The Woodcraft Girls at Camp
CHAPTER TWO
CHOOSING A CAMP SITE
Boxes were shipped, tents and cots had been sent, and the hundred andone last items always remembered on the day of departure had beenattended to, when Miss Miller met her five charges at the PennsylvaniaTerminal, where they expected to take a train to reach the junctionin New Jersey. At Junction they would have to change and take a localtrain before arriving at the insignificant station ten miles fromWickeecheokee Farm.
As the train whizzed by well-cultivated farms, magnificent estates,and later, through beautiful, wooded hills, fertile valleys, and oversparkling waters, the bevy of eager girls exclaimed delightedly atevery new scene. A recent shower had cleared the atmosphere, and theverdure shone a brilliant green in the bright sunshine. Birds soaredhigh above tree-tops, singing joyously, while cattle moved leisurely,grazing over the pastures seen in passing.
"Oh, my, but it feels good to be out of the hot dusty city!" sighedJane, leaning back in the seat and inhaling the fragrant air.
"Yes, I can actually think--away from trolleys and rumble of trucks,"added Zan, pensively.
"That's a novelty for you!" teased Hilda, smiling.
"I can hardly believe my eyes! It seems too good to be true--a wholesummer with no one to pester you about sickness!" said Elena, withrelief expressed on her face.
Miss Miller smiled, but she wondered what the mothers would thinkif they but knew how glad their girls were to get away from naggingfoolish worry. How much better to recognise in each girl of their age acertain amount of responsibility for themselves, and guide by exampleor suggestion, instead of demands or coercion.
"Next station is Junction--change cars for all stops on the RahwayRiver branch!" shouted a brakeman from the platform.
"So soon! Why, it doesn't seem like an hour and a half, does it?"exclaimed Zan.
"Why, no! I thought we were only half way there!" replied Miss Miller,as the girls hastily gathered their baggage together.
The party hurried off, and across the platform to a waiting local trainon a side-track. The engine and coaches were old-fashioned, the windowssmall and set high from the floor. The girls laughed at the sight ofsuch cars, and climbed up the high narrow steps to the platform.
Farmers constituted the majority of the passengers and the city girlswere amused at the different types presented before them.
"Girls, let's open these windows immediately! Mercy, how _can_ any onesit in these stuffy cars with the crevices all stopped to prevent abreath of fresh air entering!" exclaimed Miss Miller, impatiently.
The girls laughed, for it was one of the teacher's pet theories thatplenty of fresh air never injured anybody.
The farmers looked askance, however, when the pleasant air circulatedthrough the car and drove forth the obnoxious odours.
Many of the travellers left the train at small way-stations and MissMiller's party had the car all to themselves during the last few milesof the ride. Zan recognised the land-marks that showed her they werealmost through with their journey, and she ordered the girls to getready to leave the car.
Bill Sherwood had been notified that the party would arrive at noon,and had his team and farm-wagon waiting at the station when thewould-be campers jumped down and looked about in high spirits. Zanintroduced each one to Bill, while the latter grinned and held hispalmetto hat circling in his toil-hardened hands.
Straw had been piled in the bottom of the wagon and the girls werelifted over the great wheel and dropped into the soft straw. MissMiller was accorded the distinction of sitting on the high spring seatbeside the driver. She held her breath in trembling and grasped theedge of the rocking seat whenever Bill turned a corner or gave way to apassing vehicle on the narrow road.
The drive over the hills was beautiful and Bill pointed out variousspots along the road and explained the value of soil, herbage, andtrees.
After seven or eight miles had been covered, the horses began ascendinga steep hill well-timbered.
"When we get to the top of this climb you will get one of the loveliestviews we have about here," said Zan.
"Yes'm," assented Bill, "and there's where you kin spy th' farm, too."
"Then we must be almost there," ventured Miss Miller, whose seat on theloose spring board was anything but comfortable.
"No'm, not by four mile more. The gent what ust t' own th' farm aforeth' doctor got it, ust t' say, 'Bill, this air th' longes' four mileI ever hope t' travel!'" and Bill chuckled to himself as the teamstrained at the haul up the steep road.
Long before the travellers reached the farm every one was stiff andglad enough to jump out of the wagon. But Bill warned them to wait yeta while longer--he had pictured to himself the grand manner in which hewould sweep between the two stone posts and flourish his whip as thewagon rolled up to the front porch. To permit the girls to jump outprematurely, would spoil his pleasure.
