The Woodcraft Girls in the City Part 41

"I told Billy about it and he said he guessed we could tame that squirrel if we fed it every day. So we gave it things to eat all Winter and now it is as tame as can be."

When Edith concluded her story the audience applauded and Big Chief declared she must have the _coup_, for the story was well told.

Edith was so delighted at hearing this praise from the Chief at Headquarters that she could not be restrained that day-she ran about showing everyone the _coup_ presented her.

The Council ended with the Sunset Song, and the meeting was p.r.o.nounced to be one of the best Wako Tribe ever held. Miss Miller felt confident that the plan had united all the girls again and now they would work together as before, for the progress and advancement of the entire Tribe.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN-SOME WEEK-END CAMPS

The weather grew warmer with the advancing Spring and out-door life became a joy to the Woodcrafters. The Little Lodge proved to be so entertaining to the five girls that they felt a jealousy of any other member of Wako Tribe should she inadvertently mention a personal interest in the welfare of the Brownies.

Miss Miller saw the breach widening again and was torn 'twixt her desire to keep unity and the struggle to do her duty to both factions. This was the state of affairs when the Chief suggested a one-day's camp to try out the Little Lodge in the woods.

"Did you hear what Zan Baker's gone and done?" exclaimed Eleanor Wilbur, as soon as she heard about the proposed camp that Sat.u.r.day.

"No-what?" demanded some of the girls who were working in the gymnasium while waiting for Miss Miller. The five other girls seldom met at school now, as the Brownies met them at their own homes, thus enabling them to hold aloof from the other members.

"She's planned a camp and left us out in the cold!"

"Who told you so?" asked some of the loyal girls.

"Oh, I heard it, all right. If you don't believe me you can ask the Guide when she comes in. Maybe she won't tell the truth, though, 'cause she is as thick with them as can be, and she is going with them, I s'pose!"

"Well, I can hardly blame Zan and her chums for spending so much time with the Brownies-they are awfully cute, you know!" responded May Randall.

"Besides, the work we have done according to the Manual shows that we can go on just the same, whether the other five girls sit down and wait for us to catch up or not," said Anne.

"It might be better for all concerned if they fuss over the Brownies while we do the things they all did last year, and then we can all go on together with Woodcraft," added Frances.

"I might have known you three girls would toady to Zan Baker and Jane Hubert. Just because they run the show and boss us all, doesn't say they have the right to do it. But you are afraid of them, that's why you give in every time!" sneered Eleanor.

"At least you will admit that we don't waste our time going about telling tales on others and trying to make trouble for everyone!"

scorned Anne Mason, just as the Guide entered.

Her appearance instantly changed Eleanor's att.i.tude and she approached Miss Miller with an ingratiating smile. The girls saw and most of them sniffed, some even went so far as to murmur aloud: "Cat! I wish she was out of this Tribe!"

The Guide felt that the atmosphere was charged but she hoped to find out the conditions without questioning, so she started the meeting, explaining the absence of the Chief and four girls by saying:

"They are teaching the Brownies to make gifts for Betty's birthday party. The little ones are going to the woods to celebrate."

That same evening, Miss Miller spoke to Zan about having the other members of the Tribe at the Woodland Camp.

"Oh pshaw, Miss Miller! We can't bother with a crowd of big girls when we are just on the point of trying out this camp-experiment with the Brownies. Those girls have enough to do with their work, and we can go on with the Little Lodge until later."

"Have you decided on a place for the picnic?" asked the Guide, changing the subject.

"We thought Eagle's Crest as good as any for just one day," replied Zan, relieved that the other disagreeable topic was dropped.

"Yes, it is near enough to reach it in an hour's time by autos, and there will be plenty of birds and flowers and trees to open a mine of Woodcraft for the Brownies."

"Then it is settled-we will go to Eagle's Crest. And I will say that some time, when we go to a longer camp-trip, we will ask the new members," said Zan, apologetically, for she knew the girls of Suwanee Band and her own new members were not receiving the true hospitality demanded of genuine Woodcrafters.

From this conversation, Miss Miller gathered that the five older members were determined to have their own way with the Little Lodge, and she planned now to avert disaster to the Tribe and yet keep them all the best of friends.

Hence the first out-door camp for a day with the Brownies was not announced as a Tribe activity, but it was kept as quiet as possible, declaring it was Betty Fullerton's birthday party and not a Tribe affair at all. Of course the five old members felt this was downright prevarication, but it seemed the easiest way to rid themselves of unpleasant explanations to the other girls.

To carry out the plan of celebrating Betty's birthday the last of May, the girls began making gifts to exchange with the Little Lodge members.

The Brownies, too, eagerly worked on simple little presents made of paper, paint, and raffia work.

Of course Miss Miller was included in the picnic and she went to keep an alert eye on the conduct and conversation of the older girls as well as watch over the younger children.

From a picnicker's point of view, the outing was a great success and proved an incentive for a longer camp next time.

On the drive back home that afternoon, Zan asked the other girls when and where they should have the next camp.

"We can revisit Staten Island," suggested Elena.

"I'd rather camp nearer a house or store where we could telephone if we need to," added Jane.

"I met a lady this winter who has a house on the Palisades much nearer Fort Lee Ferry than our Alpine Camp was last Fall. She has heard of your Tribe and seemed eager to meet you. I might write and see if she knows of a spot near there," said Miss Miller.

"Oh do, please, and maybe we can go the first warm Friday."

"I might add that if the weather is fine we might make a regular Tribe camp of it and all camp over the week-end," added Miss Miller.

The frowns and scowls that instantly showed on the faces of the five girls plainly told the Guide that the time was not yet at hand for the solving of the unpleasant problem.

At the first stop, which was Miss Miller's home, Zan said: "Don't forget that letter, Miss Miller."

"I won't, but I must say that you girls ought to pay more attention to individual Woodcraft interests and not so much to your delight in playing with the Brownies. It is downright selfish of you."

Miss Miller said good-night to them and left them wondering at her displeased tone of voice.

"What did you do, Zan Baker?" cried Jane, amazed.

"I-I never did a thing to her!" said Zan half-crying with mortification.

"If Miss Miller is mad at us for anything I am going to ask her pardon 'cause I'd rather keep in with her than all the Woodcraft in the world!"

declared Nita.

Which all goes to show that the five girls did not stop to consider how deeply the Guide felt over the careless manner in which they treated the new members of the Tribe. Possibly, had they realised the truth they would have swung over to the opposite extreme and dropped the Brownies to make up to the other girls to please the Guide.

But Miss Miller finally decided to take Mrs. Remington into a secret plan she had devised. After the letter was written to her friend on the Palisades, she called Mrs. Remington up on the telephone and they talked some time. When the conversation ended the plot was laid.

The week-end camp on the Hudson River Cliffs proved to be very entertaining, as the friend mentioned had provided the tents and camp-kits, and the girls only had to provide food and fun.