Part 14 (2/2)

How did it come that you were out in a canoe and had to be rescued?”

Gladys told a straight story, not sparing herself in the least.

She told about the dreadful mood she had been in that afternoon after the girls had gone away; how she had broken Sahwah's racket, and then, filled with a very devil of rebellion, had taken out one of the canoes. It happened to be the leaky one and her punishment overtook her swift as the wings of a bird. She had given up all hope when Sahwah had appeared magically from somewhere and towed her in, in spite of her broken arm. Gladys's face was crimson with shame when she told how she had tried to make Sahwah take her out in the sponson during rest hour, and had called her a coward because she refused. She told Nyoda everything except the letter she had written to her father. She could not bring herself to tell that. It lay on her conscience like a lump of lead.

Nyoda said very little about the matter and did not upbraid her at all. She saw that Gladys's sins had come down on her head in a manner which would make a very deep impression, and that Gladys would emerge from the experience a sadder and wiser girl.

”I haven't been a very good camper, Nyoda,” said Gladys humbly, ”but I'm going to try to be after this.”

”I know you will,” said Nyoda, putting her arm around her, ”and you are going to succeed, too. And now let's go and see how Sahwah is.”

Sahwah was tossing on the bed and muttering when they came in.

She had a high fever and was living over again her strenuous escapade of the afternoon. She cried aloud that the sh.o.r.e was running away from her, that the clouds were tumbling down on her, that a big fish had a hold of her arm. ”This rock I am pus.h.i.+ng against,” she moaned, ”is so heavy, I shall never get around it.”

Nyoda gave her the fever medicine left by the doctor and she sank into a heavy sleep. All that night and all the next day she alternately raved and slept.

Nyoda fetched the doctor again the next day and he predicted that Sahwah would soon be better. ”She is a strong von, dat Missis Sahvah,” he said. ”She has bones like iron! A weak von vould maybe haf brain fever, but not she, I don't tink!” Nor did Sahwah disappoint him. She had a const.i.tution like a nine-lived cat, and her active outdoor life kept her blood in perfect condition, and it was not long before she began to get the upper hand of the fever.

During the second night she woke up feeling delightfully cool and comfortable. The fever had left her sometime during sleep. The moon was setting over the lake, making a long golden streak across the water. Sahwah smiled happily at the peaceful scene.

Then she became aware of a figure crouching on the floor beside her bed. It was Gladys, sitting on a low stool beside her, keeping watch.

”h.e.l.lo, Gladys,” she said, weakly but cheerfully.

Gladys started up. ”Do you really know me?” she said joyfully.

”Sure I know you,” said Sahwah. ”Why shouldn't I?”

”You didn't yesterday, you know,” said Gladys.

”Did my arm make me so sick?” asked Sahwah, feeling gingerly of the white bandage, and moving her feet to make sure that they were not similarly adorned. Gladys nodded. ”Have you been sitting here all night?” asked Sahwah.

”Yes,” said Gladys. ”Nyoda sat up last night, but I made her go to bed to-night. She is here in my bed, and I'm to call her if she's needed.”

”Let her sleep,” said Sahwah softly. ”And you go back to bed, too. I won't need anything to-night, really I won't, I feel fine now.”

Gladys shook her head resolutely. ”I promised to sit up with you to-night, and I'm going to keep my promise. You see I can be trustworthy sometimes. O Sahwah,” she cried, burying her face in the blankets, ”how can I ever repay you for what you have done?”

”Don't try,” said Sahwah cheerfully.

”What a miserable sneak you must think me!” continued Gladys.

”O shucks!” said Sahwah, who hated scenes. ”Forget it. Let's start all over from the beginning.”

”Are you really willing to give me another chance?” said Gladys joyfully.

”Sure,” said Sahwah. ”Here's my hand on it.” She slid her hand out from under the covers and caught Gladys's in a warm clasp.

She fell asleep soon after that and did not waken again during the night, but Gladys sat beside her until morning, watching her slightest movement. And the Camp Fire leaven was beginning to work in her, and she was learning to fulfil the Law, which says, ”Give service.”

The girls were filled with delight the next morning to hear Sahwah calling for her breakfast in her natural voice and clucking to the chipmunks as of old. Migwan sped to the woods for a bouquet of the brightest flowers she could find to adorn the tent, while Hinpoha clattered around the kitchen concocting delicacies. Gladys hovered over her like a fond grandmama, brus.h.i.+ng her hair, was.h.i.+ng her face and plumping up the pillows, and the rest of the Winnebagos looked in every five minutes to see how she felt. Sahwah had never had so much attention before in her life. Her slightest want was attended to as soon as expressed. The suffering of the last two days was more than made up for by the joys of being a heroine, and Sahwah drank deep of the cup that was offered her.

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