Part 6 (1/2)

Leaving camp in the care of the man from the village, they struck into the path through the woods. The whole earth seemed filled with the scent of flowers and the invigorating odor of the pines.

Here in Maine the wild strawberries were in full prime early in July, and the path was bordered with daisies and other bright flowers. The two swung along in silence with an enjoyment too deep for words, for they appreciated as only Camp Fire Girls can the beauties and, wonders of nature. Back somewhere in the world they had left behind dull care might be beating its incessant tom-tom, and the air was full of wars and rumors of wars, but here every harsh note was drowned in the singing of birds.

”Isn't it glorious?” said Nyoda fervently, drinking in a long breath of the pine-scented air, and swelling out her already well-developed chest.

Presently the path they were on was crossed by another and at the intersection there was a splash of bright red paint on a tree.

”A blaze!” cried Nyoda, stopping short. ”Which path did they take, I wonder?” In the road at the foot of the blazed tree lay a small heap of stones pointing in the direction taken by the leaders. ”What's this?” asked Nyoda, picking up a small box from beside the stones. It was marked ”For Nyoda.” She lifted the lid and out hopped a tiny live frog. In the bottom of the box was a piece of paper on which was drawn a sunfish.

So they went on for nearly half an hour, following the red blazes, when suddenly they came upon Chapa and Gladys sitting in the road. Gladys had a blister on her heel. Nyoda bandaged it for her and showed her how to put a piece of adhesive on the other heel to keep it from blistering. The rule of the road was that if one pair caught up with another they were to sit down and give them a ten minutes' start. So Nyoda and Medmangi sat down and waited until Gladys and Chapa were well under way.

The next blaze they struck was truly startling. It was a little silver birch tree with the stem painted entirely red. Nailed to it with a big rusty nail was a piece of cardboard. At the top was written:

”Sahwah and the Starlore Maiden Keep ahead though heavy laden.”

Then followed a many-pointed symbol and the words, ”See our combination symbol? It's a starfis.h.!.+” Underneath was a couplet in a different writing.

”Here come Migwan and Hinpoha Two and two like the beasts of Noah.”

Underneath that was a verse signed by ”The Chipmunk.”

”Gladys's heel is full of plaster, Or else we would travel faster.”

Nyoda and Medmangi shouted and took the card along for a souvenir, adding the lines,

”Here Nyoda and Medmangi Read the blaze and held a tangi.”

A little farther on they discovered the legend:

”Here we sit down in the road, For Sahwah's stocking must be sewed.”

”What's the matter, Grumpy?” said Migwan to Hinpoha, who had been stewing around to herself for the last ten minutes.

”It's this old orange I brought along for lunch,” burst out Hinpoha. ”I don't know what to do with it. If I put it in my bloomers it bangs against my leg, and if I carry it in my bag it bangs against my stomach, and if I carry it in my hand I drop it every other minute. It's driving me crazy.”

”Why don't you eat it?” asked Migwan simply.

”Why, I never thought of that!” exclaimed Hinpoha, and soon had the offending orange safely disposed of.

Lunch time found Sahwah and Nakwisi close to a farm house and they went in to ask for a drink of water. The farmer's wife looked curiously at the two girls in bloomers carrying a can of red paint. Sahwah introduced Nakwisi and herself and explained what they were doing. ”Land sakes alive!” exclaimed the farmer's wife, ”what girls don't do nowadays! Livin' like Indians and walkin' their legs off just for the fun of it! Come right in and I'll see if I can't find something better than water to give you.” She bustled out into the summer kitchen and returned with a pitcher of milk and two gla.s.ses. ”Here, drink this along with your sandwiches, and try a dish of berries.” Sahwah and Nakwisi needed no second invitation. Their sandwiches had been pretty well baked in the sun for the last two hours and were as dry as straw, so the milk and berries were decidedly refres.h.i.+ng.

”How restful it is here,” sighed Sahwah luxuriously, leaning back in the cus.h.i.+oned rocking chair. ”Can't you stay a spell, girls, and rest up?” said their hostess cordially.

”We have half an hour for our noonday rest,” said Sahwah, ”and I'd like to take it right in this chair, if you don't mind.” She slipped off her shoes and stretched her feet to rest them, closing her eyes meanwhile, and Nakwisi followed suit.

When they finally rose to go the farmer's wife brought out a plate of cookies which she urged them to take along to eat on the road. She stood looking after them for a long time as they trudged along in the yellow dust. ”I wish I could go along with 'em, over the hills,” she exclaimed suddenly to the unheeding hens that were walking up and down the steps, ”I'm tired of staying at home and doing the same things over and over again. I wish I could go along too!”

Chapa and Gladys, following the blazes through the woods, found their path barred at one place by a rather wide brook. The trail was marked again on the other side. ”How are we going to get across?” asked Gladys.

”Wade through,” said Chapa, briefly, sitting down and commencing to pull off her shoes and stockings.

Gladys put her hand into the water and shook her head. ”It's too cold,” she said, drawing back.