"Well, the beech is not a very well-known tree I mean it is not as commonly seen on the lawns, street-parquets, or parks, as the oak, maple, or elm. A beech tree often grows to be a hundred feet high and is from three to eight feet thick. Some have had a diameter of eleven feet. The bark is smooth, ash-coloured. The timber is fine grained and the roots of the tree do not go deep down, but spread out underneath the surface of the ground. The foliage of the beeches I have seen are purple, silver, and red. The name to designate the kind of beech tree is given by the colour of the leaves."
"There, that's ten trees!" called Nita.
"No, that only makes nine?" contradicted Jane.
The girls counted on their fingers and found there had been nine trees described so that they could always tell at a glance what the tree was.
"I am going to choose the tenth tree myself," said Miss Miller.
"Yes, yes, do!" cried the girls, in chorus.
"Well, I am going to select an elm. You won't see it here," laughed the teacher, as every head turned looking for the elm tree. "I am going to tell you about it and then see which of you can be first in identifying it by my description."
"That will be heaps of fun I think that will be better than the way we have done!" exclaimed Elena.
The others felt much the same way, but said nothing as Miss Miller began.
"Our American elm, or white elm, is a majestic tree with long pendulous branches. The trunk grows from three to five feet through, and the tree's height is from fifty to seventy feet. The main trunk grows straight naked, until it towers above its neighbours. It then divides into two primary branches which ascend gradually and subdivide into spreading boughs. These again subdivide into smaller twigs, and the twigs into leaves.
"As the limbs grow out into smaller branches they bend in the most graceful curves, and the beautiful foliage gives a dense shade. The leaves are short-stalked, oval-shape, with irregular veins. The Elm flowers in April before its leaves begin to shoot. The timber is tough, strong and not easy to manipulate in cabinet work, therefore is not in such demand for this purpose."
"I believe I can pick an elm after that lesson," said Elena thoughtfully.
"Well, girls, we must get back to camp, but we will see who is the first to find an elm."
CHAPTER SIX THE MUTINY OF NITA
"I will build a fire on the lower ledge of rock where the smoke won't annoy us. In locating a spot for a fire-place it is always advisable to see to the comfort of the camp, for the wind may veer at any time and blow the smoke into the faces of the campers. If you can find a place with a natural shield to act as a screen, you obviate this disagreeable feature."
The girls stood about watching the Guide arrange her fire implements. She looked up and, seeing them unoccupied, said, "Zan, suppose you and Nita run to the house for the pans we left in the cupboard. Jane and Elena will go down to Bill's for a loaf of bread, won't you, dears? Hilda can help me with the fire."
"Dear me! Miss Miller, why don't you send some one besides me with Zan? I am too tired!" whined Nita, peevishly.
"I have spoken, but you girls can act as you see fit!"
"All right, then; Zan, you take Hilda with you and I'll help Miss Miller," replied Nita.
Miss Miller began picking out the driest leaves and twigs while the girls stood uncertain of how to act.
"Well, why don't you start?" cried Nita to Zan.
"Waitin' for you!" said Zan laconically.
"Why, Hilda's going with you I'm going to stay!"
"I must be rattled then, for I sure heard Miss Miller say that you and I were to go to the house," returned Zan, sitting down on a stone.
"But I am too tired and so Hilda's going with you." And Nita began to grow irritable.
"Miss Miller is Guide and I was elected Big Chief by all of you. Nita, you're Little Chief and in my absence
you have to take my place. Now, I'm goin' down to Bill's and see if I can find any more strawberries for supper, and so I shall have to let you take my place going to the house. You can select any one of the other girls you want to go with you," said Zan, with finality.
Miss Miller had to bend low over the wood pile to keep her face from being seen. In fact, she had to hold her hand so close over her mouth that her face was crimson. Zan, without a backward look, started off at a brisk trot down the slope toward Sherwood's cottage.
"Hold on, Zan, we're coming with you!" shouted Jane and Elena.
That left Hilda standing sulkily watching her three friends while Nita went inside the tent apportioned to her use. Hilda turned to the Guide and caught a glimpse of her face. With a smile creeping into her own face she ran over to Miss Miller.
"Aren't you awful mad?" wondered Hilda.
"No, dearie, this is just what I expected when I suggested that Nita accompany Zan on the walk. It is merely another 'dish-wash' lesson in another form, but Nita hasn't had it applied to her individual need as Zan and Jane have. If she rises bravely to the call she will have her blessing hereafter."