“I hope we won’t be troubled any more by having our things disappear,” was all Dick remarked, for somehow he did not feel altogether certain that the crisis had passed by.
Just then the loud notes of the bugle sounded, for Harry Bartlett had practised the various army calls and had them down to perfection, from the “reveille” to the “assembly” and “taps.”
Once again the boys went through the customary manual drill, while Mr. Holwell, ready for his morning bath, stood and watched the display with considerable interest.
“I can see that you mean your boys shall get the full benefit of their outing up here, Mr. Rowland,” he told the athletic trainer as all started down to the brim of the lake to enjoy a brief plunge. “I can easily understand now what wonderful benefit any lad is sure to get from a few weeks spent in one of the many Y. M. C. A. camps spread all over this broad land, especially if they are being conducted on the same principles you and Mr. Bartlett have instituted here.”
“Oh! this is only a very small edition, sir,” laughed the other, who had had considerable experience in Y. M. C. A. camps. “I’ve been in camps where there were as many as a hundred and fifty boys and young fellows coming and going all summer.”
“When you have time,” said the minister, eagerly, “I wish you would tell me more about how these wonderful camps are conducted. As you say our attempt is only a small beginning, but if all goes well next season we can have this camp running for two months. Mr. Nocker has become greatly interested in the matter, and offers to erect a few buildings up here, such as an ice-house, a dining hall, and the like, though tents would still be used for sleeping purposes.”
“I am delighted to hear that, sir,” said the athletic instructor, warmly. “From what I have seen I believe this to be one of the finest movements ever started to give boys the right kind of outdoor life under clean and religious surroundings. They can have all the fun necessary, and at the same time build up both their bodies and their minds in a healthy fashion. Now if you will watch I can show you some of the work of our life-saving corps. You will see that with such well-trained helpers there will be no danger of even the most timid or awkward bather incurring any risk of losing his life.”
Mr. Holwell was deeply interested.
“Tell me more about the life-saving crew, and what requirements they must be able to meet before they are fully qualified to serve as members in good standing,” he asked the athletic director, as they stood, after coming out of the water themselves, watching all that went on.
“I shall do so with pleasure,” replied the other, his eyes sparkling. Truth to tell, that was the very thing he took the keenest interest in. “You see the crew in one of the big Y. M. C. A. camps is really an auxiliary branch of the United States Volunteer Life-saving Corps. To become a member a boy must pass through a stiff test. This consists of swimming one hundred yards, using three different strokes; swimming on the back without the use of his hands; swimming one hundred yards, starting with his clothes on, and removing them while doing it; diving into water about eight feet deep for a ten-pound rock, and bringing it to shore; knowing how to handle a boat, and being familiar with its different parts, as well as tying various sailor knots.”