Speak now or forever after hold your peace! declared Mrs. Vernon, with a magisterial air.
Every one laughed, but Julie obeyed the command: You said we would give fifteen minutes to knot-tying and forty-five to recreation. Now I wish to ask Your Honor, is this Scout Reading to be considered as recreation?
The Captain smiled, and after a few moments pause said: I am guilty of theft. But I plead extenuating circumstances. I forgot what I said about recreation, and was so over-anxious to have my infant Patrol grounded in the first lessons of scout duties that I stole time from the hour. Who is there here just enough to sentence me?
We have no jury, but in lieu of a speaker, allow me to speak for myself: your zeal shall be your excuse, but hereafter see that you do not commit the same offense, spoke Julie, with a judicial air.
The Captain and girls laughed heartily, and thus ended the first reading of Scout Laws. Mrs. Vernon closed the book and got up from the knotty seat of rope, and asked the girls if they had thought of any form of recreation.
We still have to be informed by the Court if the time stolen from our forty-five minutes must be returned or deducted? countered Julie.
The Court thinks you should have the full time given you for any useful recreation not for foolishness, said Mrs. Vernon.
Well, would the Court adjudge a good hike to be useful? demanded Joan.
The Court most certainly would, and will even offer to accompany the jury, or whatever body you call yourselves.
Then its us for a hike, girls! cried Joan.
The suggestion met with favor, and soon the newly-made Scouts were climbing the steep grade of the mountainside. It was more than an hour before voices were again heard, and Hepsy whinnied as if to ask What sort of scouts are you, anyway, to listen to a law read about animals and how to treat them, and then go away without giving me my breakfast?
The moment the girls heard the appeal from the mare, they understood and ran pell-mell to get Hepsy the oats. When she saw they were measuring out her breakfast, she craned her neck as far as it would stretch, and pawed the ground impatiently.
Mrs. Vernon held her head with both hands and cried as if in despair: Merciful goodness! What sort of a Captain am I to forget our faithful old scout Hepsy?
Will Hepsy get sick now, Verny? asked Betty, worried.
No, but she is so famished she may eat me up if I venture near her with a pail of water! That is all that might happen.
If she does, there will be a second result, too. Hepsyll sure have an awful case of indigestion after dining! retorted Julie, causing the others to laugh.
Hepsy was given a long drink and then left to enjoy her oats. While the animal was feeding, Julie said: How about the hut?
I hope we can finish it to-day, Verny, added Joan.
You can try at least. Every bit done helps, you know, replied the Captain.
The old flooring had been scraped clean and the cross-sections that were too badly decayed were removed. Then the boards taken from the packing cases were fitted in and nailed down securely. By one oclock the partly new floor was finished and cleaned up.
Dinner was suggested before continuing the work, and the campers talked about roofing the hut while they prepared the meal.
Now that the floor is finished, two of us ought to begin to carry in our stock, while the others work on the roof. That will save our groceries from the moisture or dampness in the ground, you see, said Mrs. Vernon.
But we all want to work on the roof it will be fun, declared Julie.
In that case, we shall have to draw lots. And after half of the groceries are moved in by two girls, the others will have to take their turn while the first two enjoy the roof, suggested the Captain.
And you what do you want to do? asked Ruth.
I am going to hunt around for any down timbers that we can use for siding the hut where the old
logs have fallen away and rotted on the ground. I will leave you scouts to work on the roof after your own plans.
Oh, but tell us what to use before you go? cried Betty.
Youll find a roll of tar paper over there with the supplies. This you must measure off and cut the required size. Be sure to have it long enough to turn under the eaves and over at the top.
How do we nail it down? asked Joan.
Lay the strips lengthwise, from ridgepole to eaves, and fasten down each strip on the old boards. But, girls, do be careful not to break through those openings in the roof, nor crumble in at any decayed places!
All right I guess we can remember that much all right, said Julie, eager to begin.
So Mrs. Vernon left them to see how far they would use their intelligence in doing this work, while she began seeking along the woodland road for down tree-trunks of movable length and weight.
She found plenty of timber such as she wanted for the sides of the old hut, and also to start work on the new one, but she did not return to camp until four oclock. When she did, she found two of the girls fast asleep on the grass, while the other two were in the pool splashing about.