Having accomplished his ambition, he stood by the horses and grinnedwhile the visitors exclaimed at everything they saw.
"What a gem of an old house!" cried Miss Miller.
"And that grand old oak in front--just see how far its branches sweepover the lawn!" cried Jane.
"Look, girls! Look! The original 'old oaken bucket that hangs in thewell!'" sang Hilda, as she saw Zan at the long sweep that worked thebucket.
"It surely is lovelier than anything I ever dreamed of," sighed Elena,her artistic sense, for once, gratified.
Groups of fruit trees, some squat and thick, some tall and slender,vied with elms, maples, oaks, and beech trees, in giving beauty andshade to the grounds about the house. Some distance back of the housestood a group of barns, sheds, and a tool-house. The grassy spacebetween was laid out in a croquet ground and tennis courts. Directlyback of the out-buildings was a fine kitchen garden and small-fruitbushes and vines. The narrow strips dividing the vegetable patches werea mass of blossoming old-fashioned perennials. The fragrance waftedfrom stocks, sweet-peas, petunias, pansies and other flowers, attractedbees and honey-birds of every species common in Jersey.
"Rickon you'se ain't sorry t' git 'ere?" laughed Bill.
"Indeed we're not! Travelling all day is as tiresome as working allday," admitted Miss Miller, taking her bag from the back of the wagon.
"Wall, I'll be goin' on t' th' little house, but I'll be on hand efyuh need me fur anything," said Bill, after he had deposited all thebaggage on the porch of the house.
"We're going to sleep indoors to-night and start our camp in themorning, so the only thing we might need will be some milk and butter,"said Miss Miller.
"I put two quarts o' milk an' a pound o' butter, an' a dozen o' eggs,in th' ice-chest that stan's in th' back porch," explained Bill, stillhesitating.
"Ice! Do you have ice here?" wondered Jane.
"Shure! Th' doctor built a small ice-house th' fust year he hed th'place an' we cuts enough ice from th' pond to fill it every year. Th'pond is fine spring water, y' know, an' th' ice is clear as crystal,"explained Bill.
"That's what Wickeecheokee means, you know,--Crystal Waters. Of course,it's an Indian name that Daddy found in some old archives kept in theCounty Hall at the Junction," said Zan.
"We've taken your word for Crystal Waters but I haven't seen a drop ofit so far except what was drawn from the well," laughed Miss Miller.
"Plenty of it when th' Spring freshets come down Old Baldy," chuckledBill, climbing up to the wagon seat.
"Going home, Bill?" asked Zan, as the farmer gathered up the reins."Well, thanks, ever so much, for coming for us, and remember me to yourwife. Tell her we'll be over there soon," said Zan.
"Oh, that reminds me, Bill, I brought a little present for you and thewife--wait a moment until I open my bag!" exclaimed Miss Miller, goingto the porch and taking two packages therefrom.
"Mighty much obliged, ma'am!" said Bill, doffing his wide-brimmed hat,obsequiously.
As soon as the girls were alone Zan unlocked the front door ofthe house and ushered her companions inside a long living-room.
Achimney-piece embraced seven feet of space just opposite the door andthe wide cavern of brick fire-place presented a cheery picture to onewho could imagine its blaze and crackle of hickory logs while sparks,and tongues of flame, leaped up the chimney on a frosty night!
The girls examined books and pictures while Miss Miller went intoraptures over the old mahogany settee, the tilting table, real Sheratonbookcase and chairs, and a Boston rocker. She tried each in turn, thenspied a grand-father's clock in the corner, and marvelled at the oldwooden works which were strung with cat-gut.
Zan laughed at the different expressions of surprise on her guests'faces, and when the teacher drew forth an inlaid sewing-table,exclaiming at the beauty of the lines, she explained: "Muzzer loves toride about the country collecting old furniture. Dad made all mannerof fun at first, but he, too, caught the germ, and now he will go formiles when he hears of some old family that is scattered and wishesto sell out. The boys and I have stood on the porch and doubled overlaughing at the spectacle Dad and Muzzer have made, trying to drivethrough the gateway while a long carved post of an old mahoganybedstead stuck fast between the gate-posts!"
"What a shame it is to hide these really precious pieces down here! Ilove antique furniture when it is good and genuine, and I could almostcry to think no one ever sees these!" said the teacher, examining aColonial Connecticut spindle chair.
