So Mrs. Vernon left them to see how far they would use their intelligence in doing this work, while she began seeking along the woodland road for down tree-trunks of movable length and weight.

She found plenty of timber such as she wanted for the sides of the old hut, and also to start work on the new one, but she did not return to camp until four o'clock. When she did, she found two of the girls fast asleep on the gra.s.s, while the other two were in the pool splashing about.

She went quietly over to the hut, and, to her surprise, found the roof as neatly finished as if done by an experienced hand. The edges were turned under and fastened with nails, and the seams lapped just as they should be. In fact, she was delighted with the workmanship.

Then, too, the boxes of groceries and other goods were neatly stacked in one corner, so less room was used for storage and more left for personal use.

"Now I wonder which one of the girls thought this out? It is so natural for young folks to shove the boxes in and leave them standing about anywhere. But this proves to me that one of my scouts has a good head for management of affairs."

The girls swimming about in the pool now caught sight of the Captain, and scrambled out of the water. They were soon dressed and ran over to receive Mrs. Vernon's compliments on the work done. The two sleeping ones also sat up, rubbed their eyes, and laughed.

"When did you get back, Verny?" yawned Ruth.

"Just now; but, girls, I have seen the hut, and you surely have done fine work!" exclaimed the Captain, turning to admire the roof again.

While her head was turned, four girls exchanged knowing winks, but their faces were as serious as ever when Mrs. Vernon's eyes searched theirs keenly.

"We thought you'd be pleased, Verny. But what kept you so long?" said Julie.

"I found enough wood for a new hut, and then I sat down on a log and sketched a working plan for the sections of the building you propose erecting.

"You see this rocky wall that rises back of the old hut?" the Captain pointed to the lines she had drawn on the paper. "Well, we will use that for a back wall against which our new hut can brace itself. The wall of the old hut can supply one side of the new building, and we can extend the roof on the same lines as the old one, along over the new hut."

"Oh, yes, that's a fine idea!" cried Joan.

"And that will save us hauling the wood and building up one whole side, won't it?" asked Betty.

"Yes, but it also makes a two-room house of the two huts, see?" and Mrs.

Vernon displayed another plan she had drawn on paper.

"I think I like it better than having two separate huts, Verny," said Julie.

"And we can use the wood we might have built into the one side of the hut for a shed for Hepsy. Can't we go right on extending the house and build the lean-to to the end of the new hut, just as we plan hooking the new addition on to the old hut?" asked Joan.

The original way in which the description was worded caused a general laugh, but Joan never worried about laughter when it was in fun. She always said, "Well, if it gives any one any satisfaction to laugh at me, I'm glad to accommodate them so cheaply. It doesn't hurt one."

"Joan's idea is good, and we will follow it as soon as we finish the frame of the new hut," said Mrs. Vernon.

"We were thinking of moving your cot-bed into the old hut, Verny, but then we decided to wait and see if you would like it," now suggested Betty.

"You see, we were a bit crowded last night in the tent, and we thought you would like some privacy of your own. Being in the old hut might appeal to your sentimentality," added Julie.

Another laugh rang out, but this time at Mrs. Vernon's expense. She sighed and posed as a sentimental maiden might, and simpered her thanks for the scouts' forethought. Then they laughed again.

"Now all joking aside, girls! I appreciate your thought and will gladly move my hotel-suite to the hut. At least I shall be near the crackers and prunes if I feel hungry at night," declared Mrs. Vernon.

She then called the girls to a.s.sist her in moving her effects from the tent to the hut, and as they went back and forth the Captain could not refrain from again voicing her gratification at the manner in which the scouts finished their first carpentry work.

"If you were fully-fledged scouts of record, you surely would be awarded a badge."

Behind her back, as she said this, the Captain's four carpenters again exchanged smiles and knowing winks.

CHAPTER SEVEN

HEPSY JOINS THE SCOUTS' UNION

The next morning, after breakfast dishes were cleared away, the Captain said: "Now we will give a few minutes to reading our Scout Handbook, and then practice some new knots. After that we can choose our recreation."

"I don't want to waste any more time on recreation until our new hut is built," declared Joan.

"Neither do any one of us, Verny," added Julie.

"Well, if that is the general wish, we can work on the hut and call it recreation, you know," answered Mrs. Vernon.

The moment the knots and reading were finished, they all ran over to the tool-chest to select whatever implements they might need. Mrs. Vernon handed out a spade and a pick, but no one took advantage of them.

"What are they for?" asked Ruth.

"We will have to divide the work as we did yesterday. Two can dig the cellar while two haul timbers for the hut."

"Dig cellar! You haven't any cellar under yours," returned Joan, amazed.

"But we have! Do you suppose those timbers and flooring would have lasted as long as this if we hadn't excavated a pit under them. The hole may have filled up with leaves and dried wood material, but all the earth was cleaned out by digging a cellar at least three feet deep. This gave ventilation and kept our things from mildewing."

"Why don't we all dig foundations, then, and finish it so much the sooner?" asked Julie.

"You'll find it isn't the easiest work to stoop over with a pick or spade and move earth that is filled with heavy stones. Your backs will ache in a short time, and you'll grow tired of the task. Then I propose exchanging those weary ones for two fresh diggers," explained the Captain. "Turn and turn about keeps one from feeling any monotony in the work."

"All right--send Ruth and Joan off for the first haul of logs," replied Julie, resignedly.

"But I'd rather dig, Julie, and let you two go for wood," declared Ruth.

"Ha, ha, ha! You're so contradictory! That's just what I hoped you'd say! 'Cause I'd lots rather drive Hepsy down the hill and hitch her up to the logs she's got to haul!" exclaimed Julie, exultantly.

Ruth said nothing but took the spade and started for the newly staked out cellar of the hut. Joan scowled and followed, but she wanted to join Julie in hauling the logs. Betty understood and ran up to exchange work with her.

"I'd be a poor scout if I didn't dig alongside Ruth when it's my job!"

returned Joan, when Betty said she would exchange.

"But we all will have to dig and take turns, so what difference will it make, Joan dear, if I dig now or later?" argued Betty.

"Don't you really care whether you work with Ruth or Julie?" asked Joan, skeptically, because she liked to be with Julie.

"It's all the same to me, as long as we build the house," returned Betty, taking the pick and thrusting a hook into Joan's willing hands.