CHAPTER SIX
THE MUTINY OF NITA
Returning to the Bluff, Miss Miller directed the operations for thenight. Dinner was welcomed by all, as the bath and tramp through thewoods had created a voracious appetite.
"I will build a fire on the lower ledge of rock where the smoke won'tannoy us. In locating a spot for a fire-place it is always advisable tosee to the comfort of the camp, for the wind may veer at any time andblow the smoke into the faces of the campers. If you can find a placewith a natural shield to act as a screen, you obviate this disagreeablefeature."
The girls stood about watching the Guide arrange her fire implements.She looked up and, seeing them unoccupied, said, "Zan, suppose you andNita run to the house for the pans we left in the cupboard. Jane andElena will go down to Bill's for a loaf of bread, won't you, dears?Hilda can help me with the fire."
"Dear me! Miss Miller, why don't you send some one besides me with Zan?I am too tired!" whined Nita, peevishly.
"I have spoken, but you girls can act as you see fit!"
"All right, then; Zan, you take Hilda with you and I'll help MissMiller," replied Nita.
Miss Miller began picking out the driest leaves and twigs while thegirls stood uncertain of how to act.
"Well, why don't you start?" cried Nita to Zan.
"Waitin' for you!" said Zan laconically.
"Why, Hilda's going with you--I'm going to stay!"
"I must be rattled then, for I sure heard Miss Miller say that you andI were to go to the house," returned Zan, sitting down on a stone.
"But I am too tired and so Hilda's going with you." And Nita began togrow irritable.
"Miss Miller is Guide and I was elected Big Chief by all of you. Nita,you're Little Chief and in my absence you have to take my place. Now,I'm goin' down to Bill's and see if I can find any more strawberriesfor supper, and so I shall have to let you take my place going to thehouse. You can select any one of the other girls you want to go withyou," said Zan, with finality.
Miss Miller had to bend low over the wood pile to keep her face frombeing seen. In fact, she had to hold her hand so close over her mouththat her face was crimson. Zan, without a backward look, started off ata brisk trot down the slope toward Sherwood's cottage.
"Hold on, Zan, we're coming with you!" shouted Jane and Elena.
That left Hilda standing sulkily watching her three friends while Nitawent inside the tent apportioned to her use. Hilda turned to the Guideand caught a glimpse of her face. With a smile creeping into her ownface she ran over to Miss Miller.
"Aren't you awful mad?" wondered Hilda.
"No, dearie, this is just what I expected when I suggested that Nitaaccompany Zan on the walk. It is merely another 'dish-wash' lesson inanother form, but Nita hasn't had it applied to her individual need asZan and Jane have. If she rises bravely to the call she will have herblessing hereafter."
"Oh, Miss Miller, how clever you are! I hope I will 'rise' to my callwhen it comes!" sighed Hilda, her admiration shining from her eyes.
The Guide laughed merrily as she replied, "I would rather no one elseheard of my little plot--just keep it a secret!"
"I will, indeed, I will!" promised Hilda eagerly. Then, "What had Ibetter do--help you at camp or go to the house?"
"Well, you see it is this way. I am only Guide. I tell you what Ithink ought to be done and Zan, as Big Chief, orders the camp. Shehas exactly the right idea of government and she will make a splendidorganiser some day. I am so pleased at the attitude she took just nowfor Nita is her friend and she did not permit personality to interferewith duty. I also am delighted to find how she grasps the meaning ofWoodcraft and hope this little lesson will prove beneficial to us all."
"Well, Zan said for Nita to take with her any of the girls she chose.Jane and Elena have gone to Sherwoods so Nita cannot choose any one butme."
"And has Nita gone?" queried the Guide, giving a look toward the tents.
"Why--n-oo!" returned perplexed Hilda. In another moment, however,light dawned and she smiled again. "I see! You will wait for Nita tomake the first move."
