The canoe-tag was a laughable affair—naturally, the contestants wore bathing suits. Uncle Tom and Uncle Bill loaned their canoes to the visitors for the day.
“Tell you what, boys, this makes me feel young again!” exclaimed Uncle Bill, as he laughed at certain tricks.
“Why, Uncle Bill! You’re not old,” defended Billy.
“No indeed, he is just as young as any of us!” said Fred.
“About as young as Teddy, for instance,” laughed Mrs. Remington.
“Yes, as young and as foolish,” added Aunt Miriam.
And Uncle Bill quickly diverted every one’s attention to a beautiful schooner ploughing through the waves of the bay.
That day the luncheon was a picnic affair, for all of the Rosemary and Isola Bella relatives brought huge hampers of food. Immediately after the lunch a cleanup brigade got rid of the debris before the final preparations were made for the Grand Council.
Then, the boys’ and girls’ tents were filled with excited Woodcrafters adding the finishing touches to their ceremonial costumes. For, whatever else was lacking in the suitcases of the Wako Girls and Grey Fox Boys, it was not the tiniest or bulkiest item of their Woodcraft Council Robes! No indeed!
Three o’clock found a goodly company completely circling the Council Place. Besides relatives and families of the captains present other visitors had arrived after luncheon.