After showing the approved methods of tying the bowline, the sheepshank knot, and other kinds in common use but not so commonly known to most people, Miss Mason declared the field was free for the contestants.
Although the scouts of Patrol Two were not as experienced as their competitors in knot-tying, Miss Mason and Mrs. James were delighted with their ability and speed in tying the knots.
A tug-of-war was suggested by Janet after the contest was over, and in this the scouts of Patrol Two showed their muscular development and strength over the members of the camp patrol. This success cheered the girls of the house patrol and made up for losing in the knot-tying contest.
It was now suggested that refreshments would be most acceptable because the girls were warm and breathless. So the three women, Mrs. James, the captain, and Rachel, offered their services as waitresses while the scouts relaxed and visited together.
When the wild-berry tarts and fresh-baked cakes, also the glasses of birch beer, were passed, the scouts smacked their lips in appreciation. One of the camp scouts remarked: “What delicious nut cakes. I love chopped almonds.”
But Belle laughed gayly. “They are not nut cakes, but I made them according to a recipe a girl gave me one day when I was out hunting antiques.”
“If they are not nut cakes, what are they?” asked several of the scouts.
“I used rolled oats such as we get for cereal, and toasted them brown in a pan sprinkled with sugar and butter. I stirred this in the cake batter which I had flavored with the meat taken from the cherry stones found under the trees. This meat was soaked in a teaspoonful of alcohol for an hour and made the cake taste like almonds.”
“Well, it proves positively that one can find all sorts of counterfeits,” said one of the camp scouts.
“‘All that glitters is not gold’ is hereby verified,” laughed Janet. “But the cakes taste good enough to be tried a second time.” This comment started the cakes around another time.