She knew this would meet with great approval, and soon they were busy unpacking the ready-made lunch, and placing it on a large flat rock.
Ruth! quick brush that awful bug from the butter! shrieked Julie, as she stood with both her hands filled with dishes.
Oh oh! I cant! Its an awful looking creature! cried Ruth, running away from the rock where the luncheon was spread.
Joan come here! Whats that beast on the butter see? called Julie, trying to set the tier of dishes down on the grass.
Its only a young dragon-fly dont you know one when you see it? laughed Joan, shooing the insect away.
Ive seen them flying in the sunshine, but never on the butter-dish, said Julie, picking up the dishes again and placing them on the cloth.
Mrs. Vernon had started for the rock-table when she heard the shouting, but now she laughed heartily. Joan, where did you study insect-life that you know so much about one of the common members?
Wasnt it a dragon-fly, Verny?
Not at all. I should think every one of you girls could tell a dragon-fly, because we have them about our gardens at home.
What was it, then? asked Joan.
Im going to send to Scout Headquarters for a book on Insect Life, and have you study the different ones you find while in camp. Then youll become acquainted with them and never forget again. The same with flowers and trees I must send for books that you can refer to and teach yourselves all you need to know about these things that every good scout knows.
Oh, come on and lets eat. Every ant and bug in the land will get there before us, and well have to eat leavings, said Julie, whipping a hornet from the jelly dish.
So with all kinds of insects for guests, the girls ate their first lunch at camp. They were so hungry that stale bread would have tasted good, but given the delicious things prepared by the Vernons cook, it was small wonder they all felt uncomfortably full when they left the rock-table.
CHAPTER FIVE RUTH MEETS WITH DIFFICULTIES
Mrs. Vernon had gone to the buckboard to unpack the chest that held the tools, and was engaged in sorting the nails she thought would be needed to repair the old hut. When she turned to see if the girls were almost through with the task of clearing away the dishes, she found them eagerly investigating the camp grounds.
How Id like to have a swim in this pool, called Joan, standing beside the mirror-like water.
Oh, no; we can take a dip any time. Lets go for a hike up the mountainside. I want to explore, cried Ruth.
Why not wait until to-morrow morning for adventuring I want to see if there are any fish in this trout brook, said Betty.
Julie was out of hearing, but she was busy over some quest of her own, and she had shirked work as well as the others.
Girls, is it possible that you are seeking for a kind fairy who might live in the woods, or are you just waiting for some one to happen along and offer services to you? asked Mrs. Vernon.
What do you mean? inquired Joan, puzzled at the words.
And what are you looking for, Verny? asked Betty, seeing the Captain going about examining various spots, then glance up at the trees overhead, or shade her eyes to gaze at the sky.
Finding a suitable place for the cook-stove, said she.
Cook-stove! Why, we didnt bring any! replied four girls.
Oh, yes we did Ill show you a fine one to-morrow.
Are we to have running water in our bedrooms, too? laughed Joan.
You can, if you are willing to do the plumbing, retorted Mrs. Vernon.
But evidently she found just the place she sought for; and now the girls were deeply interested in watching her build a camp-stove. You see, I need a place where the smoke will not be driven into our tents, and also where the wind will act as a blower up the chimney and not a quencher of the fire.
Julie, you can bring me some smooth flat stones for an oven, and Joan can find me a peck of small stones for a lining. Then Betty can cut a good strong young sapling about an inch through, cut off the twigs and leave a clean pole about five feet long; and Ruth can cut two shorter ones with crotches made by two limbs. The crotched limbs can be about three inches long and the poles cut to four feet high. Sharpen the ends to a point so we can drive them into the ground.
Each girl went to do the bidding of their Captain, and when they returned they found a pit had been scooped out of the sheltered nook at the base of a huge rock. This pit was lined with smooth small stones, and the flat oven-stones firmly fixed at the back. Then the two notched poles were planted one on each side of the fireplace, and the long pole placed across the top, the ends fitting securely into the notches.
To-night we shall have hot soup for supper, girls, and there will be plenty of hot water to wash dishes in.
Hadnt we better heat some water now for the dishes? asked Julie.
Oh havent you cleared away the lunch table and washed the dishes? asked Mrs. Vernon, seemingly surprised.
Not yet there wasnt any hot water, said Ruth.
Then we must heat some at once, for no good scout will postpone clearing away food and dishes after he has had a bountiful meal. It shows a lack of appreciation and gratitude to the Provider when one is slack about cheerfully doing his part, said the Captain.