"Oh, but we do! And now, you are enjoying them, too!" laughed Zan."Just come out to the dining-room if you want to see some real stuff!"
An old Colonial side-board, a massive round table, six Chippendalechairs in excellent condition, and a linen-press, gave Miss Millerstill further cause to exclaim. The entire scheme was most harmonious,for old braided mats lay upon the wide-boarded floors, wall-paper wasof the quaint old-fashioned pattern, and a genuine Franklin heaterstood in the corner in case of cool weather. A few logs thrown into itsvast cavern, soon took the chill from the pleasant dining-room, Zanexplained.
"I am afraid I shall prefer to stay here instead of going to the camp,Zan," ventured Miss Miller, ruefully.
"Then, you'd best sleep on the lawn to-night, for the bed-rooms presentstill further temptations!" laughed Zan.
The four girls had gone out of the side-door to see what adventureswere to be found in the back-gardens, but at this point they ran in allduly excited, so the subject of antiques was abandoned until later.
"Oh, just think! Nita found a rabbit scuttling away. It disappeareddown a hole!" cried Hilda.
"Come and see! Hurry up, Miss Miller!" added Nita.
Zan followed the girls, explaining the presence of the rabbit. "Theboys started several warrens last summer. One is in the woods, one inthe rear garden, and the other is over by the falls."
"I think I'd like to visit the river and falls, Zan, and judge forourselves of the truth of the kodak picture!" said the teacher.
"Maybe some one's hungry--and the walk over to the woods takes sometime," hinted Zan, looking at the others.
"Oh, we had plenty to eat on the train, and we can finish oursandwiches when we get back," answered Jane, eagerly. So the luggagewas left on the porch where it had been placed by Bill, and a noisygroup started off.
Over springy turf, under shady trees, climbing low walls that dividedpastures from grain-fields, these city-bred girls went shouting fromvery exuberance of spirits.
At the farthest side of a buckwheat field stood a beautiful grove ofmaples. Zan headed straight for this grove and jumped the stone wallthat enclosed the field.
"Hallo! The ground's full of springs! That means we'll have lots of sapnext Spring!" said she, smacking her lips.
"Sap! What kind of sap?" asked the girls curiously.
"Why, maple sap, you ninnies! Didn't you know this was a sap-bush?"laughed Zan, looking at her companions to assure herself that they werein earnest.
"I never heard of a sap-bush! I don't see any bushes!" retorted Nita.
"Ha-ha-ha! It's these maples that give us the sap for maple-sugar.I bet there's lots of maple-sugar in the house this very minute. Wealways come here for a few days when the farmers boil the sap down.It's one of the sports of having a farm."
"Zan, you're a lucky girl! Not one of us ever had the chance of havingall you have had!" murmured Jane.
"I just guess your folks could have had ten farms if you had wantedthem, but you and your brother always wanted to go to fashionableplaces!" retorted Zan, truthfully.
They had reached the snake-fence that separated the maple grovefrom the woodland, and Zan immediately started climbing over thesimple-looking barrier. She soon hopped off on the other side andturned to watch the others surmount the difficulty.
"What a queer-looking fence--why do they have two rows of rails?" askedElena, while the others tried to reach the top rail.
"Dear me! how did you get over so easily, Zan?" called Nita, whoconstantly rolled back at each step.
"Ha-ha! it's a trick fence!" laughed Zan, doubling over with enjoymentat the different poses the girls were forced to take while theystruggled with loose poles that _would_ roll over.
Miss Miller stood on the ground and studied the problem for severalmoments. Then her face expressed understanding and she tried again.This time she did not lean her weight on the upper part of her body asshe grasped the loose rails, but balanced on her feet, merely using hergrasp above to steady her in climbing.
In a few seconds she reached the top rail, where there was no otherhold. She had a choice of two ways: lay down on the length of top-railand crawl down the other side or jump clear from a height of six feet.She chose the latter.
"How did you do it?" cried several voices.
Miss Miller laughed and joined Zan, who whispered, "You should havemounted at the cross-posts. See what a fine hold that gives you whenyou reach the top?" and Zan demonstrated her words by climbing back.The girls watched closely and, as Zan returned slowly for theirbenefit, they endeavoured to imitate her.
"Might as well overcome the first obstacle now as later--you'll findplenty of snake-fences to cross in the country," said Zan.
