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“It is, and has hidden in its fanciful pictures described, the story of the Adam creation, of the Fall of Man, the New Birth of a Saviour, and the final resurrection from the dead when evil has been thrown to earth. At least, that is what I found in it as I studied its text and realised how much was buried in the words,” replied Miss Miller.
“Miss Miller,” came from Zan warningly, “remember – I too have that book from the Smithsonian!”
The Guide laughed. “Well, what if you have?”
“I fear you will be drawn up to the black cloud by black magic unless you hasten to make amends for your deception,” threatened Zan.
“O Chief! I move that you tell us what evil deed the Guide has forced upon us!” cried Jane, watching the two eagerly.
“O Brothers – or in this case, I should say ‘O sistern,’ our hitherto revered Guide wove magic before your eyes as you did not know that her tale was but half the story in the book. Now I shall make strong medicine and you shall see the magic leave her in our power,” spoke Zan, in a thundering tone, meantime, weaving a spell in the air with her hands and fingers, to the amusement of the girls.
Miss Miller, laughing, knew Zan would give her no peace until she had accomplished her purpose – in this particular case, the conclusion of the legend. So she stood up and saluted.
“Ha! the medicine worked quickly, sistern!” laughed Zan, seating herself.
“The second half of this tale may be applied by each one here to some profit,” remarked Miss Miller, as a prelude to her legend.
“The day following the one the people had been returned to their homes and living, the boys found the little red feather in the dust where it had fallen when slashed down from the cloud.
“In great anger and spite they began to tear it to bits and throw the down hither and thither. When they could find no further evidence that the evil magic had once been powerful, they suddenly found themselves in a snow-storm.
“It snowed and snowed until everything was covered. It piled up everywhere – on houses, stalls, town, and trees – all were snowed under and no day-light could peep in at the air-holes or doorways.
“Then little sister, who had been sleeping a long time, awoke and got up. She heard the cries of her people who wanted air and light, and she knew she must make medicine to help them overcome the evil they had brought upon themselves through spite and mistaken punishment.
“So she made strong medicine and gave it to her brothers to rub on the door-posts. They did and the snow melted instantly so that they could breathe and see, but the snow still lay piled up in the streets and over the other houses. And it also covered the smoke-hole of their house so that no fire could burn to prepare the food. Still the snow fell and fell until it seemed that the doorway would again be blocked up.
“Then little sister called upon her mother for help, and together they made medicine and then called upon the birds to help.
“A blue jay soon flew over the smoke-hole of the house and dropped a ripe elder-berry down through the opening. As the berry touched the snow, the ice and sleet melted and soon vanished so that the roof was clear.
“Now little sister took the berry and wherever it touched ice or sleet or snow, the frozen magic melted and left off being.
“The blue jay flew over the other houses and dropped a berry down each smoke-hole. In many homes the berry was used as advised and these families were soon out of the ice and cold. In other places the people were too busy shoveling snow to bother with the blue jay’s berry and they remained frozen still. Some used the berry to melt a way out of the house and then wasted no more effort so the smoke-hole never worked right and nourishment was scarce.
“When the bird had dropped a berry down every smoke-hole it flew back to little sister’s home and said: ‘Now I must be on my way again. Who will come with me to visit heaven, where I go?’
“Most of the children were eager to go so they climbed upon the bird’s back or clung to his wings and feet until he came to the clouds where heaven was hidden away from earth-dwellers’ sight.
“Once in heaven, the blue jay flapped his wings and rolled the children off and told them he had to leave them for a short time to report what he had done on the earth.
“Left alone, the children walked about enjoying the novel sights, until one of the boys saw a djo’lgisniffing about. He threw a rock at the animal and stunned it, then he ran over and tore it to bits and scattered the fragments about, although the poordjo’lgi had not done anything to merit this cruelty.
“The children now felt hungry and said they would go and seek for something to eat, as the blue jay had failed to return to help them find bread.
“As they walked, they came to a house where a woman stood looking anxiously about as if in search for someone.
“The children drew near and she said: ‘Have you seen my child playing about?’
“And they answered: ‘We saw nothing but adjo’lgi and it we killed.’
“‘Oh, oh! You bad children! You have killed my child!’ cried the woman. Then she suddenly caught the children and pushed them in through the open door and when they were all in she turned and said, ‘Door, bolt yourself.’
“Then the children trembled when they saw the door shut and bolt itself and they knew they were again in the power of black magic.
