Part 39 (1/2)

Nathalie, with an unconscious sigh, turned away. O dear, it did seem mean to have to give up that walk. It had been hard enough to win the first battle over the temptation to go, but this second one had seemed even harder. But immediately seeing that she was a great baby to let a little disappointment mar the pleasure of the beautiful day, she turned with smiling eyes to the princess, and suggested that they have a nice little row to one of the tiny islands in the center of the Lake.

This, Nita was very glad to do, and so with notebooks and pencils, and with the remark that they could have a nice little salmagundi hike all by their lone selves, they started for the boat-house.

And indeed, Nathalie and her little friend spent a most enjoyable afternoon, for, as she afterwards declared to Helen, ”It was lovely and cool down on that little island with the green trees and shady coves.

And do you know,” she continued, ”I was so surprised, for Nita is a most observant little person. Why, she knows the names of many of the gra.s.ses and wood flowers, and the birds-she knows their names, can tell what birds are nesting in August and any number of interesting things about nature. I am sure she will make a most wonderful little Pioneer, after she becomes acquainted with the girls.”

Of course Helen had many things to tell about the salmagundi hike, and the different objects they had seen and noted on their tramp. She had taken notes and Nathalie was invited to take a peep at them some time, Helen suggesting that she might find them of some help later on. The scouts, she said, had been most kind and had told them lots of interesting things, particularly about tracking the footprints of animals.

”Well,” declared Nathalie as Helen finished telling of the good times they had had, ”I have had two good times, instead of your one, for I had a fine time with Nita, and then I have had the coziest of chats with you, which has proved almost as good as if I had been with you on the hike.”

CHAPTER XXIII-MISS CAMPHELIA

A week had pa.s.sed, and although the novelty of many of the activities and pleasures of this life in the open had dulled, every moment proved one of joy. Drills, contests, sports, hikes, and various entertainments had merged so evenly, one into the other, that tasks had lost their irksomeness and play had received an added zest.

To be sure, some unfortunate accidents had happened; Grace had cut her hand when opening a can of tomatoes, Carol had been stung by some mysterious insect so severely that even the doctor was puzzled, and one of the Orioles had sprained her ankle. But these mishaps had been received with true camp fort.i.tude-the Pioneer spirit, Helen called it-and had only served as object lessons in the First Aid to the Injured talks given by Dr. Morrow, thus giving Helen and Kitty a chance to display their expertness in the triangular, the four-tailed, and many other kinds of bandages.

Hammers, saws, and hatchets were in great demand one morning-the girls all busy making stilts, some to show their scout friends that they could handle men's tools, while others were qualifying for first-cla.s.s Pioneers-when Lillie appeared. With woebegone face she reported to Nathalie, who was serving as her a.s.sistant on the Grub committee, that there was no milk.

”No milk?” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the girl. ”Why, wasn't the milkman here this morning?”

”Sure,” nodded Lillie, ”but that Oriole girl-Nannie Plummer-dropped some swill into the milk can. She mistook it for the garbage pail-” Lillie's eyes glinted humorously-”she was so busy expressing her admiration for that Will Hopper, you know the scout with the languis.h.i.+ng eyes, as Helen calls them.”

Nathalie's face expressed dismay. ”Oh, what shall we do?” she almost wailed; ”we have got to have milk for that pudding, and-”

”To be sure,” laconically returned Lillie, ”and you will have to go and get some.”

”Get some?” echoed Nathalie faintly; ”where?”

”At the farm-house, you know the place-with the red barn-on the road to Boonton.”

”But there isn't time for me to walk there and back before dinner,”

protested the girl somewhat wrathfully, ”on this hot day, too!”

”No, but you can take Edith's bicycle, and go and get back in no time.”

”Oh, but it is hot!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Nathalie, some fifteen minutes later, as with reddened, perspiring face she slowed up her wheel, and spying a mossy bank overlooking a brook meandering beneath a group of willows, jumped to the ground. As she was standing her wheel against a tree, a woman with a reddish handkerchief tied over her head came up the bank.

She started when she saw Nathalie, but instantly averting her eyes hurried on down the road in the direction of the farm-house where Nathalie was to get the milk.

The girl had thrown herself on the gra.s.sy slope and was fanning vigorously with her hat, when her eyes were arrested by something white lying under an overhanging bush near the brook. Perhaps she would not have stared so intently if she had not thought that she saw it move.

Just at that moment a low wailing cry came to her ears.

a.s.sured beyond doubt that the cry came from the bundle, she hurried down the slope, and a moment later was bending over a baby, who, on seeing the wondering face, looked up with innocent appeal in its wide blue eyes.

”Why, you dear,” cooed the girl, ”how did you come here?” She looked up expecting to see some one to whom the baby belonged, but as there was no one in sight and she saw the little lip quiver pathetically, she gathered it up in her arms and chucking the dimpled chin began to jabber to it in baby language.

”Whom do you belong to, baby?” she questioned aloud, silently wondering if that tramp woman who had come up the bank could have been its mother.