The Woodcraft Girls in the City Part 21

"'Hoh, it ran away from me when I cut open the sheep.'

"Then the boy ran to his sister and demanded that she tell him just what happened on the mountain-side.

"She told the boy what her husband had done with the entrails and how the dog ran up the mountain-side yelping.

"'I wish I had not loaned my dog! I did not want to, but you coaxed me to it. This shows what folks do with borrowed property that they have not worked to make perfect. They use the good of it and throw away what is left. Now I demand that your husband show me the way the dog went,'

cried the boy, in great distress.

"The sister told her husband he must show the boy the place where the dog ran away from him. Once on the mountain-side, the boy saw the red tracks made by his dog and these he followed until he came to a large lake.

"Now the forest dog was really the Wolf Chief's Son and because the boy had painted the dog's face and feet with red paint a wolf has red on its feet and around its snout to this day.

"Standing at the lake-side, the boy wondered how he could cross it to reach a town he saw on the opposite side of the water. As he wished he might get across, a curl of smoke rose from the ground at his feet.

"He jumped back in time to see the square of earth where he had been standing open outward like a door on hinges. Then a woman's voice quavered forth: 'Come in, come in, my son.'

"The boy entered and saw an old woman sitting by the roots of a forest tree, crooning over a pot of broth she was stirring.

"'I am your grandmother, boy, and I will help you. What do you here all alone?'

"Then the boy told about his little dog and how he would like to find it again.

"'His people live on the other side of the lake. He is the Wolf Chief's Son, grandchild-he is not a common dog,' said the woman.

"'How can I get over there?' asked the boy.

"'I have a little canoe-you may use that. Here it is,' replied the grandame as she picked up a shrivelled leaf and handed it to the astonished boy.

"'How can I sit in this-it will not carry me?' said he.

"'When you reach the lake-side just shake it open and it will swell large in the water. Step in, stretch yourself out in the bottom of the canoe and wish yourself across. Do not paddle it. When you are on the other sh.o.r.e wish the canoe back to me and it will come.'

"The boy did as directed and reached the opposite side of the lake, but instead of wis.h.i.+ng the canoe back again he wished it a leaf and this he placed in his pocket for future use.

"At the Wolf Chief's village he found some boys playing tug-of-war with the ends of the rainbow. He stood watching for a moment but he came for his little dog so he inquired the way to the Wolf Chief's wigwam. It was at the end of the village. Here he found the people sitting about an evening fire and the little dog was playing in front of Wolf Chief.

"The boy watched and called joyfully to the dog, but the Wolf Chief growled forth: 'A human is near us. Clear a way before him.'

"At that the little dog ran up and sniffed the stranger. He knew him at once and caught his garments between his teeth and dragged the visitor over to his father, Wolf Chief. Here he barked out the story of the boy's kindness to him when he was down in the valley.

"Then the Wolf Chief welcomed the boy, saying: 'I sent my son to help you hunt when I heard how you were helping the people to keep from starving. Because you were grateful to your dog I will show you more kindness. My boy shall not go back with you, but this is what I will give you: This fish-hawk's quill to hunt with. Whenever you meet a bear or sheep, hold the quill straight out and it will fly from your hand to lodge in the animal's heart. Then remove the quill and clean it well to keep for another trial.'

"The boy took the quill and thanked the Chief.

"Then the Wolf Chief added: 'I will also give you a great treasure as I see you are a grateful lad.'

"He removed a blanket from a tripod and handed it to the boy. 'Use this for sickness or death. If a friend is ill cover him with this blanket and he will immediately recover again.'

"Again the boy thanked the Chief earnestly.

"Then the Wolf Chief placed something in the boy's mouth, saying: 'Swallow this as you have a long journey before reaching your home again. This will keep you from being hungry or weary.'

"Then the little dog and the boy wept over each other, for they had been fond companions, and the boy started homeward, being very careful of the quill and medicine blanket.

"As the boy came down the mountain-side near the village he met a bear that stood in the trail and growled at him. He held the quill straight at the beast and it flew right into the bear's heart. Then the boy took the quill and cleaned it well. Next he cut some bearsteaks for immediate use and covered over the remainder.

"The boy reached his village from which he thought he had been absent only two days and nights, but he found he had been gone two years-so swiftly had the time pa.s.sed while he had been at the Wolf Chief's village by the lake-side.