Miss Miller nodded her head affirmatively and knelt down on the rockwhere she intended building her fire. Hilda waited.
"Please hand me those two green logs, dear--just behind me," asked theGuide.
Hilda took up one log after the other and gave them to Miss Miller, whoplaced them carefully in position.
"Now, watch me, Hilda, and then you can see how to build a goodfire-place."
The logs were placed so that they formed a "V" with the wide part abouttwelve inches apart. As the logs were about three feet long and six toeight inches thick, their position left a three-cornered hollow between.
"Now those two forked saplings."
Hilda found the required articles which Miss Miller had cut down withthe hatchet on the tramp that afternoon. They were straight young treeswith the first branches forming the forks. The leaves and slendertwigs had been lopped off leaving a stick of about four feet in lengthand having two sharp forks at the top. These saplings Miss Miller nowchopped off at the bottom until she had formed a sharp spike on eachend. She carefully prodded with one until she found a crevice in therock where the point could enter. Then she bore down with all herstrength and drove the stick into the ground.
"Why, you've got it close to the point of the logs!" exclaimed Hildawonderingly.
The Guide laughed and took up the second sapling. This she drove into the soil at the opposite end of the logs. The forks were broadsideto the length of the logs. Next, a stout but supple willow twig wasselected from a small bundle, and laid across the top between the forks.
"Oh, my! Now I see what it is for!" cried Hilda, clapping her handsdelightedly.
The utter ignoring of her presence and the clapping of Hilda's handsproved too much for Nita's disposition and she came out of the tent andwalked down to the fire-place.
"What shall I do toward supper?" asked she sulkily.
"Oh, I thought Zan asked you to go to the house for her! Haven't youstarted?" asked Miss Miller in surprise.
Nita shrugged her shoulders and watched the interesting construction ofthe camp-fire.
"I'm too tired! Let Hilda go."
"But Hilda is helping me."
"Well, then let Zan go when she gets back. I'll start to spread atable-cloth on the flat rock over there shall I?"
"I really cannot change Zan's orders, you know. She is Big Chief, and Iam only Guide."
"That's all nonsense, Miss Miller, and you know it! You have the rightto order us to do just what you think best," snapped Nita.
"You're just a little bit mistaken about the law and order of aWoodcraft camp. Each one obeys!"
"Then Zan has failed!" exulted Nita. "She was told to go to thehouse and she went to Bill's instead. _I_ should have loved to pickstrawberries as well as she!"
"I hardly think you can call Zan's act one of disobedience. It wasrather one of discipline," remarked the Guide.
"Who did she pretend to discipline--me?" sneered Nita.
"That had best be asked each one of herself. I can ask myself andtruthfully say, "Yes, Zan has given me a good lesson in discipline formy future guidance.""
"Oh, pooh! You're only avoiding an unpleasant conversation with me! Iknow as well as any of you, that the whole plot is directed toward me.I wish to goodness I had never come with you!" And Nita flounced awayin a temper.
"Why! Nita!" gasped Hilda in consternation, as she watched theretreating figure of her friend.
"Don't 'Nita' me! You're as thick with the rest as you can be! I alwaysam selected to act as the scape-goat for anything you don't want to doyourself!" Nita flung back at Hilda.
The Guide kept on with the fire-building as if nothing had interruptedthe lesson Hilda was receiving. She selected the driest bark and twigsin the heap of wild-wood and heaped them loosely in the pit formed bythe two logs.
"Now, Hilda, you can fill the kettle from the spring up above here,and slip it ov
er the willow until it hangs in the centre over thefire-place."
"I never knew what fun a camp-fire could be! Will it burn, do youthink?"
Miss Miller laughed. "It wouldn't be a credit to me if it didn't!"
"But I can't see why you didn't lay the logs parallel?"
