"But, Captain Phillips," protested Doris, "you surely don't expect us to wear those things in our belts, do you?"

"Not at teas and on shopping expeditions!" laughed Miss Phillips; and the girls smiled at the idea of dainty Doris Sands decorated with such a deadly weapon on her person. A bunch of violets seemed more appropriate for her adornment.

Mr. Remington asked the girls to pay close attention while he explained the general rules and precautions in the use of the axe. At intervals during his talk, he called for demonstrations, first by Jack and then by d.i.c.k, until all the important points had been emphasized.

"And now for volunteers!" he called, when his brief discourse was finished.

Ruth Henry stepped forward bravely.

"It's pretty sharp," said Jack, handing the axe to her carefully.

Ruth picked it up, and lifted it boldly to her shoulder. Keeping her eye on a certain spot in the log at which Mr. Remington directed her to aim, she swung the axe too quickly. Her effort was good, but her grasp not sufficiently tight; the tool slipped from her hand and fell swiftly to the ground, missing her foot by only an inch or two.

"Ruth! Do be careful!" shrieked Doris. "Oh, I know we'll kill ourselves!"

"No, you won't," said Mr. Remington, rea.s.suringly. "Now, rest a minute, and then try again."

This time, although she wielded the axe awkwardly, she managed to hit her mark.

All that afternoon the Girl Scouts resolutely stuck to their task, until their hands became sore and blistered, and their shoulders ached from the exercise. Finally, Mr. Remington called to them to stop, complimenting them upon their perseverance.

"But you will need a great deal more practice before you attempt to build the shack and the fireplace," he concluded.

"I thought we would go out the next two Sat.u.r.days and practice what you have taught us," said Miss Phillips; "and in the meantime, I will give the rest of the Pioneer test. Then, the last Sat.u.r.day in April, I will bring all of the girls that have successfully pa.s.sed the other requirements, to try out in this."

"Very good," replied Mr. Remington. "The plan suits me. Let me know how many girls you expect to have, and I'll bring the same number of boys, and we'll make a picnic of it."

"And you girls all work hard!" said Jack, "for we want a big crowd. The more the merrier!"

And, indeed, the Girl Scouts meant to work hard, for the pa.s.sing of the Pioneer test carried with it such a wonderful reward. Even the new girls, who had all successfully pa.s.sed their second-cla.s.s tests by that time, threw themselves wholeheartedly into the effort. The days flew swiftly by; all too soon, it seemed to the girls who did not consider themselves sufficiently prepared, the time for the announcement of those eligible for the final test arrived. Of the twenty-four girls in the troop, there were a number who had no expectation of being included among the list, for one reason or another. Among this group were several of the seniors, who expected to work during the summer, and, therefore, did not try to pa.s.s the test; and several of the newer girls had found the effort beyond them.

Miss Phillips felt, however, that she had reason to be proud of the number of candidates who had qualified thus far. She read the list at the Scout meeting on the Friday evening preceeding the final hike and picnic with the Boy Scouts.

"I wish that we might include everybody," she said; "but I realize that would be impossible. However, I congratulate the following girls:

"Edith Evans, Helen Stewart, Frances Wright, Ethel Todd, Marian Guard, Ada Mearns, Lily Andrews, Ruth Henry, Doris Sands, Marjorie Wilkinson, Anna Cane, Evelyn Hopkins, Florence Evans, Alice Endicott, Mildred Cavin.

"Of course," added Miss Phillips, "this does not mean that you will all fifteen pa.s.s the Pioneer test. Indeed, the worst is yet to come. But the final decision rests with Mr. Remington."

The following day was mild and warm, and the girls were all in the highest spirits. Arriving at the cabin, fifteen Boy Scouts greeted them noisily, asking them provoking questions about the shack they intended to build, vainly endeavoring to catch them. But the girls were well prepared, and more or less confident of success.

"I never saw such progress," commented Mr. Remington, as he set the girls to work. "Why, with a hundred years' practice, they might turn out to be as good as my boys!"

"Mr. Remington," said Ruth, as she paused for a moment after putting a stick in position, "won't you please remove these troublesome insects?

They r.e.t.a.r.d my progress!"

"Insects!" repeated the Scoutmaster; "do you mean ants?"

"No," laughed Ruth; "big insects! Boys!"

"All right! Suppose you boys all go and collect stones for the fireplace, so that the girls can set to work at that as soon as they finish their lean-tos!"

"And won't we get a minute to rest?" asked Ada, lazily. She was beginning to be tired already.

"Rest!" exclaimed Mr. Remington; "you surely didn't come here for that!

But you can take it easy at supper, for the boys are going to prepare the whole meal for you."

It was almost dark when the weary Girl Scouts gathered about the fireplace where the supper was to be eaten. Never did a meal taste so good, for the girls thought they had never been so tired or so hungry before. They talked little, but they were quite content. The lean-tos and the fireplace were all finished; they were now enjoying not only the satisfaction of achievement, but the antic.i.p.ation of their great reward: the summer's canoe trip. No wonder they were happy!

"Can't you tell us who pa.s.sed?" begged Ruth, as they were finishing their cookies.

But Mr. Remington shook his head.

"I don't know myself, Ruth," he replied. "I gave certain marks for certain things. I shall have to add the averages up at home, and send the list to Miss Phillips."

"Then we'll know to-morrow?" pursued Ruth.

"You'll know at Scout meeting next Friday!" declared Miss Phillips, in the tone which everyone knew to be final.

CHAPTER XXIII

THE TRIP TO TRENTON

When Marjorie thought of what the pa.s.sing of the Pioneer test would mean to her, she felt that nothing could bring her more happiness than to hear her own and Lily's name read from the list by their Captain at Scout meeting that night. But when she perceived an attractive little envelope in her mail that evening, and when she saw upon examination that the postmark was Princeton, she experienced an even greater thrill of antic.i.p.ation.

The envelope proved to contain an invitation from John Hadley for his club dance at Princeton. Marjorie uttered a little squeal of joy, and wished that Lily were there to hear of her good fortune.

She turned around quickly, for someone was entering the office. It was Ruth Henry!

"You look as if you'd struck a gold mine, Marj!" said the other girl.

"Whatever has happened?"

"Just a dance invitation. But a very nice one!"

"I seem to have a letter, too!" exclaimed Ruth, always anxious for mail.

"I wonder who from!"

"Why, it's the same shape as mine!" cried Marjorie, in astonishment.

"Could it possibly be from Princeton?"

"Very likely!" said Ruth, proceeding to open it.

"Do you suppose Harold Mason belongs to the same club as John Hadley?"

asked Marjorie.