Nita and Hilda soon found the secret of balancing on the rolling poles,but Elena and Jane had several tumbles before they could scramble over.
A foot-path led through the woods and soon the girls heard the sound offalling water.
"That must be the river!" exclaimed Nita, eagerly.
"No, you hear the water of the Falls. I'm taking you to the Blufffirst. We can stand there and see the pool, the stream above theFalls and the slope that goes down to the Big Bridge. We called theFalls 'Wickeecheokee Falls' and the stream,--which really is only acreek--'Wickeecheokee River,'" replied Zan.
In a short time the eager adventurers came to a clearing in the woodsand stood still admiring the scene presented.
Just before them, a rocky ledge projected over the Falls about ten feetabove the lower level of the water. The Falls were only six feet fromtop to bottom, where the water formed a lovely pool. On the oppositebank, the ground rose gradually to about five feet above the water,and this bank was thickly carpeted with moss and bitter-sweet vines.The woods began with a close array of trees a few feet back from thestream, the straight timber presenting a dauntless front to the miteswho stood gazing at them in admiration.
The Bluff, as Zan said the ledge of rock was called, extended from theFalls back forty feet to the pathway, finally burying itself under mossand thick grass, just where the girls stood. Above the Falls the groundrose gradually at first, then abruptly, with great boulders of rockjutting forth here and there. The swift-running stream cleft throughthe steep sides, thus forming a miniature canyon, and, where the rockshung over the water, masses of lichen, arbutus, and creepers suspendedin a tangled riot. The skyline was entirely hidden by the thick growthof forest trees.
The sweep downward from the Falls to the bridge had been cleared ofundergrowth so that the view presented--fields of buttercups anddaisies in the foreground and Bill Sherwood's farm-land and cottage bythe road that ran over the
Big Bridge--was a most decided contrast tothe wild beauty of the woods and cliffs.
"Well!" sighed some of the girls, "No wonder Zan wanted to camp here!"
"Isn't it beautiful! It is more like an artist's ideal than actuality!"added Miss Miller.
"Daddy purchased the place from a well-known American artist,"explained Zan, enjoying the appreciation of her friends.
"I don't see how he could bear to part with it--I would want to livehere always!" added Miss Miller.
"I say that we choose the Bluff for our camp-site!" cried Nita, goingover to the Falls.
"It certainly would be a splendid spot!" added some of the others.
"Well, we'll decide that later--I see Zan wants us to continue," saidMiss Miller, as their guide crossed the stream by means of great flatstones.
"The boys and I made this stone crossing--and maybe we didn't havelame backs for a week after we carried these boulders!" said Zan,reminiscently.
For a full hour more, the city girls climbed steep hillsides orstumbled down wild ravines, stubbing toes on hidden rocks and catchingunprotected hair in swinging branches, until all began to feel thefatigue of unused muscles and the effect of hard shoes on mother earth.When Miss Miller suggested supper, every one turned face homewardwithout a regret.
"We will have our ready-made supper that I brought with me in a box,and Zan can find the milk that Bill Sherwood left in the ice-chest,"said Miss Miller, as they entered the cool living-room again.
"And I'll go down cellar and fetch some preserves--mother said we coulduse all we wanted," added Zan.
"O-oh! goody! just think of it--home-made preserves!" said Nita.
"We'll set the table, Zan, if you show us where to find the dishes, andshow us the ice-chest. Nita can go down to help you with the preserves,if you like," said Miss Miller, unpacking a large pasteboard box filledwith sandwiches, cake and fruit.
Before supper was quite ready the twilight had fallen, making itnecessary to have a light.
"My gracious! I never gave a thought as to light! I am so accustomedto pushing the button and having light, that I quite forgot we had noelectricity out here," laughed Miss Miller.
"Oh, pshaw! I forgot, too! I just hate to clean lamps and fill themwith kerosene--your hands smell so dreadfully forever afterward!"grumbled Zan.
The other girls laughed but then they had never cleaned lampwicks norhad coal-oil soaked into the pores of their hands!
Zan pouted but made no move to find the lamps. Miss Miller felt sorry,for she knew how unpleasant the task could be, so she began to say,"Zan, I'll----" when she suddenly stopped.
She quickly left the room and went out on the porch to admire the softtones of approaching grey in the night-sky.
"What's the matter?" exclaimed Zan, running after the teacher.