“But little sister had had nothing to do with the killing of the djo’lgi and she now whispered to the brother who had held a firm root in the earth when red feather tried to tear the crab-apple tree from the ground: ‘I will make medicine and smear some on you. That will turn you into a cinder so that you can fly up the smoke-hole and get out. Then find Blue Jay. With the medicine I smear on your head you can bring the djo’lgi back to life and let Blue Jay bring it home to the old woman. When she finds her child alive and happy she will let us all go.’
“The boy did as sister told him, and when he was outside the smoke-hole he flew about heaven until he found Blue Jay.
“So medicine was rubbed on the djo’lgi and he was brought back to life and carried home. There, a loud rap on the door made the old woman cry: ‘Who’s there?’
“And the djo’lgi answered: ‘It is your djo’lgi, mother, let me come in.’
“She ran and unbolted the door and was so happy to have her child back in her arms that she forgot to bolt the door again. Then the Blue Jay led the children forth and they all went to the big house on the Cliff where Blue Jay’s grandmother lived. Here a fine feast was spread for the visitors and after they had had all the juicy venison they could eat, Blue Jay said: ‘Come now, let us go to heaven.’
“But the grandmother said: ‘How can all these children crawl through safely when the clouds open and shut?’
“I’ll show them how and if they mind they will get in,’ replied the Blue Jay.
“Then they said good-by to the grandmother and followed after Blue Jay to the place where they had to creep in under the clouds if they wished to see the great Bill-of-Heaven who was known everywhere as the Power-of-the-shining-clouds.
“When they came to the edge of the blue sky where the clouds open and shut continually, Blue Jay dipped his feathers in the blue to make them brighter and meantime, some of the boys tried to run under the cloud and so get into heaven first. But the cloud came down and caught them, so they were turned into rain and poured down to help the earth blossom.
“Then some of the other children tried to rush through, and of these two were caught under the edge of the cloud and were turned to thunder, and the others who only got a glimpse of heaven were turned to lightning from the brightness of the glory they saw.
“Blue Jay came back after a time and was sorry to hear some of the children had not followed his advice but risked their happiness by being rude and disobedient. Then he turned to the remaining children and said: ‘I will watch for the time when you must rush in. I will call “Fly!” then all must fly back and forth along the edge of the cloud till a little rift of blue where a cloud lifts is seen. Dart through that but never try it unless you see the rift of blue.’
“The little sister was told to follow with Blue Jay as he would see her through. Then cinder brother and a few of the others waited and watched, flying back and forth until they saw a rift break through a thick cloud, and quickly they rushed through and found the glory of the sun and lived happy in heaven ever after.”
“How! How” cried the girls, some clapping their hands.
Eleanor sat and looked scornfully at the girls applauding. Then she said, “If that isn’t the silliest nonsense ever! Besides, I think it is positively sacrilegious to talk in that way about heaven!”
“Sacrilegious! Why should it be? It is the simple ancient beliefs of the Indians who had no Bible as we have, and handed down these legends from one generation to another to teach their children respect and obedience to the Great Spirit,” replied Zan.
“You certainly can’t say that calling the Power above by the name of ‘Bill-of-Heaven’ is respect! I almost shivered when I heard Miss Miller use such blasphemy!” retorted Eleanor.
“Why Eleanor, you are mistaken! The name is interpreted from the original language where the Indians never even heard the name of ‘Bill,’ so they could not use it in disrespect. In their tongue the term ‘Bill’ means an entirely different thing than in our English, so we must not condemn a thing because we are ignorant of its uses,” said the Guide, calmly.
“Tell us the germ of truth you found in that allegory, Miss Miller,” begged Jane.
“I told you before I began that you each must apply it for yourselves. I can sit down and find a suitable lesson in it for the short-comings of each one present,” laughed Miss Miller, rising to close the Council Meeting.
As the Woodcrafters left the building, Zan called after them: “Remember to bring a finished product of your carpentry for the next Council!”
CHAPTER FIVE – A PRIZE CHEST
The following week, every member of Wickeecheokee Band was busy after school, working hard on their carpentry. Some had decided to make wooden toys for the little ones, some preferred odd pieces of furniture, such as a foot-stool, a tabouret, a waste-paper-basket, etc. The older Woodcrafters were busy making more difficult things as they had had some practise in the handling of tools and wood. May Randall, not to be outdone by the older members, wanted to manufacture a Woodcraft Chest to hold the papers, beads, and other things she would collect in her Woodcraft work as time went on.
