“Why, we ought to have a signal.”
“That’s true.”
“Well, my plan is to have a signal up there,” said Phil, pointing to the solitary tree on the top of the cliff.
“How can you manage it?”
“Why, turn that tree into a flag-staff by cutting off the branches., I can climb it, and if I can have the hatchet for a little-while, I’ll promise to get every branch off.”
“Well, now, Phil,” said Bruce, “I call that a first-rate idea. But where will you get a flag?”
“I’ll fasten my red shirt on.”
“Hurrah!” cried all, clapping Phil on the back. “Phil, you’re a genius.”
“Talking about signals,” said Tom Crawford, “a flag won’t be enough. We want something for nights and for foggy days. We ought to build a heap of dry brush and kindling, and be ready to light it at a moment’s notice. Perhaps it would be too much trouble to keep it going all night.”
“Yes; it would,” said Bruce. “The best thing would be to have a pile ready to light. But the first thing to do is to build our camp, and we’ll have lots of brush ready for the pile. Phil can have the hatchet to trim the tree after we have cut the poles and things for the camp.”