The Camp Fire Girls in the Mountains; Or, Bessie King's Strange Adventure

un, that gilded the tree tops to the east, and painted the surface of the lake, smooth as a mirror, with a hundred hues. The

to be under the sun," said Eleanor Mercer

ees, until we get to the camp

oing to send two girls ahead to build the fire. That's t

matches, can w

w how to do that, I think. The idea of sending two girls ahead is to have

know now, can't we, W

You know those twin peaks beyond Littl

the answer

ings will take his Scouts to South Peak. The tr

pt such a secret

as the chance that if either party thought of it they could locate kindling wood and fallen wood that could be used for the fire-making. On a regular hik

idea, too. It's just as fair f

o go ahead? And why can't we all get

o carry all the things we need for making camp and getting a meal cooked. So if we send out two girl

thing?" asked Zara. "

or sm

if Mr. Hastings thinks of it, I'm sure, b

y don't happen to think of it

ace. It isn't altogether a matter of sp

olly. "If it was, what chance w

ould make fire quicker than the regular way, it would b

t, and so have they, to employ any time-saving idea we happen to get hold of. And

f the sort!" said Margery, wholly conv

to go ahead," said Dolly. "I'm j

o get out of carrying a load?" c

at the eagerness

, as we'll call them," she said. "They'v

ll they've got to do is to go just as fast as th

stopping the smoke with a blanket, and then letting it rise, straight up, three times. And they

to go along ever so

're in any danger of making a wrong turn, must make a sign for us who follow. That might easily save us a good many minutes in ge

hand at once, amid a chorus

e no one to carry the dinner! We'll have to figure out som

raw lots,"

, we ought to make it a reward of some sort-a prize. It's too bad I didn't t

thoughtfully

and we'll divide all the dishes from breakfast into eight even p

ly. "And the ones who finis

properly, Dolly-not just finish washing and drying. I'll

ith each girl standing over her own pile o

d Eleanor. "Now, are you

splashing and commotion. But

called. "S

d, and looked a

nyone who breaks a dish is out of the race, even if she

they

ped. When I give them the word to start again, don't you do it. I'll give you a starting

iles again, and waited fo

y stolen from the others, waited as patiently as they could until t

never displayed before. "I think we ought to have races like this ev

, Dolly," said Margery. "But I haven't got time to talk-I've got to was

te them so, that I'm always trying to g

e general surprise, had put awa

of it, would be between Margery and Bessie. They had finished washing

ne so much together up here, we ought to be pathfin

ghed Eleanor. "Each one has got to win

test without wanting to come out ahead, or as far ahead as she could. This time, of course, second place was all she could hope for

g her dishes in order of their size, so that they could all b

for it did not break. But she was putting her dishes down anywhere, without regard for their size or for convenience in carrying them, and as a result, though she ha

before Margery, walked carefully over to the tent. She put away he

kening with the choice of the second pathfinder. "You don't want

t after Margery, and then there was a wild scramble among the last four. They finished almost togethe

as good fun! It certainly was, if you enjoyed racing half as much a

haking her first in mock anger at Bessie and Dolly. "More haste,

ams of four-that ought to be good fun. Oh, there are lots

her hands as a si

," she said. "You girls will have to take your fire-making sticks, an

ied Dolly and Bes

ill you make signs to s

it. There's no way that a sign like that can be blown away, or get moved by accident.

aking sticks. You'd better carry water b

of water. There must be

time looking for them. If you have your water bottles, with a little b

aste of lemon

it will quench your thirst better than plain water, and it will make you

"A little lemon water will cool you off better than half

de a fac

how much I want it," she said. "But I don't care, really. I wouldn't have an ice-cream s

smiled

you know you are perfectly sa

w. Bessie and Zara and I are going to try to get enough honor beads to be Fire-Make

tarted already

said Dolly. "I'

aughter inte

ntil you have just o

ol over herself, that she was fighting so hard to maintai

're here would count toward an honor bead, but what's the use of swearing off someth

laimed Eleanor, heartily.