“I never dreamed this work could be so tedious,” sighed Ethel Clifford, whittling away at a bit of wood that had to dove-tail into the other section. She was making a set of fire-boards.
“One never realises how long a time hand-made articles take. That is why they always cost more than machine made objects,” added Anne Mason.
“I hope my tilting stools will look like the picture given in the Manual,” now said Mildred Howell. “If they don’t work I shall give up in despair.”
“I think they look great, Mil. Maybe you’ll get a coup,” remarked Zan, who looked up from the elaborate bead-loom she was decorating, having constructed the entire machine of wood.
“I just adore that bead-loom you made, Zan,” now said May Randall, working industriously at the chest she was etching in pyrography.
“I’ll tell you what, May! If the bead-loom you expect to make turns out half as fine as that chest, it will be better than mine,” praised Zan. “I never saw a girl handle tools as naturally and deftly as you do – for a greenhorn, too!”
May laughed in a pleased tone for honest praise is sweet.
“What is Eleanor Wilbur making, girls?” asked Hilda.
“I don’t know – she hasn’t been with us yet, you know,” replied Anne Mason, evasively.
“Is she doing anything else besides making trouble?” asked May Randall, in her blunt way.
“I’ll thank you to mind your own business, Miss May Randall,” called a voice from the door.
The girls flushed guiltily as they looked up and found Eleanor herself trembling with anger. She had stopped at Zan’s house to leave a borrowed book and the maid told her the girls were on the back-porch working. So she happened there unannounced.
“Well, are you, Eleanor?” persisted May, defiantly.
“I’ll tell you what’s troubling you, all right – you dog-in-the-manger, you! You’re afraid I’ll win out ahead of you in the test for membership, so you go to work in an underhanded way to prejudice the others against me,” declared Eleanor.
“Hardly, Miss Wilbur, for Zan just told us that Ethel handed her a letter to be read at the weekly Council. She is to go to California next month to be gone all Winter so she has withdrawn her application till Spring,” snapped May, with satisfaction.
“Then there are only five after all,” said Eleanor, a gleam of pleasure on her face.
“There may be only four – if one of the new members keeps on the undesirable pathway she has trodden since applying for membership!” taunted May, who had a sharp tongue at times.
“Pooh!” sounded from Eleanor and Jane banged her work down loudly upon the floor and said angrily:
“For pity’s sake, forget it – you two! We never had a single scrap like this when we were at Camp!”
“I’m not scrapping a bit,” defended Eleanor. “It is that hateful old thing over there. But as I am going now anyway, don’t bother to shut her up. I’m on my way to visit Miss Miller, so I will just mention the fact that Miss Randall is running the Tribe now, and she as old Guide can resign gracefully or be ousted by the new Guide!” sneered Eleanor, slamming the door as she left the porch.
“Can’t we put her out, girls! I am getting to hate her,” cried May, spitefully.
“You’re letting your anger get the best of you, May. It has already made you lose out in one test – same as Eleanor has. Besides, Eleanor may need Woodcraft more than any of us, because the work isn’t a matter of pastime as much as for improvement,” said Zan, who had had a private talk with the Guide and to her questions about ousting Eleanor, had been told some truths that made her think of Nita and the impatience the girls felt at her in Camp that Summer.
“Girls, since Zan spoke of May’s Woodcraft box I have been thinking – why can’t we have contests in work and give a prize to the one having the best product to show with the others at the exhibit?” said Elena, trying to change their current of thought.
“Let’s do it! The one to win this Saturday, to have a suitable prize awarded for the different points covered,” said Zan.
“It will be for neatness, utility, beauty, and time taken in the making,” suggested Jane.
“I wonder if Headquarters ever started contests with the Woodcrafters for certain requirements well-done?” wondered Nita.
“Let’s have Miss Miller write to find out. Maybe we can give them a new idea,” commented Hilda.
Silence followed for a few moments after that decision and Nita began humming a new Hawaiian air.
“That reminds me, Nita, did you find any new folk songs that we might adapt for dancing?” asked Jane.
“Oh, yes, I have a dandy! Want to see me do it while you take a little rest from work?” cried eager Nita.
Nita never lost an opportunity to dance, and it was her greatest delight to show her friends any new steps or figures she had improvised for a Woodcraft Folk Song or Dance, which really is true dancing from over-flowing joy in the heart – but not the so-called wanton dances in vogue at the present time.
