"Oh how fine! Then you boys will show us how to play "Hunt the Deer" or "Bear Hunting.""
"I"ll run to the house for the bear and spears. Meantime, you can warm up by having some races," said Fred Remington.
Fred whispered to Fiji and ran away, and immediately afterward the boys led the way to the back-road that ran to the pasture. Here they had running races, jumping and throwing contests, and many other tests between the girls and boys, until Fred returned with a noticeably new burlap bear, and wooden spears.
The rest of the forenoon was enjoyed by having exciting Woodcraft games of hunting and spearing-both games that tested the surety of the arm and eye.
The sun came through heavy clouds during the afternoon and the girls enjoyed a hike through the woods and fields. Many an item was found that day to add to the collection of flowers and trees and birds for the new members" lists.
Late Sunday evening, as all were ready to depart from the Council House, it was agreed that never had an indoor camp been so appreciated as this one by the girls of Wako Tribe.
CHAPTER TEN-IN FALLING LEAF MOON
That week a Council was held to decide upon the merits of the new members. As each was called upon to answer various questions, the replies were perfectly satisfactory until it came Eleanor"s turn. The report on her month of probation was not very encouraging to the five founders of the Tribe.
"What"s the matter, Eleanor-you"ve had the same time and privileges as the others?" asked Zan, impatiently.
"Oh, I don"t know as I care to join this crowd. It is always some silly deference to you as Chief. If Miss Miller was the one we had to ask permission of before we could speak to the others I wouldn"t mind, "cause she is older and is a teacher, too. But I refuse to kow-tow to you!" retorted Eleanor.
"Humph! Guess you got out of bed with your left foot foremost, this morning," complained Jane.
"If she don"t want to conform to our Tribe laws she can do the other thing! I have no intention of harbouring mutiny in the circle," added Zan, angrily.
"No one asked you to! If the other sn.o.bbish girls want to be walked over just because your father has a car in which they can take a ride now and then, it"s none of my affair. _I_ for one will not act the hypocrite for the sake of an automobile drive!" snapped Eleanor.
"Hypocrite! Good gracious! You"re the biggest--"
What it was was not heard, for Miss Miller entered and, frowning, remarked: "Ladies! Ladies! are we Woodcrafters or are we irresponsible tramps with no education or refinement!"
Everyone flushed and looked uncomfortable but Eleanor shrugged her shoulders and walked out without a word to anyone.
"Let her go-I only hope it"s for good!" grumbled Zan.
"I am sorry this incident has occurred just now as I brought with me a letter addressed to the Tribe to be read at this meeting," said the Guide.
Not a sound was heard and the teacher continued:
"The other school girls have heard of the good times and Nature studies you are having and many of them wish to join you. Of course there can be but ten more girls added to this Tribe but many of those not selected can start another Tribe.
"It seems that Eleanor Wilson has been talking of leaving this Band and the girls told her how foolish she was when it was going to do her so much good. But that is just what made the girl still more obstinate. Now matters have come to a crisis here, for this scene means Eleanor must stay or go-which shall it be? I know certain unpleasant incidents in connection with Eleanor"s behaviour that would prejudice me against her did I not know that the girl is in dire need of the training Woodcraft can give her. What say you?"
Put up to the girls in this way caused each one to think seriously and refrain from condemnation. Then the Chief said: "We were speaking of these things with Mrs. Remington the other day, and she advised us to go slow and not act in a way that we might regret later."
"Miss Miller, maybe if we each took this case as a personal matter and judged Eleanor as if she was our own sister, we might feel more lenient and patient with her short-comings," said May Randall.
Miss Miller was pleasantly surprised to hear a new member express such sentiments, and she nodded approvingly. "I am glad to hear this-shall we vote to give Eleanor another trial?"
"O Chief! Let me say a word before any girl votes on a matter that they may not feel quite satisfied with but will do as the others wish them to do," said Nita, jumping up and flushing.
"Proceed."
"If the new members knew of the trouble at Wickeecheokee this past Summer and what a change has been wrought in me! Some of you knew me before this Summer and some did not. But let me say, that this case of Eleanor Wilson"s seems much the same in a different dress, and if I have seen the truth and been helped to a different plane of life cannot Eleanor do the same? She needs us."
Nita"s earnest voice finished speaking and the girls realised she had been pleading for the future of a girl"s life. The Guide found it necessary to turn away her face to pretend to look for a paper in her desk-in reality to dry the sudden moisture in her eyes caused by Nita"s heartfelt words.
"O Chief! I make a motion that Eleanor be given a patient trial just as we would do if a girl was sick," said Elena.
The motion was seconded by Zan, and carried unanimously.
"Now girls, let us write a letter to the new applicants and let them know that they may look forward to joining a second Band in November, and then we will send a short note to Eleanor to tell her how sorry we were that she did not remain to vote with us," said Zan.
As impulsive Zan, proud Jane, superficial Nita, and indolent Elena of last Summer"s experiences showed such wonderful improvement for better and n.o.bler things, Miss Miller felt that the efforts and time spent about "Her Father"s Business" were beginning to bear fruit abundantly.
That week the Band met two evenings for social and Tribal affairs. The first meeting was held at Zan"s house and the second one at Jane Hubert"s. Both of these places offered ample s.p.a.ce for the Indian songs and dances enjoyed by Woodcrafters, so they were usually selected in preference to the small rooms of modern apartment houses such as the ones where Elena, Hilda, and some of the new members lived. At Dr.
Baker"s house, the girls were discussing the limited music given by the tomtom. As the complaints were finished Miss Miller addressed the girls.
"I find some of our sweetest songs need a greater depth of harmony than is possible to bring out of hide, so I will suggest a simple instrument that was much in vogue in ancient days. To-day we hear little of it. Who present can play on gla.s.s?"
No one could and several voices expressed amazement.
"Zan, can you bring me eight thin gla.s.s finger bowls? If you haven"t them, just tumblers will do, but the bowls offer a better surface. I will also want a jug of water and your moist colours," said Miss Miller.
Zan brought the required articles and Miss Miller placed the eight bowls in a row on the table. Then she placed a dab of water-colour in each of seven bowls, leaving one natural water. Next she poured water into the bowls-different quant.i.ties for the different notes. The first bowl was almost full of water and that had no colour in it. The second bowl had not as much water and was coloured red. The third bowl held still less water which was blue. The fourth with still less water was coloured yellow. The fifth was green and that was half full. The sixth was less than half full and was tinged purple. The seventh held a quarter of a bowl full and was orange. The eighth and last held but little water and was tinted black. The colours were stirred from the bottom so that all the paint was well dissolved.
"Now girls, the bowl holding the clear water, having more in it than the others, will give us the highest note, and so on down the scale until we reach the lowest note which holds least water in the bowl.
"By placing the highest note and fullest bowl at my right hand and so on until the lowest note is at my extreme left, I can play the scale just as if I was playing on a piano."
Miss Miller carefully moistened her fingers in the water and also moistened the edges of the bowls.
"Now listen and tell me what I am playing?" said she.
The Guide lightly pa.s.sed her moist fingertips around the rim of the right-hand bowl and produced a clear sweet tone.
"G!" called the girls as she looked for their reply.
"Now these?"
Again she pa.s.sed her fingers over the rims of the gla.s.ses and played the scale. As she brought out the notes the girls gathered about the table and listened with surprised interest.
"Now I will play my favourite patriotic song, "Our America," and after I have played it through you girls might sing it."
[Ill.u.s.tration: _OUR AMERICA_]