"As he entered the village he found it had been totally destroyed and everyone was dead. He felt dreadfully sad at this discovery but he remembered the medicine blanket, and this he placed over every member of his family and they immediately came to life. Then he placed it over everyone in the village and brought them all back to life-even the brother-in-law who had been so ungrateful.

"When all were alive once more they needed food so the boy ran to the mountain and found a great flock of wild sheep. With the quill he soon killed them and ordered the people to carry them home.

"The villagers were so astonished when they saw him kill wild beasts with a quill that they agreed to have him hunt for the entire village and promised to pay him with skins and weapons for the meat.

"When the villagers were nourished they told the boy that while he was absent every tribe of people were killed by the famine and the plagues.

The boy then decided to visit the nations and revive the people by means of the medicine blanket. This he did, but he only brought the good and beautiful back to life, leaving the cruel and vicious, and deformed ones, dead. And this he did for every creature on the earth. The bad and worthless were killed off with the quill but the good and faithful creatures were kept alive with the blanket. Thus it happened that the earth became a beautiful spot to live in, for all men were as brothers, and all creatures walked in the trails of man without fear or desire to kill. And to this day, the boy feeds his people and everyone is happy and at peace."

As the Guide finished her story the Woodcrafters cried "How! How!" but Fiji said: "I wish we had that blanket and quill at this present time!"

"No such luck! It is war, war, war to the bitter end, I guess," added Fred.

"And starvation or famine and plagues for the world!" sighed Zan.

"I'm not so sure but that the Hunter with the Medicine Blanket of Life is again on earth to revive all the good and true people to everlasting joy and peace," ventured the Guide, quietly.

"Why, just think, if Fred or Fiji were two years older they would have to go to France and be killed," cried Zan, fervently. "Some day in the future maybe, Miss Miller, but no one can say there is joy or peace with all this misery brought about by war."

"No, my dear, not in the future-right now! I firmly believe that the world will awaken to realise this wonderful state of existence shortly.

And if we believe any part of the Scriptures we _must_ believe the prophecies of many writers of that Book. There is no room for doubt that this is the time that is spoken of as 'The Day of the Lord.' But let us consider other things now, even though Sunday is a good day to discuss the heavenly conditions that will prevail the moment the 'dragon' is over-powered. You see, I become so tremendously interested in this warfare of Michael and Gabriel, the Two Angels that war against the Dragon and the Beast, that I dare not pursue the subject further. You would oust me from the Tribe if I talked of nothing but the New Jerusalem. You are here to talk of Woodcraft instead," said Miss Miller, springing up and looking brightly around for a new form of entertainment.

"I wonder how many of you ever gave a thought to the Woodcraft work secrets contained in the sea?" said Miss Miller, gazing down from the plateau to the stretch of glistening beach where the tide was nearing its highest mark.

"In the sea?" laughed Eleanor sceptically, as the others joined the Guide and looked where she did.

"Yes, and wonderful secrets it holds for us, too. Come, and I will show you a few."

Miss Miller picked up a gla.s.s fruit jar which had held some preserves from home, and advising the others to find receptacles for the collection she would show them, started down the sand-bank.

"First, I would suggest that each girl find five or ten smooth round sea pebbles as near a size as possible. These we will ask the boys to carry in their pockets for us. I will show you what wonderful jack-stones they make. In fact, the game originally was played with smooth stones. It was only in later years that the iron imitations were manufactured and placed upon the market.

"Then let me tell you, that a collection of large oval light-coloured stones make the prettiest sort of a marker to line off a flower-bed or pathway. If they are well set in sand they will not roll or become muddy from the rain that falls upon the soil of the garden. The sand holds them in place and keeps them clean.

"Another suggestion for Hand-craft for a Woodcrafter, is this: find a large flat oval stone washed smooth by the sea and upon one side you can paint a marine picture or, if you cannot paint, a conventional design can be used to decorate it. This makes a lovely paper-weight for a friend, or for your own desk.

"For Edith and her little brother, we can hunt for pebbles that resemble fruits and vegetables. Then the Little Brownies can play store to their heart's content."

"That will be fine, Miss Miller, and I'll help the girls find what I need for a store," declared Edith, accepting the suggestion for the deed.

"Let's hurry then, as Edith will want us to collect every pebble on the beach-I know her aspirations when a new game is mentioned," laughed Elizabeth.