The girls always enjoyed watching the graceful form as it bent low or whirled around in the Indian Acting Songs, so to-day they approved the suggestion to rest and be entertained by Nita.
“I shall have to sing the words in French as Miss Miller and I haven’t translated them yet. The air is familiar to most of you and you must hum it with me. Now I will sing and slowly step the bars while you try to study the action and practise it at home,” announced Nita.
SUR LE PONT D’AVIGNON
Sur le pont d’Avignon,
Tout le mondey danse;
Sur le pont d’Avignon,
Tout le mondey danse en rond,
Les beaux messieurs font comm’ ga,
Et puis encor comm’ ga:
Sur le pont d’Avignon,
Tout le mondey danse, danse
Sur le pont d’Avignon
Tout le mondey danse en rond.
Sur le pont d’Avignon,
Tout le mondey danse, danse;
Sur le pont d’Avignon,
Tout le mondey danse en rond.
Les belles dames font comm’ ga,
Et puis encor comm’ ga:
Sur le pont d’Avignon,
Tout le mondey danse, danse
Sur le pont d’Avignon,
Tout le mondey danse en rond.
Sur le pont d’Avignon,
Tout le mondey danse, danse;
Sur le pont d’Avignon,
Tout le mondey danse en rond,
Et les capucins font comm’ ga,
Et puis encor comm’ ga,
Sur le pont d’Avignon,
Tout le mondey danse, danse
Sur le pont d’Avignon,
Tout le mondey danse en rond.
—
Thereupon Nita danced The Bridge song to the satisfaction of her audience. They applauded and encored until she laughingly consented to treat them to their favourite dances. Many of these were steps invented by Nita to improve upon the old folk dances. When the girl, breathless, finally sat down, the other girls complimented her to her heart’s content.
“I wish we could learn that bridge song and dance it for Miss Miller as a surprise,” suggested Zan.
“Let’s do it!” abetted Elena.
“We ought to complete our carpentry work first,” ventured May.
“We haven’t any extra class studies at home this week so we might carpenter in the afternoons and dance at night,” eagerly said Nita.
“Why not come over to my house at eight and I will have the rugs and furniture moved out of the living-room. Anne and I will be all alone this evening as the others are going out,” added Frances Mason.
“That’s fine! Who can meet at the Masons’ at eight to-night?” called Zan, looking about at the Woodcrafters.
“We surely will – every one of us,” accepted Hilda.
“Well, don’t waste our time making us wait for you. If someone can’t come let her telephone before meeting-time,” advised Anne Mason.
“Hoh! Anne doesn’t know us yet! Catch a Woodcrafter being late when there’s any fun going!” laughed Jane.
Every member was there before eight that night, Eleanor having been notified over the telephone. A merry evening was enjoyed with dancing and singing and most of the girls were sure the French Folk Song could be mastered for a private exhibition on Saturday if they had one more evening’s practise.
“To-morrow is Thursday and some of us are booked to go to those Burton-Holmes Lectures, but we might all meet again on Friday night?” suggested Zan.
“Some of us could meet to-morrow and practise, and then all meet Friday,” added Hilda.
“Where do you want to meet Friday – come to my house,” invited Jane.
As the Huberts had a large house with a splendid living-room, it offered excellent facilities for dancing, so the girls gladly accepted the invitation.
Shortly after nine o’clock Friday night, while the Woodcrafters were cooling off and talking about their successful dancing lesson of the French song, Mrs. Hubert opened the door and peeped in.
“When you finish dancing maybe you’ll come to the kitchen and help me make some fudge?” hinted she.
“We’re all through!” cried Zan, jumping up and running for the door.
“So we are when there’s fudge on the programme,” laughed Elena.
But fudge was not the only candy made that night. As Saturday morning was a “lazy day” for school-girls, they could sleep an hour later than usual. So there was no haste to get home and to bed that night.
“Mrs. Hubert, you always promised to give us the recipe for your fudge – it is so good!” exclaimed Elena.
“Why, I’ll tell you right now, and you can watch me make it, too,” replied Mrs. Hubert.
“Lena, write it down to enter in our Tally,” said Zan.
As Mrs. Hubert itemised the ingredients for Elena to write down, she measured out the quantities for the candy.
“One cup of granulated sugar, one cup of powdered sugar, one and a half cakes of Baker’s chocolate, a lump of butter about the size of a walnut, two-thirds of a cup of milk, and any flavour desired. I shall use vanilla to-night as most girls like that.