"Why, nothing, dear! I thought I would wait here until you had thelamps ready," returned Miss Miller, keeping a serious face withdifficulty.
"Oh, dear!" sighed Zan, reminded of the distasteful work.
As the four other girls had absolutely no knowledge of lamps and theiraccessories, they could not be expected to offer to attend to them. Zanturned to the teacher and ventured, "I think we can use candles forto-night!"
Miss Miller looked at her charge out of the tail of her eye and bit herlips to keep from laughing.
"I'll go and hunt up some candles. Mother keeps them on the stone ledgeof the cellar," sighed Zan, getting up from the step where she hadmomentarily sat down.
"Of course, I have no jurisdiction over you yet, as we have notformally organised a Lodge, but I know this much!" said Miss Miller,with decision in her voice; "I would not permit one of my Band toshirk a _duty_ if it presented itself, no matter how disagreeableit appeared to be. Cleaning or filling kerosene lamps is not just_cleaning and filling lamps for material use_. Don't you know that,Zan?"
Zan looked up at her teacher in blank astonishment and her lips partedas if to speak, but she was silent for a moment.
Miss Miller watched her and waited.
"Why, what under the sun would we use lamps for if it were not forlight?" exclaimed Zan, finally.
"Oh, as to the use of lamps--that is another thing. Yes, even aninanimate lamp fulfils its purpose well, doesn't it?"
Zan stared off into the darkness and pondered this.
"I se-ee!" whispered Zan, after a silent pause of some moments. "MissMiller, I thank you!" and she ran indoors singing.
"Thank goodness, I didn't spoil that opportunity by offering to lookafter the lamps!" breathed Miss Miller, gratefully, to the Principle ofright living.
Zan not only worked out her dislike for kerosene that very night, butshe cleaned so many of the small glass lamps that the supper tablewas a twinkling circle of lights. As the girls sat about thoroughlyenjoying the first meal in the country, Zan proved to be the gayest ofthe party. Several times she met the smile in Miss Miller's eyes andfelt well rewarded for learning her first lesson in Woodcraft--even ifit was the overcoming of distaste of a given duty!
The four other girls were appointed dish-washers but Jane demurred."It's so dark and we're tired--why can't the dishes wait for morninglight!"
"The morning has work of its own--any one who would eat must earn! Youmay leave the dishes till morning if you choose but then there will beno breakfast for that one who shirks!" said Miss Miller, a suggestionof authority in her tones.
"But we're out for fun! We don't want to _have_ to do things unless wefeel like it," argued Jane.
"I suppose you will say, 'the horrid old thing! She's just as mean asshe used to be at school,' if I insist and teach you why a task must bedone at the time given," ventured Miss Miller.
Jane flushed uncomfortably for she had entertained a faint suggestionof just such a thought about the teacher. But she looked bravely backat the smiling eyes and declared, "No indeed! I wouldn't be so rude asto say such a thing!"
"Did you girls ever stop to consider the power of our thoughts?" askedMiss Miller, beginning to pile the dishes up on a tray.
The girls, sitting comfortably about the table, looked questioningly ather.
Miss Miller had reached the side of the table where Jane's disheswaited. She took up the plate but leaned upon the high back of Jane'schair and continued to speak in a conversational voice.
"Here's something for all of you to experiment on now! See if any oneof you can speak, act, or move a certain part of the anatomy, or evenbreathe, without first thinking the thing!"
Miss Miller stood waiting while the girls sat and gave their attentionto the suggestion. After a few minutes of silence, Nita exclaimed, "Howqueer! I never thought of that before!"
"But, Miss Miller, we do not have to _think_ to breathe! My lungs do_that_!" cried Zan, her education along medical lines showing in herwords.
"Well, much of our physical action is all unconscious on account ofgenerations of habit. But let one part of the organism fail to act, andsee what ensues! Now, I have tried to learn how to allow my thoughtsto take the helm of steering my human ship, and not let the differentparts of my body control _me_. You see the ME of myself is not inbones, blood, or muscles. Neither is it to be found in my heart, brain,or any local part of this human temple. The ME is my right and abilitygiven by God to express MYSELF. The only way I have found to do thisbest is by _thinking right_!"
Miss Miller paused to look around at the faces and see what impressionher words had made. Each girl expressed interest; Nita incredulity, Zanamazement, Hilda keen delight, Elena vaguely reaching out for more,Jane intelligent understanding.