"I'll tell you. We have a small sauce-pan, a medium sized frying panand a rather large pot. Now, the small pan goes on the narrow end, thefrying pan on the centre where it fits, and the pot on the wider place.Then too, we can poke wood in and rake debris out of this wide mouthwhile the embers remain piled up at the corner inside. The judgmentin using green wood comes from experience. Green wood does not burn,but reflects the heat of a fire, so that you get concentrated heatfrom embers piled up in a pit surrounded by green logs. Also, the topof green wood will hold pans and pots firmer than stones will, and aslippery stove is anything but desirable when potatoes are boiling orfat sizzling in a frying pan."
"Here comes the three girls! And I haven't done anything toward thesupper," cried Hilda, running to the basket where the cutlery anddishes were kept.
"The loveliest berries, Miss Miller! Bill had some all ready for usand Mrs. Sherwood baked some of the dandiest biscuits when she did herown!" shouted Zan, as she climbed up the grade.
"How delicious they look!" exclaimed the Guide as she inspected thebrown dainties.
"What's that?" asked Elena, spying the camp-fire.
The girls ran over and Miss Miller had to demonstrate the interestingconstruction. This over, Zan looked about and asked, "Didn't Nita getback yet? But say, who went with her?"
Not a word came in reply and Zan immediately comprehended matters."I'll go now--will some one come with me?"
The two other girls offered and Hilda looked at Miss Miller. Foranswer, the Guide said, "Any two of you can help Zan. One will do forme."
"Let me stay now, Hilda, you were here when the fire-place was made,"begged Elena.
"Zan, I think it may be wiser to get what is absolutely necessaryto-night from Sherwood's. You have already done more than your share ofduty and another walk to the house and back is taxing the physical toomuch at present. A trip to the farmer's cottage will not over-tire anyof you," suggested Miss Miller.
The girls sighed with relief, and started for the slope. When theyreturned to the Bluff with the required articles, the camp-fire hadburned up and deposited a pile of red-hot embers in the pit to cookby. The potatoes were boiling noisily and a lump of butter was meltingin the pan. The cloth had been spread and Elena was hulling berries.
"Where's Nita?" Zan whispered to the Guide.
"In her tent. She has not appeared since her last display of temper."
"Had I better go and tell her supper will soon be ready?" queried Zan.
"No--leave her absolutely alone. If she comes out of her own accord,the humiliation of accepting food she refused to help prepare, ought tohumble her enough. But, Zan, to-morrow at our Council, we must speak ofdiscipline and take up the matter of punishment and fines as outlinedin the Manual. I had hoped this would be unnecessary in a small campsuch as ours seemed to promise. However, all future mutiny must beprovided for."
The supper ready, Miss Miller cheerily took her place and the fourgirls sat down about the cloth, leaving a vacancy where Nita shouldhave been.
Before any one had had time to take up their napkin Miss Miller spoke.
"One thing I consider of paramount importance in any circle, or alone.It is not obligatory to any of you, merely a suggestion. I am notaware of the religious belief of any of you and it is not necessary toinform me, or discuss it with each other. I have found that discussionof religious beliefs generally leads to a difference of opinions thateventually create a bitter strife. True religion has no enmity in itsteachings but produces harmony and happiness for all.
"I think that any one can find God by simply following the highestleading of their conscience. Gratitude to the Great Spirit is one ofthose leadings, but few take time to follow that light. I wish to askthat I be permitted to follow my sense of gratitude for all the goodbestowed this day, and before partaking of the evening meal, I willclose my eyes in silent prayer to the Giver of all my blessings. Eachone of you can do as you feel is right about this idea, but do notspeak or disturb any other's communion. In the morning, when we aregathered for breakfast, I shall ask for the same silent interval, togive gratitude for protection during darkness and sleep."
As she concluded, Miss Miller quietly closed her eyes and remainedabsolutely silent for several minutes. The girls looked at her and ateach other without saying a word, then one after another closed hereyes and also gave thanks to God.
