Part 43 (1/2)

”The water rushes right down the mountain-side from Fiji's Cave and falls over a great boulder into a pool below that we use for a swimming pool,” added Jane.

”And we have a large Council Ring there, and a ready-made fire-place,”

said Hilda.

”That reminds me! We all ought to feel hungry by this time, so we could have lunch on the lawn and start for the Bluff later, to get settled for the night,” advised the Guide.

”I think I can eat a morsel, if coaxed hard enough,” said Jane, laughing.

”I can eat everything in sight-even the gra.s.s,” declared Billy.

”You won't have to stoop to the meek little blades, Billy, as we brought plenty of sandwiches and cake,” said Zan.

As they enjoyed the luncheon brought from home, Miss Miller asked: ”Who would like to visit the gardens after we're through with refreshments?”

”Oh, yes; I can't tell an onion from a gooseberry,” laughed Eleanor.

”You ought to if you did your cookery work properly this winter,” Miss Miller reproved.

An hour was devoted to trying to identify the many vegetables of the garden, and at the same time, enough fruit and other things were gathered for supper and breakfast.

”Funny how different lettuce, radishes, beets, and other things look to us when growing in the garden and when we have them ready served on the dinner table,” commented one of the girls.

Then the Guide described the habits of many vegetables and explained how they grew and should be cared for and harvested. She touched upon the national interest taken in canning and preserving and hinted that the Wako Girls might start a cla.s.s for themselves early in the Fall.

Bill Sherwood had erected tents and brought the cots from the cabin, so all was ready for the Tribe when they reached the Bluff. The Council Ring had been cleared of debris and the camp-fire place ready for supper, so that the Guide smiled and thanked Bill for his trouble to have everything in order for them.

That night the girls sat star-gazing when Zan said: ”We must start the new members and the Brownies on mat weaving and willow bed making, the first thing, Miss Miller.”

”Yes, the rushes and willows ought to be just about right this time of year,” added the Guide, delighted that Zan was taking a normal interest in her Woodcraft again.

So immediately after breakfast, they all started down the slope to the Big Bridge where the reeds grew thickest and longest. In pa.s.sing, the Guide called the attention of the Brownies and new members to the trees: Oak, hickory, maple and others were identified and described.

Then Billy tried to show his superiority over the other Brownies, by saying: ”That is a red maple, and over there-that's a swamp maple.”

”What's this, Billy?” asked Elizabeth.

”Oh, that's a mountain maple.”

”What was the grove we came through last night?” said she.

”Sugar maples for maple syrup! Don't I know! I've tapped them enough when out with Fred,” giggled Billy.

While they were all engaged in cutting rushes some of the girls gazed about now and then. In one of these wayward glances, May saw some green leaves growing in the brook.

”What are they, Miss Miller?”

”That is water-cress-would you like to gather it?”

”Water-cress! Oh, I love it in salad!” cried May.