CHAPTER SIXTEEN
THE COUNCIL FIRE BURNS ON THE DROSS
As the days passed swiftly, filled with wholesome pleasures for theBand, the improvement in each individual was more marked, for theestablished unity of the work in itself made for greater effort in each.
Perhaps of the five girls, the greatest change was taking place inNita's consciousness and demeanour. It seemed to her that she had beenliving in an unreal atmosphere all of her life and but just awakenedto the real delight in living. Her being was over-flowing with a deepsense of gratitude for the Guide who had been so patient with hershort-comings, and the unusual health, the result of regular hours,simple food, and natural environment, combined to create a joy thatNita could not account for. Quite often, Miss Miller would smileunseen, as she heard Nita trill a few notes of song that hummed throughher memory.
The effect of association and the need of habitual watchfulness toovercome faults, made a marvellous improvement in the other girls, sothat the Guide was the happiest one of the Band at the result of herexperiment with Woodcraft.
Since the day Nita went driving with young Everton, not a sign had comefrom him, although Bill had said that the young rascal was away for afew weeks, with an aunt at the beach.
Toward the latter part of August, the Band decided to go on a Naturequest, bringing back any new specimen of bug, plant or reptile, theymight be so fortunate as to find.
It was a perfect day not too warm, with a dazzling blue sky overhead.The woods and meadows echoed with song, and a general medley of soundfrom live creatures.
The girls were crossing a marshy bit of ground near the Big Bridge,when Jane caught sight of some beautiful spires of goldenrod, althoughit was early in the season for it.
"I'm going to pick some for our camp--you can wait or go on slowly!"called she, to the girls who were ahead.
Balancing on a flat stone near the bank she hoped to reach, she foundherself directly under a bending mass of the golden bloom. Just as shereached up to pluck at the stem, a huge bumblebee flew out and hummednear her nose.
"Oo-oo! help!" cried Jane almost falling over with fright.
"What's the matter--a water-snake?" laughed Elena.
"No--but an awful big beast! As big and fierce as an eagle!" shoutedJane, laughing at herself, when the bee flew away.
Having secured the rod, Jane hurried after the girls and then confessedthat the eagle was but a bumblebee.
"He wouldn't have stung you, Jane, even if you attempted his life! Theyare too good-natured for their own protection!" said the Guide, as theytrudged along the field-path.
"Let's sit down by this hedge and have a story, Miss Miller," suggestedHilda, who loved to hear the Guide's nature stories.
"Just for a few moments, then! We must not waste any time."
"Tell us something about bees, Miss Miller. Now, that our hives havecome and we are waiting for a swarm to live in them, we ought to knowsomething about their habits," coaxed Hilda.
So, the Guide told the girls all she could remember from her experiencewith bees when she was a girl at home. She added, however, that so manywonderful inventions had come to make bee-culture easier and pleasantersince her time, that it would be better to secure a good book aboutbees. At the conclusion of her short talk, Miss Miller said, "Can anyof you tell me what time the bee was first found of value to people?"
No one could, so Miss Miller changed her question. "Well, can you tellme why bees were so carefully guarded in the olden times--in Biblicaldays, for instance?"
Even this could not be answered by the girls, so Miss Miller explained.
"In those olden days sugar had been unheard of. The only sweetenerthey used was honey. Should the bees die off there would be no sweets.Consequently, people were most careful of their bees. Very few peopleto-day realise that honey used in cake instead of sugar keeps the cakemuch fresher and the flavour is richer."
Miss Miller got up from the grass and warned her charges that theywould arrive nowhere if they did not start. With a general laugh at theGuide's eagerness to get somewhere, the girls jumped up, shook theirshort skirts and resumed the hike.
They reached the road that passed Hamilton's farm and had just turneddown a narrow path that led across fields toward a wonderful woodedhill, with three of the girls leading, and Zan on the left side, Nitaon the right side of the Guide, when Nita exclaimed at a gorgeousbutterfly that flew over her head.
