrange that?" she a

s the committee to do the arranging. I am very glad you suggested that, for it leav

ne on seating arrang

t?" ask

repeated Sahwah. "Wher

guests are going

'll all have to be in it and there won't be any audience. How would you feel like giving a show for nobody's benefit? So I thought we'd do it thi

e quite right. If there is an audience to be had, by all means let us have one. But I give

lied Sahwah, "and there are the people in the

stn't count too much on having them come to visit us. By the way, S

best one for that, N

ng. "I accept the p

, formally. "Now, ev

ike to come to the

ern

oda was well out of sight, then they paddled across the lake with str

t the regular landing they paddled around the village and up the mouth of a small creek, where they beached the canoe and crept stealthily toward the store. After peeking through the window and

ey had." They hastened back to camp and preparations

agically. "We stopped everybody we met on the street in the village-we only met five people-and, invited them; we invited the storekeeper and the man who rents the boats; but none of them could come. Then we

campers," said

at many of the cottages were closed. The few people we did talk to had their plans already made. Don't look so disappointed, Sahwah. If we were out in the middle of the

it would never have occurred to me to ask any one else to our celeb

ke turns being the audience. The seating committee can usher us to our seats be

ery appreciative spectator indeed. Behold me, ladies, at your service, the Audience!"

as covered with a heavy mist and there was no sign of the sun. The woods looked dark and gloomy. "Rain!" she exclaimed tragic

hed the top of the pole and yielded its folds to the breeze the sun broke through the clouds and bathed it in a golden glory. The girls c

i, and Sahwah and Migwan were partners in the races. First they raced for distance, paddling around the nearest island and coming back to the dock. Hinpoha and Nakwisi came out ahead, because Migwan, who was paddling stem in her cano

ith superhuman effort they kept their balance and came sweeping in neck and neck, the watchers on shore cheering lustily. "Go it, Hinpoha!

s she turned they came forward, hats in hand. The elder man spoke: "I am Professor Bentley, of Harvard University, and this is Professor Wheeler." Nyoda graciously acknowledged the introductions. "We have been staying at the other e

different schedule on holidays. However, it passes again at six this evening. Won't you be our guests until then?

hard at Hinpoha. He seemed unabl

mfortably seated upon the rocks, "would you mind telling

cried in chorus, "and we're c

n. How fortunate that I should have come upon them in their native wilds! Is this where you hibernate?-excuse me, I mean sunburna

apturous aside to Hinpoha, "it fell rig

rd, and springboard from the top of the tower. Then she produced a hoop, which she made Hinpoha hold while she dove through it, forward and backward, from the high springboard. She ended her number with what sh

! She's a regular Annette Kellerman!" This was re

ied a toy balloon around her neck, and jumping from the dock on signal, swam beneath the surface to see who could reach the shore without coming up for air. The balloons of course stayed in the air and indicated the progress of

wered Professor Wheeler, who

an afterward, "to see those balloons g

hed to them," said Sahwah, "I felt like the k

foot up on the bow point, his hand on his sword, his eyes on the distant shore. His hair had turned bright red and he had taken on considerable flesh since his friends had seen him last, but there was no mistaking the military attitude. In the water around the sponson floated a number of water wings, tied to the boat, to represent floating ice cakes. The audience applauded vigorously as the skiff drew near. At

murmured, chuckl

with turbans and sashes and fearful knives stuck in their belts, singing, "Fifteen men on a dead man's chest!" Striking piratical attitud

re to mee

tes crowded to the edge of the dock. Looking in the direction he pointed they beheld two sailors approaching in a small open boat. Seeing the pirates, the sailors were overcome with terror and tried to avoid passing the dock, but the ruthless cut-throats flung out a rope and lassoed them. Pulling them up on the doc