"What has all this to do with washing dishes?" asked Nita.
"I am leading up to that; I wish this Band to start at the verybeginning to do things right. To do this, we must not do anythingthoughtlessly, so the action of our thought on everything about usought to be thoroughly understood. Anxious thought always producesundesirable effects, just as good, optimistic ones produce harmonyand happy results. If one spends anxious thought on the body, or anypar
ticular function of the physical organism, that part feels theeffect of the quality of thought and responds accordingly."
"But, Miss Miller, you just said we ought to think of our breathing andwalking and acting--now you say our thoughts will interfere with thoseactions!" wondered Elena.
"Perhaps you did not quite get the meaning of my words, dear. I meantto convey to you that no action of the body could take place withoutYOU--the thinking part of you. When a dead body cannot move, or speak,or breathe, it is not due to anything lacking in bones, flesh, ormuscles--they are just the same as in life. It is because the thoughtthat operates and controls the temple is gone. Because functions ofthe body operate mechanically in response to your thought, I say,_let_ them work freely and without interference just as long as theywork harmoniously. But do not give any cause for action to be impeded.Never permit fear to enter your thought, as that instantly clogs themachinery of the body. Never waste valuable thought in wondering how tobeautify your face, massaging for wrinkles, or leanness or flesh. Thatonly makes matters worse, for instantly your thought carries its effectto the parts you worry over. Let good health and simple living bringabout the desired results, and they will be lasting. But girls, I didnot intend to give you all this preaching the first night, only I hadto correct Jane's tendency to think wrong about dish-washing."
"Now, Miss Miller, how evasive!" laughed Jane, thinking the teacher wasjoking. "Dish-washing had nothing to do with your theory on thinking."
"Surely you can't expect me to continue the harangue!" returned MissMiller, starting for the kitchen with a pile of dishes.
"I want to have you apply the lesson to my particular failure to thinkright about dish-washing!" laughed Jane, eagerly.
"Yes, yes! We all want to hear just how you can do it!" added the othergirls.
"Why, just this, dears. We have had our food to nourish the body thatmust act at the suggestion of thought, and for this blessing we aregrateful; for a weak, or impoverished body does not respond to thecommand of thought, no matter how willing it may be to act. Afterfilling the receptacle for food one should not give way to lethargy--acommon fault and inclination. Lethargy forms fat and soft muscles!Express your thanks to your thought and the benefit food gives thebody, by obeying whatever dictates thought gives you for the perfectcirculation of conditions. The dish-washing is a natural sequence ofevents following supper. So, I interpret it that thought has thiswork for us to do which will be sufficient exercise for us after alight supper. The very sense of having _done_ with apparent duties forthe night, will give your thought a comfortable relaxation while yousleep. The nagging idea that some work has been slighted or postponed,even though you may not be conscious of its effect upon you, will,nevertheless, cause a mental shrinkage and this in turn will draw yourfacial muscles into knots, and also cause unpleasant dreams. One whoseeks repose with the sense of having completed all of the day's workwith as conscientious application as is possible to him, will alwaysfind perfect rest in a sleep that renews one's physical being."
"That's enough for one night!" cried Jane, laughingly, placing herhands over her ears and running out to the kitchen.
Miss Miller and the girls laughed as they followed. In less than aminute's time, Jane had a tin pan down on the table and was pouringhot water from a steaming kettle, over the soiled dishes which she hadpiled in the pan.
Every one was too tired and sleepy to sit on the porch and watch themoon rise over the hill, or listen to the hum of insects, so, providedwith a small lamp, each one stumbled up the steep narrow stairway tothe floor above.
Even Miss Miller's enjoyment at seeing old mahogany failed to rouseinterest in the carved four-posted beds, or high-boys, and thepatch-work quilts seemed merely a light covering for weary bodies,while the gaily colored mats before the beds acted for aching feet,the same purpose any ordinary mat might do.
There were four rooms on the second floor. Two large ones with doublebeds which were allotted to four of the girls. Zan took her own littleroom that had a window opening toward the moon, and Miss Miller tookthe other small room with a single bed in it. Just before the girlsdozed off, Miss Miller warned them again that the rising hour was fivein the morning.
With this last conscious advice all were soon asleep, some to roamin dreams over the hills and valleys, and some to float in mahoganyfurniture on the breast of the stream, enjoying the flowers and treesas they were swept past.