The summons came before they were all fairly ready and one need not doubt that full justice was done to the ham and eggs, the flapjacks, the draughts of country milk and the delicious strawberries and cream.
After supper the new arrivals strolled down to the lake to see the sun set behind the mountains, and to watch the colors of the sunset sky reflected in the still waters. Then there was a little talk in the big living-room but one by one lapsed into silence, and finally all confessed that nothing seemed so desirable as the thought of going to bed, so off they went before nine o’clock saw the lights all out.
The girls were all up betimes the next morning. There was so much to do, so many places to explore, so much to learn.
“I must find some one willing to teach me to paddle, first thing I do,” announced Nan, “for I can see that canoeing is going to be the principal amusement.”
“That’s what I want to do, too,” Jack decided.
“I’ll wait for a day or two before I try my hand,” Mary Lee resolved. “By that time some of you all will have learned and can coach me; meanwhile I will look up the birds; there must be a great many in so wild a place.”
“That’s just what I will do, too,” Jean decided. She generally adopted Mary Lee’s suggestions.
So the party divided, Mary Lee, Jean and Daniella joining in a tramp through the woods, Jo, Nan and Jack starting forth to take their first lesson in paddling a canoe; some of the girls, already old stagers, good-naturedly offering to teach them. It is not the easiest thing in the world to learn, and certainly not a thing to be acquired in one short day, but Nan went into raptures over the exercise, and went at it heart and soul, so that before so very long she could force her canoe forward a short distance without its turning around and around, and could manage to get the stroke at least once out of half a dozen times, so by noon they returned hungry and elated. A little later came the second division of the party. These had discovered a beaver’s dam and were quite delighted with their morning’s explorations.
“Sometimes the girls take supper down on the rocks, build a fire and have a jolly time,” the girls informed Mrs. Corner.
“Let’s do that this evening,” suggested Jack.