The Guide opened her eyes and waited reverently for her companionsto finish their private thanksgiving and communion. Then, as all hadconcluded and opened their eyes again, she drew attention to a nearbytree by saying, "Hungry, Nita?"
Hiding, with a shame-faced expression in her eyes, Nita stood back of atree near the supper. She advanced at the question.
"Your place is waiting, dear," added the Guide.
With an air of bravado, Nita sat down and began telling of aboy-cousin who had visited in the Rocky Mountains and had built afire-place exactly like the one Miss Miller constructed.
The other girls seemed abashed at Nita's presence for a short time, butthe Guide replied to the girl's hurried talk and soon the others weredrawn into the general exchange of fun and story-telling.
"I'll wash the dishes," eagerly offered Nita, as the Guide rose tovisit the fire and see if the water was boiling.
"All right, Nita, then the three girls who did double duty by goingback and forth twice to Bill's can lay down on the moss and rest,"assented Miss Miller, and that was all that was said to Nita about herhabit of getting out of anything she was not inclined to do. The girlstook their cue from the Guide and rolled over on the grass and watched.
"Elena, after the cloth is shaken fold it carefully in the rightcreases. That keeps it smooth and tidy. If it is folded regardless ofironed folds, it soon looks mussy and soiled. I will take charge of theleft-overs from supper--thank goodness there isn't much--and Nita willwash and wipe the dishes."
The atmosphere of the camp resumed a serenity fully appreciated by all,for anger displayed by one made all wretched.
"Girls, we will try to get up at the hour we want to rise every morningthis summer--five o'clock. It is now seven-thirty. Whenever you areready to retire say so and we will sing a camp-fire lullaby," saidMiss Miller, as the girls sat about the dying fire too tired to talk.
"I'm ready for bed now," ventured Elena.
"I feel as stiff as anything! My back feels as if it would break!"added Hilda.
The Guide laughed. "That's from swimming. You'll soon get over it ifyou practice every day."
"I hope to goodness I _can_ swim to-morrow. The way I feel now, Ishould say I couldn't move in the water!" laughed Elena.
Nita said nothing but she must have felt as lame as the otherbeginners; as all seemed to long for bed, Miss Miller rose andsmothered the few red coals by covering them with dead grey ashes.
"Never leave a camp-fire with a spark of fire in it. At early dawn, orat least past midnight, fire always revives and, unless its flame hasbeen choked by outside means, it flares up and consumes anything in itsreach."
"Miss Miller, I wonder why it is that, without apparent fuel orfanning, fire will renew itself during the wee hours of the night!"exclaimed Zan.
"I never heard, but it is an interesting suggestion, Zan. We'll haveElena make a note of that in her book so that we will remember to askthat question at Headquarters when we visit there."
"Do you ever expect to see them?" asked Hilda, meaning the officers ofthe Woodcraft Indians.
"Why, certainly! Don't you?" returned Miss Miller.
"I didn't know but that we'd be a nuisance. So many members call, Isuppose," replied Hilda, with consideration.
"Hilda, that's very good of you. If every member was as thoughtful ofthe time of
the Founders, how much better it would be."
No one stirred that night, for every one was healthily tired and reposewas natural. Even Miss Miller set a small alarm clock to awake her atfive, for she thought she might over-sleep during the cool hours ofearly morning.
At five, the ringing of the alarm awakened every one; while the girlsyawned and wished it was midnight, the Guide jumped out of bed andlooked at the wonderful appearance of Nature. Dew-drops sparkled inthe rising sun, and the Falls sent forth a new note in its musicalrepertoire. Even the grey surface of rock seemed to be of warmer andsofter material than it had been in the twilight.
"Girls! Up--up--up! The day is glorious!" called the Guide.
"So is the bed!" returned Hilda, yawning aloud.
"I just heard a crow laughing at you!" retorted Miss Miller.
"'He who laughs last laughs best,' I've heard said!" came from asmothered voice in Hilda's tent.
By this time the girls were thoroughly aroused and soon the talkconsequent upon beginning a new day, came from the tents.
"Miss Miller, are you going to take a dip this morning beforebreakfast?" called Zan.
"No, I've already used the modern wash-basin by the creek," replied theGuide.
Nita and Elena came out and found Miss Miller brushing her hair beforea tiny mirror that had been hung from a stump of a bough near her tent.
"Where's the basin you spoke of?" asked Hilda, also coming out.
"Over there by that laurel bush: I think it is Tennessee marble--it isveined exactly like it," said the Guide.
The girls ran over laughingly and found a great round stone partly inthe water, and in the top of the stone, a nicely hollowed place aboutthe size of an ordinary wash-basin. At one side a tiny hollow made anadmirable soap-dish.
"How did you get water into it?" cried Nita.
"You'll find a tomato can near the bush!" replied Miss Miller.
"That's easy--but how under the sun did you empty out the waterafterward?" called Zan.
"I didn't carry the basin to the woods and turn it over, I assure you,"laughed Miss Miller; "I took a handful of dried moss and let it soakup the used water. You'll see how nicely it absorbs the moisture. Thentake a handful of clean moss and wash the basin out."
"You are too fastidious for me--I'll wash in the brook!" said Zan,comparing the amount of work necessary in using the rock-basin, to theeasier way of dipping in the creek.
"Guess we'll choose the brook!" said Hilda.
Miss Miller watched the five girls bending over and joyously splashingwater at each other, as well as over their own faces and necks, andthought to herself: "Yes, I took a lot of trouble to use that basin,but they will always remember that dry moss will soak up moisture if adry condition is required."
For breakfast that morning, the Guide mixed some batter for pancakes.The girls heard the beating of the spoon and gathered about curiously.
"Batter cakes, girls. I'll mix them this time, and one of you can watchthem bake. The others can look after other work. I'll prepare somecocoa, if you like."
"Oh, yes! We all like cocoa, Miss Miller," said Hilda.
"Here comes Bill Sherwood--he's got something!" announced Elena, whohad been standing on the rock above the fire.
The others craned their necks and Zan added, "Bet anything it'ssomething good to eat!"
And so it was. Bill bobbed his head smilingly to the girls and offeredMiss Miller a plate covered with a home-spun towel.
"The old lady fried some spring chicken for breakfast an' we said werickoned it might taste good t' yuh--so here it is!"
"Broiled chicken! But, Mr. Sherwood, you must allow us to reimburse youfor the chickens. It would not be right for us to eat your broilers!"said Miss Miller, deeply obliged.
"We likes t' make th' camp enjyable t' yuh all! Mebbe you'll gitstraightened out so's yuh kin prepare your own things pritty soon,"explained Bill.
"Why, we cooked supper last night--and a fine one it was," said Zan,pointing to the camp-fire.
Bill's lower jaw dropped and he stood staring at the novel cook-stove."Laws me! That beats th' Dutch!" ejaculated he.
The girls all laughed and he went over and watched the kettle singingand the batter cakes baking. "I'll have t' send my ole woman up t' seethese stunts!" said he, starting off again.
Batter cakes tasted fine with broiled chicken done to a crispy brown,and cocoa was just the right drink with which to conclude the jollybreakfast party.
Mrs. Sherwood had not yet visited the camp but she put in an appearancesoon after breakfast and Zan introduced her to all of those present.She inspected the fire-place and looked sceptically at the cots,saying, "How kin yuh rest on them hard things. Now, I have to havefeather beds all year 'round. And it's s'prisin' how my bones rest! Inever kin go visitin' where folks haven't feathers!"
Miss Miller felt a deep sympathy for the poor deluded woman, andwondered if it would be possible to convert her to the idea of using amattress and hair pillow in preference to feathers.
As their early visitor went back home, Zan said, "Fancy! feather-bedsin this enlightened age!"