This was declared a good idea so silence reigned for a long time while all sorts of names were considered. After many suggestions and much debate the name of Wahko Nia, meaning springs of water, was cut to Wahko for everyday use. The long Indian name could be used for impressive occasions if needed. So the name of Wahko Band was entered in the Tally Book.
With a song the meeting adjourned, the girls jumping up stretched themselves with sighs of relief. The next words from the Guide changed their contentment to consternation.
"Girls, some of our food is still at the house!"
"Mercy! Why didn't we bring it over when Nancy was working?" asked Jane.
"I simply won't trail back there to-day!" whined Nita.
"If some of us are willing, it seems that all of us should help, or go without supper," said Miss Miller gently.
The other girls started off without another word, and the Guide waited a few moments to see if Nita would join her. Instead, Nita wandered toward her tent saying, "I am going to lie down and rest!"
Miss Miller felt discouraged at the failure, so soon, in the attempt to help Nita, but she trudged after the others without further coaxing of the stubborn member. At the house, the food was soon packed in baskets, and every article that might be found necessary was tucked in at the sides. Just as they were ready to return, Nita was seen sitting on the edge of the porch with a huge basket of things she had voluntarily gathered in the garden without a word from the others.
Of course it was entirely unnecessary for that day, but the Guide felt that it was Nita's peculiar way of showing how sorry she was for her recent behaviour, so the basket of vegetables and fruit was accepted with delight.
On the trail back to camp the fruit was devoured by the hungry girls, then Zan began nibbling at some crackers she found in her basket. The others wanted to sample the crackers too, so Miss Miller had to interfere.
"If you eat sweets now you won't want to have any supper when it is ready."
"Oh, won't we though! It is very evident, Miss Miller that you never camped with hungry growing girls before!" laughed Hilda.
As the Bluff was sighted the girls felt eager to end their journey, so put on an extra spurt of speed.
The baskets were placed upon a high flat rock to be out of the way of insects, and Miss Miller looked at her watch.
"If you are not tired, girls, there is just time for a swim before starting on a hike or would you prefer a walk first and then the swim?"
"Oh, goody!" cried Zan, running toward her tent.
"But, Miss Miller, we haven't any suits yet! They have not come from the city!" said Elena disappointedly.
"It wouldn't injure the fabric in your union suits to wear them not this once! And each one of
you brought a heavy suit with you in case of need!" ventured the Guide.
Nita and Jane laughed hysterically at the idea, but the other girls clapped their hands and agreed that the suggestion was great! Without further objection, the two former girls also started to find their union suits in the baggage that was packed in their trunks inside the tents.
While they were dressing Miss Miller called out, "How many of you can swim the required hundred yards and win a coup ?"
"I can or at least I could last summer," replied Zan.
"I can swim some, I don't know how far!" said Jane.
"I can swim a stroke!" exclaimed Hilda, and the other two girls admitted the same lack.
"Dear me, girls! don't tell me that you three can't swim at all!" cried Miss Miller, amazed.
"What opportunity has a city girl to swim?" asked Hilda wonderingly.
"Why, child! In winter there are a number of good Municipal Bathing houses open for girls, and everything is kept in splendid order too. Then, in summer there are plenty of summer resorts near the city where one can bathe and learn to swim!"
"But a girl can't visit them alone, and parents haven't much time to escort one to such resorts so there you are!" replied Hilda.
"Yes, that's true! Well, with fine camps started, girls, as well as boys, will be able to enjoy the woods as well as the waters of the country, without cost of time or money for parents," said Miss Miller, as she came from her tent dressed in a neat one-piece bathing suit.
The others were waiting for her, looking self-conscious in their union suits. The Guide saw this and decided that they must be made to forget themselves at once. So she proposed a race from the tents to the willow tree that stood by the pool. The winner to have an extra cookie for supper.
The scramble that followed proved just the thing to distract their thoughts from their appearances, and by the time all reached the tree, they were laughing, and gasping for breath.
The pool, in summer-time, was nowhere more than four to five feet in depth. Possibly, just under the Falls the water might measure six feet, but no one ever went there. From the Falls the water spread out in a circle-like basin until its centre measured about thirty feet across. It gradually narrowed again toward the willow where the stream formed the outlet of the pool. The entire floor of the pool was of rock, worn smooth by the water. This smooth surface and the Falls creating an ever-flowing current, kept the pool clean and the water as clear as glass. It was partly due to the bed-rock that made the water so transparent, that the Indian name for Crystal Waters was given the place.