"Second the motion!" laughed Julie.

"Oh, pshaw! Of course we will do that, but _you_ know what I mean--after breakfast," Ruth retorted.

"If we want something quiet to do, we might sketch that signboard on a sheet of paper. I brought heavy paper and pencils. But should we want to go for a long walk, we can do the designing any time. Then there is our Scout Handbook to read--I really want you to become familiar with the rules and customs of the scouts," said the Captain, seriously.

"Suppose we have you read first of all, then go for a walk, and then if we are tired we can sit down and plan that sign," suggested Julie.

So immediately after the breakfast things were cleared away, the group sat down beside the waterfall and Mrs. Vernon read.

"On page 9 of the Handbook you will find this important information--it follows directly after the tenth law of Girl Scouts:

"'Self-Improvement'

"'A Great Law of Life.'

"'One of the most fundamental laws of life is that, in the natural course of things, the influence of women over men is vastly greater than that of men over one another.

"'This is what gives to girls and women a peculiar power and responsibility, for no Girl Scout or other honorable woman--whether young or old--could use her influence as a woman excepting to strengthen the characters and to support the honor of the men and boys with whom she comes in contact.

"'This great law is nothing to make a girl feel proud or superior to men; but, on the contrary, the understanding of it should make her humble and watchful to be faithful to her trust.

"'Be prepared, therefore, to do a true woman's full duty to her men by never allowing the desire for admiration to rule your actions, words, or thoughts. Our country needs women who are prepared.

"'Prepared for what?

"'To do their duty.'"

Mrs. Vernon paused here and looked at the girls. "I did not read the full text on that article, because I want you each to buy a Handbook and study it yourself. I find there are so many fine thoughts expressed in this book that I doubt whether it is wise of me to read them aloud to you while your minds are filled with the novelty of camp-life. It may not have the lasting impression it should."

"What comes next, Verny--anything about what scouts do on Sunday?"

inquired Joan.

The Captain smiled as it was evident that the girls were more concerned in doing what they were told scouts might do on Sundays, than they were in hearing about the ideals and aspirations of the scout order.

"I now have to turn back to page four, where it says: 'It is not meant that Girl Scouts should play or work on Sunday, but that they may take walks where they can carry on a study of plants and animals.' This is all it says regarding Sunday occupation. So I suppose the organizers deemed it wisest to leave it to the discretion of the Captains and scouts in each individual group," commented Mrs. Vernon.

"If that is all the book declares we have to do, then we are at liberty to obey the rule and yet have lots of ways of pa.s.sing the day," said Joan.

"I should say that reading rules and lessons from the Handbook was considered work," hinted Ruth.

"Then we won't have any more of that kind of work," laughed the Captain, closing the book emphatically.

"Good gracious, Ruth! Reading isn't work--particularly if the reading matter is wholesome as Girl Scout lessons must be. I should as soon say that listening to the preacher at church is not considered Sunday business, just because he lectures on certain interesting subjects connected with the Scriptures," argued Julie.

"Oh, really, you make a 'mountain out of a mole-hill,' Julie, every time I open my mouth," retorted Ruth, impatiently.

But the Captain interrupted this conversation before it gathered any added criticism, by saying: "I want to make a note for a bit of work to be attended to first thing in the morning, and then we will start for a nice walk.

"I find there are a great many wide crevices between the logs of the hut, where rain and insects can enter; especially is this so at the back wall where the timbers rest against the rocky side of the cliff.

"To obviate this discrepancy in building with uneven logs, we can fill in the c.h.i.n.ks with clay. When that hardens it will act like a solid cement between the logs.

"I prowled about yesterday and found a place down on the bank of the stream, where the clay was of the kind we need to use. We will bring some of it up to camp to-morrow, and after mixing it with water and sand, fill in the cracks in the walls. As it is now, should there be a heavy rain that would wash the water down over the cliff, the floods will pour in through the c.h.i.n.ks of the log wall that is built against the rocks and run over the floor of your house."

"We'll attend to that first thing, as you say, Verny; but let's hurry up, now, and get started for our walk," Joan said.

After they had been walking for an hour or more, trying to name the various birds they saw, or tell about the peculiarities of woodland plants they found, Mrs. Vernon thought they had better start back for camp.

"It is only half an hour to our usual dinner-hour, and it will take us that long to reach camp. Before we have our Sunday dinner cooked it will be an hour later than our usual time on week-days."

"At least we will be fashionable, then," laughed Julie. "Every one has dinner an hour later on Sundays--that's why the men always complain."

"It isn't because of style, Julie, but you know the men-folks never _will_ get up on Sunday mornings, and that sets back all the work. 'Liza says she's going to strike altogether about cooking Sunday dinners unless every one will get up just as they do on week-days," explained Betty, conscientiously.

Her long harangue was greeted with appreciative laughter, but Betty looked from one to the other questioningly. Julie ran over and gave her a hug, and cried: "Her was a dear little lamb, so her was!"

They were quite near camp when Joan happened to remember that she had forgotten to place the water-cress in the pan of water to keep it fresh.

"Too late to cry over it now," said Julie. "It will be so wilted that we'll have to throw it away."

"That leaves us without a salad as we had expected," Ruth complained.

"Why didn't _you_ put it in water, then! You manage to find fault with everything that goes wrong, but I notice that you seldom do anything yourself!" snapped Joan.

"Girls! I hear people talking--the sound comes from our camp-grounds!"

exclaimed Mrs. Vernon, stopping to hold up a hand for silence.

Every one stopped short and listened. Sure enough--there was a mingling of many voices.

"Some one from Freedom using our camp?" wondered Ruth.

"More likely a regiment of visitors!" said Joan.

"That's just about it! All our families and relatives unto the third and fourth generation thereof," laughed Julie.

"Perhaps they came for dinner!" gasped Mrs. Vernon, her sense of hospitality having a chill when she thought of the dinner for five only.

"If they didn't bring their own dinners, they'll have to sit and watch us eat ours," declared Ruth.

The hikers hastened to reach camp after this, and the first glance caused them to catch hold of each other for support. There, in possession of their sacred precincts, was such a crowd of family and friends that it seemed there could be little room for the real owners.

"Did you ever! I think they might, at least, have asked if they would be welcome!" cried Ruth, with annoyance.

"They must have missed us a lot," laughed Julie.

The visitors now spied the scouts, and John gave a shout. "h.e.l.lo! Did we surprise you? This was my idea, girls!"

"I thought so! It's just like you," retorted Julie.