“Now I boil the milk and sugar, stirring all the time from when it is first placed over the fire. When it fairly hardens so as to form a ball when dropped in cold water, I remove it from the stove and add the chocolate which must be shaved very fine, or even grated as it is to-night.
“Next I add the vanilla, and the butter last. Quickly then, I beat it until it thickens but it must not sugar. Pour it in buttered tins and when it is partly hardened we can cut it into squares.
“In case any of you do not have powdered sugar in the house you can use granulated but the powdered sugar makes it creamy and there is less danger of crystallising while beating.”
The fudge was made and declared the finest ever tasted.
“Oh, but you girls say that every time I treat you,” laughed Mrs. Hubert.
“It’s true, and that shows how you improve in candy-making every time you cook it for us,” retorted Zan, quickly.
“Which interpreted means: ‘Be sure and give us fudge every time we visit you,’” laughed Mrs. Hubert.
“You’d hear no kick coming from the Woodcrafters,” added Jane.
“Jane! There you go again with your slang! I thought Miss Miller was curing you girls of that pernicious habit,” said Mrs. Hubert.
“We were cured, Mother, but you see our brothers were still ill with the despised complaint and we caught it again, didn’t we Zan?” said Jane, appealing to her competitor in slang.
Zan’s mouth was too full of fudge to reply but she nodded her head vigorously to express her feelings about slang.
“Dear, dear, such girls!” sighed Mrs. Hubert, taking a recipe book from the shelf and turning to a page of candies.
“Girls, shall I show you how to make nougat?” asked she.
Naturally they cried “yes” and Elena prepared to make another entry in the Tally.
“Always blanch the almonds or other nuts to be used. I generally keep some on hand so we won’t have to take time for that work to-night. Now some of you girls skin these nuts and some of you can chop them very fine.
“For the nougat, I melt some powdered sugar, using a dessert-spoonful of lemon juice to every pound of sugar. It takes double the weight of sugar in almonds. We have a pound of sugar, so I use two pounds of chopped nuts. They must be hot before dropping them into the sugar-syrup.
“We ought to have regular nougat moulds like confectioners use, but not having them, I have to take the flat tin we use for ginger-bread. That is why I had you chop the nuts very fine – so that the nougat when it is spread in the tin, can be cut with a knife.
“Into this buttered tin, I press the nougat with the lemon skin until it is all smoothed out flat. Then I quickly cut the bars so they can be broken apart when it is cold. If we had regular moulds we could use the nuts in much larger pieces.”
“I always thought that nougat was a dreadfully hard candy to make, but it is as simple as rolling off a log,” declared Hilda.
“I just love it, don’t you?” said Elena, sniffing the odour that rose from the pan of candy.
“You love any kind of candy. Your mother says you have a ‘sweet tooth,’” laughed Nita.
“I’ll show you how to make one other kind of candy and then it will be time for you to go home. It is ten o’clock now,” said Mrs. Hubert.
“Put a cupful of powdered sugar in a bowl and add about a quarter of a teaspoonful of cream, or at least enough to stir the spoon about in the mixture easily. Be careful not to use too much cream, though, as that will make it run and not cream itself. Now add a teaspoonful of lemon or vanilla. We will use the latter for this cream. Next stir the mixture well until all lumps are worked smooth like a paste.
“Here, Jane, stone these dates but do not break them asunder.
“Now girls, as the dates are stoned, you take enough cream to fill the opening made by the stone. Then you stick the edges of the date together again and roll in powdered sugar. They are then placed on an oiled paper to keep from sticking while drying.”
The creamed dates were soon made and tasted. Some of the Woodcrafters said they needed a much larger taste than a single date offered, and Mrs. Hubert laughed. While the girls were away from the kitchen to find their hats and coats, the hostess divided the candy left and gave each amateur confectioner a package to take home with her.
Saturday with its weekly Council found each girl, except Eleanor, more than elated with the finished article of carpentry work to exhibit at the meeting. Of the entire collection the bead-loom, tabouret, and chest were considered the best.
“I declare, girls, it is marvelous how neatly you have fitted the corners and finished the edges of the work. May’s chest is as pretty and well-made as any I have ever seen. The hinges and clasp are original and hand-made, too, I see. Did you originate the design alone, May?” said the Guide, after admiring the objects placed in a row on the table.
“Yes, and the copper hinges and clasp are cut and hammered out of an old sauce-pan mother threw away a long time ago,” replied pleased May.
“And does the key turn easily?” inquired Miss Miller, lifting the lid of the chest and examining the key-hole carefully.
