Dick slept close to the opening of the tent he occupied in company with three other campers. Mr. Bartlett had constituted him a sort of assistant campmaster, to take charge whenever both he and the physical instructor were absent. Besides this, everybody knew that Dick was better acquainted with certain matters connected with outdoor life than most of the other boys, since he had long made woodcraft a study.
Once, during that first night on the island, on awakening from a sound sleep, Dick crawled softly out of the tent and took a look around. It was a beautiful night, such as filled his boyish heart with delight.
The moon, almost full, was climbing up close to the zenith, and sent down a flood of bright light on the slumbering world below. The soft night breeze continued to whisper among the tops of the tall pine trees. The gentle waves washed the rocky shore of the big island with a soothing murmur never to be forgotten.
Just as the sun began to peep above the eastern horizon a gun was fired and a bugle reveille followed immediately afterward. Those of the boys who were not already up came dashing out of the tents and the cabin, prepared to enter upon the duties of this, the first full day in camp.
They found both Mr. Bartlett and the physical instructor ready for them, while Sunny Jim, who was never seen without a broad grin on his face, had begun to bustle around amidst his pots and pans as though making arrangements for starting breakfast.
“Every one in camp with the exception of our cook will be expected to join in the programme for the early morning!” called out Mr. Rowland, who was a splendidly built young man, the possessor of several medals won in athletic matches. “The first of these will be the setting-up exercises, to start your blood into full action, after which we will have a dip in the lake.”
A number of the boys did not know the least thing about swimming, and were more or less timid about entering the water. Mr. Rowland soon gave them to understand there was nothing to be afraid of. He intended that there should be no skylarking, no ducking, no horse-play among themselves.
“We expect to have swimming classes,” he told them as they gathered around at the edge of the water, clad in their bathing trunks only. “A life saving crew will be organized, and no boy will be allowed to go beyond certain bounds on penalty of having his privileges curtailed, or even cut off altogether. There will be no accidents in the water at Camp Russabaga if we can prevent it. Now listen while I lay down the law, and then every one of you must enter the water.”
Three of the boys looked glum at hearing this talk. As may be easily understood they were Nat Silmore and his two cronies, Dit Hennesy and Alonzo Crane. They had finally decided to accompany the campers in the hope of finding numerous chances to enjoy a joke at the expense of their fellows. It appeared now as though they had deceived themselves and had made a great mistake, and this realization caused them to look “sour,” as some of the boys expressed it, understanding what was the matter with the trio of tricksters.
The flag was already flying in the morning breeze, and it really looked as if the camp had been inaugurated after the customary manner. All over our land similar camps organized by enthusiastic members of the numerous Y. M. C. A. organizations are being conducted along the same lines. Some of these are run during the entire summer, detachments of young fellows coming and going from time to time, and all benefiting greatly through their brief stay in the open, under strict and sanitary rules.