The trousers were part of the outfit that Sahwah had purchased in the village the day before, and the pair that fell to Migwan were much too big for her. When it came her turn to walk the plank she remembered Sahwah's parting injunction to "hang on to 'em, whatever you

e it swam Sahwah and Medmangi. Inside, on a flag-covered seat, sat Hinpoha, dressed as Columbia, with a crown on her head, her glorious hair rippling down to her waist and shining like copper in the sunlight. In one hand she carried a torch, in the other she held two white streamers. These streamers wer

s and blew jets of water out through their mouths and noses just like sea horses. As the boat passed the dock the watch

ntley, applauding until he

hey were met with another round of applause. "That little pageant of yours," said Prof

original," added Nyoda, "but executed entirely with

Bentley. "Well, all I can say is yo

clams was hung over a fire all its own, while another fire was kindled between two long logs, and the pots and pans set along on it in a row. Migwan tended the clams, Sahwah put on a kettle of potatoes and then began making toast, Nakwisi made

sag as the wood burned away and at the same time the mixture in the other kettle began to boil over. Bracing the cocoa kettle with one foot, she snatched the

a thick white sauce, containing chopped-up pimentoes and hard-boiled eggs, the mixture being served over toast. The clams of course were the main dainty, and when dipped in butter slid down with amazing rapidity.

paper was allowed and only three matches. What a scramble there was to find small dry twigs! There was a smart breeze blowing, and most of the matches went out as soon as lighted, putting their owners out of the contest. Sahwah was wise and p

" called Nyoda warningly

e flames began to curl up from the twigs. Just then

isclosing a neat little blaze. She had wisely sheltered her

Nyoda asked if the girls wouldn't like to tell the folk story before supper. They agreed, as usual, to anything that would give pleasure to a guest. It w

the lines. They were facing destruction in two ways; either by slow starvation should they remain in hiding, or a cruel death at the hands of the Mingoes should they venture out. The chiefs and warriors of the Oneidas held a council, but none had a plan to offer which would effect their salvation. Then the maiden Aliquipiso stepped forward. With becoming modesty she addressed the chiefs and warriors, sayi

left the hiding place and was found by the Mingoes wandering in the forest, apparently a lost maiden of the Oneida tribe. They took her to their camp and put her to torture

the spot where she knew the Oneidas were waiting to hurl immense boulders down over the cliff she uttered a piercing scream-the signal agreed upon. The warrior next to her had just time to str

e was finished, "to save a person's life or something. I wish I ha

she dream what was hidden unde

a took them across the lake in the Sunbeam, the little launch that belonged to camp. Both gentlemen expressed their unbo

e come and paint her," he pleaded. "Sitting out on t

l by themselves; to learn the joys of camping out and of doing things together. Such an i

und. The most she would promise to do was to send him Hinpoha's address

nd she had more than once threatened to cut it off when the curls became hopelessly snarled. Her chief aim in life was to have as much fun as possible and to get as many others mixed up in it as she could. Hinpoha, haughty and proud because of her good looks, was a picture that the imagination balked at. Yet Nyoda could not help noticing that wherever t

ted of a flat board for a keel and voluminous sails dipped in turpentine. As Nyoda landed they set a match to the sails and shoved the boat out

e sound of the first bugle. "First we thought it was going to rain and then the sun shone; and first we thought we

come to destroy the Indian lodges. She was the daughter of a Chieftain, the acknowledged leader of the other maidens. Now there was a young brave belonging to a neighboring tribe with whom she was in love, but there was enmity between her tribe and his, and he dared not ask for her hand. So they were in the ha

and jump for your life. My canoe is at the foot of the cliff-ta

swirling about her ears and her limbs seemed detached from her body. She seemed to be rising rapidly. Suddenly her head shot clear of the enveloping gloom and she saw the moon and stars overhead. Just above her reared a black framework. Mec

ou to jump off the to

denly her eyes fell on her nightdress, dripping at every fold. "Where

take cold." Putting her arm around the shivering girl, she led her up the path to the tent and tucked her in between d

litary and black against the moonlight. Suddenly she became aware of a figure climbing up the ladder to the top. She sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes and rec

she dropped off to sleep again, "I d