As the last Brave left his tent the chugging of engines was heard and the launch Orion rounded the south end of Sunset Island, while at the same time the Zeus arrived from Isola Bella.
The Orion brought Aunt Edith and Uncle Tom from the mainland. With them were some visitors and Miss Travis, known to the boys and girls as Aunt Flo-flo. Aunt Edith introduced one of the visitors to the members of the Pentagoet Tribe.
“This is my little friend Trixie Ashe—she has come to spend several weeks at Rosemary.”
Trixie was about thirteen but looked older. Being the only child and always in the society of elders she felt out of her element in the camp of the young Woodcrafters. Then, too, she was expensively dressed in apparel more adapted for a house-party than for a rough outing.
Trixie looked around with keen interest at the animated faces of the boys and girls she had heard so much about during the past few days. Her opinions, already formed of how such athletic young folks would look, underwent a sudden change. Before she had quite finished her survey, Trixie admitted to herself that she had never met a group of such fine-looking happy young people.
She turned to Aunt Edith and remarked, “You didn’t exaggerate a bit, Mrs. Charlton, when you told me how picturesque the costumes were and how very interesting the Island is.”
“I am glad you like it, but really you know, these costumes are for ceremonial occasions only. No one could run or feel free in them for actual camp-life. We have a suitable uniform for every-day use,” returned Aunt Edith.
During this interview, Mrs. Remington and Mrs. Farwell were giving Bridget with “the secret” (an immense layer cake) into Mose’s charge, for there were to be refreshments served at the end of the Council.
“Come along now, Woodcrafters—it’s nearly three o’clock,” reminded Billy, leading the way to the Council place.
The others followed and soon Fred, in full costume, took the Council Chair and opened the meeting by proclaiming: “Meetah Kola, nayhoonpo omnicheeyey nee-chopi”—meaning, “Hear me my friends, we are about to hold a council.”