Much mystery was in the air relative to the decorating of canoes. Each group of girls contesting had one in some sequestered spot and was decking it for the annual canoe pageant. Prizes were to be given for the prettiest and for the most original idea. Crepe paper had been brought up in quantities and in all colors from Bath. Wire and string were in great demand. Some of the girls were working hard on designs and decorations. The little folks had great ambitions, but depended more on their councillors to work out ideas. The older girls could do their own decorating, with assistance at the last from the long-suffering man power of the camp; for not a tack or wire was to be hammered into these graceful and expensive canoes.
“I know what you’re going to have,” asserted Virgie to June.
“No you don’t; you just hope I’m going to tell you!”
“Yes I do, I guessed.”
“Who told you that you were right?”
“Nobody.”
“O, you just think that you can get me to tell you, Miss Virgie, but we are going to have the funniest and best of all, I’m sure. Just wait till tomorrow night!”
CHAPTER XXII
THE CANOE PAGEANT
Lilian was trying on Eloise’s bathing suit of red and black, and wrapping the cloak of the same colors about her, she folded her arms and repeated, “Fifteen men on a dead man’s chest!”
“Yo! ho! ho! and a bottle of rum! Wait till I get on my fierce beard and mustache and you’ll see what a pirate can look like!”