"That's easy but how under the sun did you empty out the water afterward?" called Zan.
"I didn't carry the basin to the woods and turn it over, I assure you," laughed Miss Miller; "I took a handful of dried moss and let it soak up the used water. You'll see how nicely it absorbs the moisture. Then take a handful of clean moss and wash the basin out."
"You are too fastidious for me I'll wash in the brook!" said Zan, comparing the amount of work necessary in using the rock-basin, to the easier way of dipping in the creek.
"Guess we'll choose the brook!" said Hilda.
Miss Miller watched the five girls bending over and joyously splashing water at each other, as well as over their own faces and necks, and thought to herself: "Yes, I took a lot of trouble to use that basin, but they will always remember that dry moss will soak up moisture if a dry condition is required."
For breakfast that morning, the Guide mixed some batter for pancakes. The girls heard the beating of the spoon and gathered about curiously.
"Batter cakes, girls. I'll mix them this time, and one of you can watch them bake. The others can look after other work. I'll prepare some cocoa, if you like."
"Oh, yes! We all like cocoa, Miss Miller," said Hilda.
"Here comes Bill Sherwood he's got something!" announced Elena, who had been standing on the rock above the fire.
The others craned their necks and Zan added, "Bet anything it's something good to eat!"
And so it was. Bill bobbed his head smilingly to the girls and offered Miss Miller a plate covered with a home-spun towel.
"The old lady fried some spring chicken for breakfast an' we said we rickoned it might taste good t' yuh so here it is!"
"Broiled chicken! But, Mr. Sherwood, you must allow us to reimburse you for the chickens. It would not be right for us to eat your broilers!" said Miss Miller, deeply obliged.
"We likes t' make th' camp enjyable t' yuh all! Mebbe you'll git straightened out so's yuh kin prepare your own things pritty soon," explained Bill.
"Why, we cooked supper last night and a fine one it was," said Zan, pointing to the camp-fire.
Bill's lower jaw dropped and he stood staring at the novel cook-stove. "Laws me! That beats th' Dutch!" ejaculated he.
The girls all laughed and he went over and watched the kettle singing and the batter cakes
baking. "I'll have t' send my ole woman up t' see these stunts!" said he, starting off again.
Batter cakes tasted fine with broiled chicken done to a crispy brown, and cocoa was just the right drink with which to conclude the jolly breakfast party.
Mrs. Sherwood had not yet visited the camp but she put in an appearance soon after breakfast and Zan introduced her to all of those present. She inspected the fire-place and looked sceptically at the cots, saying, "How kin yuh rest on them hard things. Now, I have to have feather beds all year 'round. And it's s'prisin' how my bones rest! I never kin go visitin' where folks haven't feathers!"
Miss Miller felt a deep sympathy for the poor deluded woman, and wondered if it would be possible to convert her to the idea of using a mattress and hair pillow in preference to feathers.
As their early visitor went back home, Zan said, "Fancy! feather-beds in this enlightened age!"
CHAPTER SEVEN WINNERS IN HOME-COOK AND MOKODASSO-WININI DEGREES
Miss Miller tried to make everything she did an object lesson for the girls, so she mixed the simple batter for the cakes to show them how easy a matter a nicely browned cake really was. This, she deducted, would arouse a desire to know more of the cookery art. If she had selected a difficult dish to prepare the girls might have been frightened by the process of mixing many ingredients.
"I wish I could do some baking!" said Jane.
"Why not learn now never a time like the present," said Miss Miller, smiling at the eager face.
"S'pose I burn something?"
"Then, try again. It is not with the first trial that we always meet success. Sometimes I have had to do a thing over and over before it was right," replied the Guide.
"It seems like an imposition to ask you to show us how to cook after all the other things you are doing for us," remarked Jane.
"Sometimes a little gratitude expressed in consideration for all one has done before, urges the donor to greater effort. And both giver and receiver are blessed accordingly," said Miss Miller.
The girls were thoughtful, so she continued, "I am so glad to find you appreciative of the little I am doing that I am eager to do more; the lesson in cookery will be one of my expressions of love toward you."
"Maybe we can all watch and learn how to do the biscuits," suggested Zan.
"Of course; as many of you as wish to take the test in cookery can begin this morning," replied Miss Miller.
"Right away?" clamoured a few of the girls.
"Hardly; I thought we would clear up the tents, do the chores, and try the use of the hatchet and knife; when it gets near time for noon-day meal we can prepare some fish for dinner. Hereafter, I think it wise to have dinner at twelve and supper at six. That gives us a long afternoon and a pleasant evening."