Dirk took the card, and glanced at the rows of print upon it. “It’s a bargain!” he cried. “And I’ll start working on the tests this very minute!”
“Hold on! There’s one thing more I want to say before you rush out and start your job. Remember what I’ve told you—your chance of fitting yourself for the Long Trail is a very slim one indeed. Promise me that, in the event you don’t come through with your part of our bargain, you will take it like a sportsman, and even though you miss out this season, you will continue in the same spirit that you are starting now. It may be bitter medicine to take, but take it like a man!”
“I—I promise, Chief.”
Dirk fumbled for the doorknob, his heart full of gratitude and a determination that was new to him. He found himself outside the office, standing on the porch with a cool wind about his hot forehead. Through blurred eyes he scanned the printed card in his hand, reading the list of things that he must do within the coming days, if he was to join Brick Ryan and the rest on the Long Trail:
REQUIREMENTS FOR LENAPE HONOR EMBLEM
1. Know the North Star and five constellations. 2. Collect fifteen wild flowers. 3. Identify fifteen trees. 4. Collect and identify five kinds of rocks. 5. Know ten birds. 6. Handle a rowboat and name ten parts of a boat. 7. Swim 100 yards. 8. Make a permanent woodcraft exhibit, or build some camp improvement. 9. Build a good cooking fire and cook potatoes, rice pudding, twist biscuit, and broiled meat. 10. Play on an athletic team in an inter-camp contest. 11. Take a part in a camp show. 12. Act as a tent aide for one day. 13. Show at all times the finest spirit as an all-round Lenape camper.
Dirk whistled as his eye ran down the list. No wonder Brick and Lefty and the others wore their green L badges with pride! And now, in the few days remaining before the canoes cut the water on the first leg of the journey to Kinnecut, he must do all these things, or stay behind. But, although he had never in all his life faced such a task as this, he did not admit even to himself that he might fail.
He buttoned the card carefully in his breast pocket. Then, with a new light in his eyes, he ran down the steep path toward the lake shore. Mr. Wally Rawn, on duty at the dock before morning swim period, was startled by the tall figure of a boy who clutched his arm, and gasped breathlessly: “Wally, sir! Do you think you could teach me to swim a hundred yards today? I want to learn to swim, and I want to learn now!”
By nightfall, Dirk had not learned all that there is to know about swimming, but Wally’s first lesson had given some confidence in handling himself in the water, as well as a hope that diligent practice should enable him to swim the required number of yards at no distant date. Moreover, the boy’s lips tilted in a satisfied smile as he glanced at the spaces on the requirement card in his hand. Three items were already initialed. Wally Rawn had found time to teach him the rudiments of managing a rowboat. Lefty Reardon, a bit doubtful of this sudden interest in campcraft by the new boy but unaware of its cause, had been persuaded to coach him upon trees and rocks, and Van Horn’s collection and identification were vouched for by the initials of Mr. Jim Avery.
“Only ten more to go!” Dirk breathed to himself. “I’ll get somebody to show me the stars tonight, and in the morning——” He caught his breath. “Why, how could I forget? Tomorrow is the day of the big game with Shawnee!”