of home and far-away friends.
The scout games well enjoy here, but dreams of home never! Well have to go back there soon enough, declared Joan, causing the others to laugh merrily.
Well, come on, girls. Our campsite lies just there beyond that cluster of giant pines that rear their heads high above the surrounding forest trees, said Mrs. Vernon, leading the way across the plateau.
The sound of falling water became plainer as they went, and soon, between the trunks of the trees skirting the plateau, the girls spied a beautiful waterfall. It tumbled from one great boulder to another, until it splashed into a basin worn deep in the farthest end of the plateau; thence it sought the easiest way to reach the valley, making many sparkling pools and musical waterfalls in its descent.
How perfectly lovely! breathed Betty, standing with clasped hands and a gaze that was riveted on the falls.
You had plenty of water for cooking and bathing, didnt you? said practical Julie.
Yes, and that was one reason we chose this spot for our camp. You see this high rocky wall made a fine wind-shield from the north, and where could one find a more convenient gymnasium than that flat? The pines and waterfall over here provided shelter and supply. So we built our hut against the wall under those trees.
Hut? You never told us you built a hut, exclaimed Joan.
No, because I have no idea of finding it here. I suppose the logs have rotted away years ago, returned Mrs. Vernon.
We might build another one, Verny, cause I see plenty of down-timber, suggested Betty.
And it will be great sport to play carpenter, added Joan.
Mrs. Vernon forced a way through the tangle of briars and bushes that had grown up since that long-ago, and the scouts followed directly after her.
Girls, here is the pool where we used to swim isnt it lovely?
The girls stood still, admiring the clear water and the reflection of green trees in the pool; then the Captain turned and began breaking down slender twigs and bending aside green berry-bushes, as she eagerly blazed a trail towards the wall.
Here, not fifty feet from the pool, was glimpsed the old frame and timbers of a log cabin. A mass of vines and moss almost hid the hut from view, so that one would unconsciously pass it by, thinking it but the trunk of a cluster of old trees against the wall.
Oh, we must have built well to have had it survive all these years, girls! cried Mrs. Vernon, joyfully, as she stood and looked at the handiwork of her friends of years long gone.
Verny, this is the way we girls will build, too. We will erect a hut alongside this, and show it to our children many years from now, said Betty, fervently.
I dont see why we cant use this hut, too, said Julie.
The frame and floor beams are solid enough, added Joan, examining the posts.
It will need a roof and some new side-logs that is all, Ruth said, taking a lively interest in the camp-plan.
Yes, we can easily repair it, and then you girls can build your own hut as an annex to this hotel, said Mrs. Vernon, still smiling with satisfaction at the discovery of the cabin.
Dear me! I wish we had brought our camp outfit to-day and could stay to begin work, complained Joan.
Im crazy to start, too, admitted Julie.
But we have to have those tools, and some others besides. I shall ask Uncle Verny to sell us some of his extra ones. He has several hammers, screw-drivers, and other implements he can spare, said Mrs. Vernon.
Now what can we look at? inquired Ruth, quickly wearying of one thing. This was one of the weak tendencies Mrs. Vernon hoped to cure that summer.
You can bring the hampers over to the pool, if you like, and when we are through planning here, we will join you and have our picnic.
Why, I dont want to carry them alone! Cant we all go now and do it?
I want to snoop about here a little more, said Julie.
And I want to figure out how many tree-trunks well have to drag over here before we can have a cabin as good as this one, called Joan, as she measured the length of logs with a hair-ribbon.
Mercy! Arent any of you going to eat before you finish that nonsense? Ruth asked plaintively.
Mrs. Vernon smiled. Then she turned to Joan and said: If you girls will really promise to build and finish a hut, I will ask Uncle Verny to loan us the farm-horse to haul the timbers. You girls could never drag them, you know. But Hepsy is accustomed to hauling and heavy work, so we need have no fear of straining her.
Just the thing! Hepsy forever! shouted Joan, throwing her hat in the air for a salute.
Can you remember all the things we still need this summer, Verny?
asked Julie, anxiously.
Well jot down everything as we remember it, then we can compare lists when we go to order the things, said Mrs. Vernon.
Wont the girls at school look green with envy when we tell them we are going to have a strange girl camp with us this summer? laughed Julie, as a thought struck her.
Who is she? gasped the other girls in surprise.
Ho! did I get you on that? teased Julie.