Not a word came in reply and Zan immediately comprehended matters. "I'll go now—will some one come with me?"
The two other girls offered and Hilda looked at Miss Miller. For answer, the Guide said, "Any two of you can help Zan. One will do for me."
"Let me stay now, Hilda, you were here when the fire-place was made," begged Elena.
"Zan, I think it may be wiser to get what is absolutely necessary to-night from Sherwood's. You have already done more than your share of duty and another walk to the house and back is taxing the physical too much at present. A trip to the farmer's cottage will not over-tire any of you," suggested Miss Miller.
The girls sighed with relief, and started for the slope. When they returned to the Bluff with the required articles, the camp-fire had burned up and deposited a pile of red-hot embers in the pit to cook by. The potatoes were boiling noisily and a lump of butter was melting in the pan. The cloth had been spread and Elena was hulling berries.
"Where's Nita?" Zan whispered to the Guide.
"In her tent. She has not appeared since her last display of temper."
"Had I better go and tell her supper will soon be ready?" queried Zan.
"No—leave her absolutely alone. If she comes out of her own accord, the humiliation of accepting food she refused to help prepare, ought to humble her enough. But, Zan, to-morrow at our Council, we must speak of discipline and take up the matter of punishment and fines as outlined in the Manual. I had hoped this would be unnecessary in a small camp such as ours seemed to promise. However, all future mutiny must be provided for."
The supper ready, Miss Miller cheerily took her place and the four girls sat down about the cloth, leaving a vacancy where Nita should have been.