"Yes, but until we have eight girls we are not anything on record.

However, we can form our club and then enlist new members to increase the number to the required total.

"Next it says: 'The Scout Captain who has studied the plan, principles and object of the organization, explains the laws and obligations of members to those who wish to form a troop.' I must now take down your names and addresses in a book, and decide what day or at what time we wish to hold our regular meetings.

"It says here that fifteen minutes must be spent on knot-tying and three-quarters of an hour on recreation. So I will now teach you the art of tying knots. Following this lesson, we will take forty-five minutes for recreation."

But the fifteen minutes merged into twenty, and still the novitiates begged to be allowed to "try just one more knot."

"Now I am going to read the Girl Scout Laws from the book, but there will be no comments, please, until I give the signal," said the Captain, having taken away the rope for knots, and seated herself upon it to keep the girls from experimenting.

"'1--If a Scout says "on my honor it is so," that means that what she says is as true as if she had taken a most solemn oath.

"'2--A Girl Scout is loyal to the President, to her country, and to her officers; to her father, to her mother, and to her employers. She remains true to them through thick and thin. In the face of the greatest difficulties and calamities her loyalty must remain untarnished.

"'3--A Girl Scout's duty is to be useful and to help others. She is to do her duty before anything else even if she gives up her own pleasure, safety, or comfort. When in doubt as to which of two things to do she must think: "Which is my duty?" which means "Which is the best for other people?" and then do that at once. She must be prepared at any time to save life or help the injured. She should do at least one good turn to some one every day.

"'4--A Girl Scout is a Friend to all, and a sister to every other Girl Scout. Thus, if a Scout meets another Scout, even though a stranger to her, she may speak to her and help her in any way she can, either to carry out the duty she is then doing, or by giving her food, or as far as possible anything she may want. Like Kim, a Scout should be a "Little friend to all the world.

"'5--A Scout is courteous; that is, she is polite to all. She must not take any reward for being helpful or courteous.

"'6--A Scout keeps herself pure in thought, word and deed.

"'7--A Scout is a friend to animals; she should save them as far as possible from pain, and should not kill even the smallest unnecessarily.

They are all G.o.d's creatures.

"'8--A Scout obeys orders under all circ.u.mstances; when she gets an order she must obey it cheerfully and readily, not in a slow, sullen manner.

Scouts never grumble, whine nor howl.

"'9--A Scout is cheerful under all circ.u.mstances. Scouts never grumble at hardships, nor whine at each other, nor frown when put out. A Scout goes about with a smile and singing. It cheers her and cheers other people, especially in time of danger.

"'10--A Scout is thrifty; this means that a Scout avoids all useless waste of every kind; she is careful about saving every penny she can put into the bank so that she may have a surplus in time of need. She sees that food is not wasted, and that her clothing is cared for properly.

The Girl Scout does not waste time. She realizes that time is the most precious thing any one of us has. The Girl Scout's time is spent either in useful occupation or in wholesome recreation, and she tries to balance these two harmoniously.'

"Now girls, have you any comments to make, for I have read the ten commandments of the Girl Scout organization, and will hear any testimony now?" said Mrs. Vernon, laughingly.

"I haven't any comments to make on the reading, but I would like to remind the ill.u.s.trious Captain that she forgot a very important part of the program this morning," said Julie, seriously, albeit there was a twinkle in her eyes.

"Speak now or forever after hold your peace!" declared Mrs. Vernon, with a magisterial air.

Every one laughed, but Julie obeyed the command: "You said we would give fifteen minutes to knot-tying and forty-five to recreation. Now I wish to ask Your Honor, is this Scout Reading to be considered as recreation?"

The Captain smiled, and after a few moments' pause said: "I am guilty of theft. But I plead extenuating circ.u.mstances. I forgot what I said about recreation, and was so over-anxious to have my infant Patrol grounded in the first lessons of scout duties that I stole time from the hour. Who is there here just enough to sentence me?"

"We have no jury, but in lieu of a speaker, allow me to speak for myself: your zeal shall be your excuse, but hereafter see that you do not commit the same offense," spoke Julie, with a judicial air.

The Captain and girls laughed heartily, and thus ended the first reading of Scout Laws. Mrs. Vernon closed the book and got up from the knotty seat of rope, and asked the girls if they had thought of any form of recreation.

"We still have to be informed by the Court if the time stolen from our forty-five minutes must be returned or deducted?" countered Julie.

"The Court thinks you should have the full time given you for any useful recreation--not for foolishness," said Mrs. Vernon.

"Well, would the Court adjudge a good hike to be useful?" demanded Joan.

"The Court most certainly would, and will even offer to accompany the jury, or whatever body you call yourselves."

"Then it's us for a hike, girls!" cried Joan.

The suggestion met with favor, and soon the newly-made Scouts were climbing the steep grade of the mountainside. It was more than an hour before voices were again heard, and Hepsy whinnied as if to ask "What sort of scouts are you, anyway, to listen to a law read about animals and how to treat them, and then go away without giving me my breakfast?"

The moment the girls heard the appeal from the mare, they understood and ran pell-mell to get Hepsy the oats. When she saw they were measuring out her breakfast, she craned her neck as far as it would stretch, and pawed the ground impatiently.

Mrs. Vernon held her head with both hands and cried as if in despair: "Merciful goodness! What sort of a Captain am I to forget our faithful old scout Hepsy?"

"Will Hepsy get sick now, Verny?" asked Betty, worried.

"No, but she is so famished she may eat me up if I venture near her with a pail of water! That is all that might happen."

"If she does, there will be a second result, too. Hepsy'll sure have an awful case of indigestion after dining!" retorted Julie, causing the others to laugh.

Hepsy was given a long drink and then left to enjoy her oats. While the animal was feeding, Julie said: "How about the hut?"

"I hope we can finish it to-day, Verny," added Joan.

"You can try at least. Every bit done helps, you know," replied the Captain.

The old flooring had been sc.r.a.ped clean and the cross-sections that were too badly decayed were removed. Then the boards taken from the packing cases were fitted in and nailed down securely. By one o'clock the partly new floor was finished and cleaned up.

Dinner was suggested before continuing the work, and the campers talked about roofing the hut while they prepared the meal.

"Now that the floor is finished, two of us ought to begin to carry in our stock, while the others work on the roof. That will save our groceries from the moisture or dampness in the ground, you see," said Mrs. Vernon.

"But we all want to work on the roof--it will be fun," declared Julie.

"In that case, we shall have to draw lots. And after half of the groceries are moved in by two girls, the others will have to take their turn while the first two enjoy the roof," suggested the Captain.

"And you--what do you want to do?" asked Ruth.

"I am going to hunt around for any down timbers that we can use for siding the hut where the old logs have fallen away and rotted on the ground. I will leave you scouts to work on the roof after your own plans."

"Oh, but tell us what to use before you go?" cried Betty.

"You'll find a roll of tar paper over there with the supplies. This you must measure off and cut the required size. Be sure to have it long enough to turn under the eaves and over at the top."

"How do we nail it down?" asked Joan.

"Lay the strips lengthwise, from ridgepole to eaves, and fasten down each strip on the old boards. But, girls, do be careful not to break through those openings in the roof, nor crumble in at any decayed places!"

"All right--I guess we can remember that much all right," said Julie, eager to begin.