“I haven’t found a key to fit yet!” laughed May.
Then the Guide’s attention was given to an investigation of the elaborate bead-loom made and decorated by Zan as her contribution to the contest.
“Does it work, Zan?” queried Miss Miller.
“Not unless it is supplied with motive-power!”
“Then you must have tried it out with a bit of your tremendous energy,” retorted the Guide, smiling at the girl’s bright face.
“Not only tried it but finished a strip of bead banding that takes the cake! I have decided to make enough trimming to decorate a new ceremonial costume that will turn every Woodcraft girl green with envy,” bragged Zan.
“That is a boast indeed! Did you include the Tribes of other Woodcrafters in that challenge?”
“Yep, everybody but Elizabeth Remington. She certainly has the loveliest beading I ever saw, but then she has had two years’ designing at the School of Art,” replied Zan.
After many comparisons and due deliberation, it was decided to present May Randall with the prize for that contest. As May was a beginner and the chest was her first piece of work, it won a point above Zan’s loom, which also was a fine piece of work. Both of these objects were excellent bits of cabinet-work and so neatly finished and beautifully decorated that it was a draw. May flushed with happiness when she heard that Zan awarded the prize to her.
“I think the plan of awarding prizes for best work is a good one but we should decide upon the prize before the contest is started each week. What have you for May to-day?” said Miss Miller.
“Well, this week we were going to present the winner a solid gold loving cup but our Wampum Keeper reported a state of bankruptcy so we had to sacrifice our wishes to conform with the exchequer,” said Zan, solemnly, while the girls giggled.
“I suggested that we take a picture of May, so I brought my camera. It can be pasted in the Tally Book and mentioned as the winner of the carpentry contest,” said Elena.
“And I thought the film could be enlarged to a size that will correspond with our cash on hand, and present it to May,” added Hilda.
“If we make a picture each week of the prize-winner and article made it will add greatly to the beauty and interest of the Tally,” ventured the Guide.
“Come on, May, and pose over by the log scenery to have your picture taken,” called Elena, starting for the Council Ring.
“Oh wait, Lena! Don’t let’s have an indoor picture. It will look so much better if posed out-doors,” cried Nita.
“Let’s go over to the fence-corner next to our back yard where the group of pines will make a pretty back-ground,” suggested Frances Mason.
“That’s fine! And we’ll stand May on some of our logs and have her look happy while holding her chest!” exclaimed Anne.
“When folks see May holding her chest in the picture, they’ll think she had a bad cold,” came from Zan, quickly.
Everyone laughed but Anne added: “Oh, you old tease, you know what I meant.”
“All right, come on and show us what you meant!”
“I wish to goodness we had a ceremonial costume here to dress May and do the picture up in a truly artistic manner,” sighed Elena.
“Hilda and May are about the same size – why not run Hilda home to get hers?” suggested Jane.
“It won’t take more’n ten minutes, Hilda, if you jump on a trolley!” added Nita, when Hilda frowned down the proposition.
A honking from an automobile horn was heard just then, and Zan jumped up to run to the door, saying: “Sounds like your machine, Jenny!”
“If it should be Jack, he could drive Hilda over for the dress,” replied Jane.
Before Zan reached the door of the gymnasium, however, the tousled head of Fiji Baker appeared at the opening and he called out ingratiatingly: “Don’t stop the show for me; ‘let joy be unconfined’ as I just dropped in for a second to see Miss Miller. Jack is out front tying the bouquets we wish to throw at the famous dancer!”
Nita laughed for she had confided in the boys and told them about the new dance scheduled for that Council Meeting.
“Oh, Fiji, you came in answer to our prayers, I’m sure. We need someone to hustle Hilda over home for a most important package she forgot, and now Jack can fly while you talk with Miss Miller,” explained Zan, pushing Hilda towards the door as she spoke.
“You’ll win a coup on this for ‘first aid,’” said Jane to Fiji.
But Fiji paid no attention as he was deeply concerned over some secret he was whispering to the Guide. Meantime Hilda was urged to order Jack to drive as fast as he dared so she could be back with the costume before the sun went down.
Before Fiji and Miss Miller had finished their engrossing conversation, Hilda returned and the girls adjourned to the scenic-screen-room to dress the prize-winner in a befitting costume.
May was posed first in one attitude, then in another, till everyone had satisfied her artistic sense of the picture to be, and perhaps they would all have had another trial had not May sighed, and cried:
