“Oh, yes, let’s! I want to show Hilda how I have improved this summer,” urged Paul.
The others smiled encouragingly at the boy in whom there surely had been miracles wrought since he joined Woodcraft. In place of the whining and discontented ways he had acquired a happy optimism; the shirking of duties was now a forgotten habit, the irregular eating, oversleeping, prevarications and other undesirable qualities were now gone for good. And good normal ideas and character-forming exercises took their place.
“Mrs. Baker said, that the doctor has been so over-worked that he needs a change, so Mr. Hubert planned this outing to entice him. They will motor from the Adirondacks in easy stages and then spend the third week-end of August in Camden, so that we can have them over to visit the Island for a day at least!” said Mrs. Remington, looking again at the letter from Mrs. Baker.
“If we hold that last Grand Council when the visiting Tribes are here why not let that occasion be used to crown Fred a Sagamore? He has just won his twenty-fourth feather with the sailing coup,” suggested Elizabeth, eagerly.
“That is a splendid idea, Lizzie!” cried Billy, using that tabooed nickname for his sister.
“We can have some grand water sports as well as other fun,” instantly quoth Fred, to cover the too evident pleasure he felt at the proposition.
“We can have a ‘Spearing the Sturgeon,’ a canoe tag, and a tub-tilting contest as well as a Talk Fest and other fun!” said Dudley, anxious to add his quota.
“Say, don’t you boys go and forget we girls are in on this Council!” warned Elizabeth, with a menacing look.
“Of course!” responded Paul, magnanimously.
“And we’re going to claim Honours for different things, too! I’m going to finish my Hostess and Shingebis Degrees as well as my Handicraft coups,” continued Elizabeth.