In the afternoon the boys played a “left-hand” game of baseball with the girls, then staged a regular game, at which the girls rooted impartially for both teams. There were also some singles and doubles in tennis, which showed the boys’ skill. It must be admitted that in athletics the boys are usually ahead. But the girls did not mind being beaten, even when the boys were compelled to use their left hands to throw and catch, and the boys admitted that the girls played well, “for girls”.
Not until after the cafeteria dinner did Campbell have time to visit with Hilary, on whom, however, he quite often kept an eye. But when the games were in progress, he came up and asked her to take a stroll around with him. This singling out of Hilary did not pass unnoticed by the other girls, and Hilary knew that she might come in for a good share of teasing from the Merrymeeting company. But so far there was only good comradeship between Hilary and Campbell, at least, so far as any expression of feeling was concerned. Both were quite young, with some school years before them and life purposes to be worked out.
“O, Campbell,” called June as Hilary and Campbell passed a group of the younger boys and girls who were playing a game. “Tell me more about the hunters’ cabin before we go, will you?”
“All I know is what I told you the other day. Ask Jack here. She wants to hear those smuggler and pirate stories, Jack, that the boys were telling.”
“O, could you tell me, Jack?”
Jack was a bright-eyed youngster of about fourteen years, who was usually ashamed to be seen talking to a girl. But in his enforced position as host it was different. Several of the boys and girls immediately sat down upon the big rock near to hear or help tell the story.
“Who told it in the first place, Jack?” asked one of the boys, a little fellow of some nine years.
“A boy last year was telling the first I ever heard about this country. I think he made it up, because he told us the awfullest yarns all the time about ghosts and pirates and everything; but it was fun to listen, and we all added to it.”
“Come on and tell, Jack.” June was sitting with her elbows on her knees, her face in her hands, ready to listen in breathless interest.
“All right. You know that cabin up at Merrymeeting doesn’t look very old, does it?”