Catching the butterfly net from Zan's hand, she chased it, runningswiftly down the pathway past the other girls. No sooner had shestarted off than a horse was heard galloping on the soft sod back ofthe Guide.
Miss Miller turned and saw a rider coming directly toward her. Thinkingit might be a telegram or other message for her, she turned to meethim. As soon as she came within good sight of the rider, however, shesaw to her chagrin that it was young Everton. She stood right in thepath wondering what to do.
Everton rode up and expected the Guide to move out of his way. She,however, had made up her mind what to do.
"Beg pardon, are you eager to reach any destination?" asked the Guide,holding her ground so that the young man had to rein in his horsesharply.
"I am anxious to reach a friend of mine--but I do not see how thatconcerns you!" retorted the insolent youth.
Miss Miller noted the glint in the eyes that Nita had spoken of, andshe recognised at once the peculiar power some had of hypnotic controlso fatal to peace and happiness of others when employed for viciousends instead of worthy help. She noted the deep-orange stain on fingersas well as the twitching of muscles and sallowness of skin that camefrom nicotine. Even his horse rebelled against the nervous twitching ofhands that lacked the strength to control anything, least of all hisown animal instincts.
"Young man, I have every reason to believe that you are molesting ayoung girl placed in my charge. Therefore, I must ask you to turn aboutand ride the other way, as we shall not allow you to communicate againwith Nita," said Miss Miller, sternly.
"I refuse to acknowledge any authority from _you_! I don't know you,nor do you know me, although I have heard said that an impecuniousschool-marm is acting as governess to a few girls at the Baker farm,"sneered the young man.
Zan was up in arms at once, but Miss Miller was not one to takeoffence, especially when the insult came from a source she thought lessthan the dirt under her feet.
"Zan, will you run after Nita and ask her if she wishes to meetthis--this, ahem--creature! If she does not and he persists in annoyingus he will be taught the penalty of a highwayman!"
The rider sneered again but wondered why the woman hesitated overhis name. Had he but known that Miss Miller refused to give him theprivilege of being called a man, and a boy was too innocent a name forhim--thus her hesitation!
Nita was running back with her captured prize when Zan met her andhastily explained. Nita blanched and clung to Zan's arm. "Oh, I neverwant to meet him again! What shall I do?"
Everton had been idly flicking his crop over the nervous young mare'sears, and the animal resented it by pawing the ground. He took pleasurein watching the mare snort, so he persisted. Without further warningthe young animal gave a side jump, cleared the low rim of brush thatfringed the bank and galloped wildly across the broken field. The riderevidently lost control of his mount, for the horse soon came to thestream where it turned back to cross the road near Hamilton's farm.
Miss Miller and the girls had climbed the bank and were watching theunexpected ending of the interview. Without a second's hesitation thehorse plunged down into the river and struggled through the water, upthe opposite bank and on, on toward the barns where it had been reared.
The Guide saw it pass the gate-posts safely, then turned with a sigh ofrelief and hurried to join Nita, who was all alone when the incidenttook place.
"Oh, Miss Miller! what a queer ending to that talk!" breathed Nita,although she had not heard the drift of the conversation.
"Nita, let this incident prove to you that the Great Spi
rit will helpand protect you in every way if you will only try to do your part andremain obedient to His loving ways. I was pondering how to get rid ofyoung Everton and save you from any unpleasantness at the same time,when the matter was taken out of my hands entirely and disposed of byOne who knows!"
The incident made a deep impression on all of the girls, and the walkwas continued in silence for a time.
The birds and bees and gay butterflies, however, soon loosened theirtongues and by the time the mountain was reached they were as happy asever.
As they crossed a glade on the mountain side, the Guide heard afamiliar buzzing from the direction of an old burnt-off stump of ahollow tree. She crept toward it softly, and held up a warning hand forthe girls to keep quiet. They tip-toed after her quietly, and when shesmiled they wanted to know what was the trouble.
"A wild-bees' nest in that tree! From the noise, I should say it wasa large one, getting ready to leave and swarm. If only we had a hivehere, we might get it! However, we will get the honey-comb when thebees come out and that will be a treat!"
"How can you tell when they're out?" asked Zan.
"When they swarm they always leave the comb. If they fly to anothertree this home will be left alone," said Miss Miller.
"Miss Miller, I'm so anxious to start bee-culture that I'm wiling torun back and bring a hive here!" exclaimed Jane.
"Let me go with her to help?" cried Zan.
"Isn't it too far girls?" wondered the Guide.
"No--we'll hurry Bill into hooking up Cheokee to his light buck-boardand drive back with the hive, across the path we just came by. Fromthere to this place is not far!"
"Well, all right! Then we'll wait here and watch where the bees fly!"said the Guide, but the two girls had already left the place.
The girls sat down to wait and watch while the Guide explained manypeculiarities of bees. In an incredibly short time Bill came back withthe hive, the girls following with a wire mask and gloves and a tin pan.
Miss Miller was amazed at their return and Zan said, laughing at theirfaces "We met Mr. Hamilton drivin' to Bill's house. He wanted to buysome of Bill's leghorn hens, so we caught a ride all the way home.While Bill got the hive and tools we hooked up the horse and here weare!"
"An' just in time, too! Them bees is goin' t' swarm right clost by,Miss Miller, 'cause th' Queen is hangin' round that tree like as if shedidn't want t' let go of it!" said Bill.
And so it proved. The queen soon fluttered away and circled about theglade for a few moments, then settled on a low-hanging bough of wildcherry tree. Instantly, a mass of buzzing, living creatures settledabout her and the swarm was on--full blast!
When it had been successfully hived and the girls drew a long breathonce more, Bill cracked his hands together in token of congratulationfor himself.
"That's th' neatest job I ever did on bees! Not a single mishap, andth' queen in that as happy as can be!"
The hive was very carefully taken to the buck-board and two of thegirls jumped up in the back to steady it on the way to camp, for Billsaid it must not be jostled in the least.
The hive was placed just below the Bluff where the sun shone warmlyupon it, and the rocks sheltered it from storms. The mass of honeytaken from the hollow tree was placed in the pan and carried back, theother two girls and Miss Miller taking turns in carrying it.
A new interest thus created made the next week fly on wings, and theBand found to their chagrin and deep concern that September was fastapproaching when they must break camp and return to the city.
"Oh, Miss Miller I shall never be able to breathe indoors again!"wailed Zan.
"And to think of wearing corsets and heeled shoes again! Oh, girls,what shall we do after this freedom!" added Jane, woefully.
"Oh, Miss Miller! do you remember the day we took our _coup_ for thewalking within the hour--how Nita had to sit down and take off herhigh-heeled slippers, rub her feet and go back in the wagon with you!"and Elena laughed at the memory.
"It wasn't so funny that day, Elena, but I've learned lots of thingssince then, and won a walking _coup_, too!" laughed Nita.
"And I noticed that you never wore those high-heeled slippers again!"added Zan.
"And never expect to again! I've found out what solid comfort I havemissed in wearing freak shoes instead of sensible ones!" commented Nita.
All these things pleased Miss Miller immensely, for she saw permanentgood in the summer's work. But one of the unlooked-for results of thecamp that summer was revealed just before the Band prepared to pack up.Mrs. Sherwood came up one day and said, with tears in her eyes, how shewould miss the happy family on the Bluff.
"Why," said she, turning to the Guide, "even Bill and me tried yournew-fangled idee of sleepin' on'y we pulled our bed out on the porch.And say, Miss Miller, it really air fine, ain't it!"
"Do you mean to say that you have been sleeping out of doors, and neverwon a _coup_!" cried Zan, laughing.
"I don't know what your coo means, but I know we both like the nicesweet air of summer nights!" said Mrs. Sherwood.
"Do you still sleep on feathers?" asked the Guide.
"Naow, that's anuther queer thing! The first nights the featherbed wasall right! Then Bill began squirmin' and sayin' it was too heatin'.Then I felt the same way, so we took it off one night and slept a heapbetter on the mattrass. Sense that, we've ben usin' th' plain mattrass!"
"Stick to it, and never go back to feather-beds, Mrs. Sherwood, andyou'll feel a hundred percent better this winter," advised the Guide.
"Bill said somethin' 'bout your sayin' I ought to git rid of my stiffjoints, an' d'ye know, girls! Sense I have hed to climb up an' downthis hill so much every day, I reely am feelin' limber again! I'mshore I tuck off at least twenty pounds extra fat durin' this summer!"exclaimed the simple woman, gladly.
"My! That is some reducer! It ought to be advised to city folks whospend money on massage and Turkish baths!" laughed Hilda, while some ofthe girls thought to themselves that Mrs. Sherwood could lose anotherfifty pounds and not miss it.
The day before the Band planned to start back to the city, a lettercame from the doctor saying that a whole Tribe of girls were anxiouslyawaiting the arrival of the Band of Wickeecheokee girls, each one eagerto plead to be taken in the Band for the winter work.
Miss Miller laughed at the picture drawn by the doctor, and Zan pouted.
"We won't have half the fun when a lot of others are in with us!"complained Jane.
"Oh, yes, we will! The more the merrier! You have had such a nice timethis summer, that you feel there can never be another as good. And, ofcourse, twenty girls would be too many for the Bluff or the Farm," saidthe Guide.
"Why don't you think we shall come here again next summer?" askedElena, sadly.
"Wait till you hear of the plan Dr. Baker and I have for the Tribe. Youwill be so far advanced in Woodcraft by that time that you will want tobroaden out and follow after some of the big achievements planned bythe Head Council in New York. Even this winter, you will often thinkof this summer and smile at the childish fears and foibles!" said MissMiller, smiling.
Those last days a general washing had taken place. All the canvas,bedding, clothing and other things were washed in the stream just belowthe willow, Mrs. Sherwood assisting in all of the work. Toward eveningBill's horse was brought up and the Guide's patent cradle was used tocarry the camp outfits back to the barn. It had been decided to storeall tents and camping things on the farm until the next summer, so itspared Miss Miller a great deal of trouble.
The Bluff was finally left as free of any camp-signs as it had beenbefore the Band arrived, all excepting the log cabin which had beencompleted and stood as a strong memorial of some girls' persistenteffort and ideals.
And Miss Miller said, "No good Woodcrafter ever left a camp-spot in adisorderly condition. It must be vacated and left in as neat and cleana manner as Nature provided it."
Wickee was going back to the city with Zan and live at her house, butCheokee wa
s to be sent back to pasture on the Hamilton farm. It seemedas if the dear old horse knew the time for his friends' departure wasnigh, for all the night previous to their leaving, he whinnied as hestood with his head over the lower half of the barn-door, watchingevery movement of the girls as they went in and out of the house.Finally, Zan said she could not stand Cheokee's mourning any longer,so she took Wickee with her and went up and had a long talk with thefaithful old horse. Wickee was told to remain and keep Cheokee companythat night, and she came out closing the barn door behind her.
Early the following morning, Bill drove up to the porch and placed thebaggage in the wagon under the front seat, while the girls ran aboutsaying good-bye to every corner and tree near the house.
"Oh, it doesn't seem like two months since we got out of this verywagon, does it?" sighed Nita, as they were driven through the stonegate-posts on the way to the train.
"No, and really, not very much has happened, has there?" said Jane,wonderingly.
"Not as men reckon happenings, dear. But the greatest of all happeningsactually was experienced by each one of you, and that was, that youeach have learned to know yourself and to make the most of all the goodthat the Great Spirit gave you to enjoy!" said the Guide, softly.
"Amen to that, says I!" came from Bill, in emphatic tones that made thesorrowful Band smile again.
THE END
FOOTNOTES:
[A] Author's childhood home.
[B] See "Birds Through the Year" by Albert Field Gilmore.