The girls ran over laughingly and found a great round stone partly in the water, and in the top of the stone, a nicely hollowed place about the size of an ordinary wash-basin. At one side a tiny hollow made an admirable soap-dish.
"How did you get water into it?" cried Nita.
"You'll find a tomato can near the bush!" replied Miss Miller.
"That's easy—but how under the sun did you empty out the water afterward?" called Zan.
"I didn't carry the basin to the woods and turn it over, I assure you," laughed Miss Miller; "I took a handful of dried moss and let it soak up the used water. You'll see how nicely it absorbs the moisture. Then take a handful of clean moss and wash the basin out."
"You are too fastidious for me—I'll wash in the brook!" said Zan, comparing the amount of work necessary in using the rock-basin, to the easier way of dipping in the creek.
"Guess we'll choose the brook!" said Hilda.
Miss Miller watched the five girls bending over and joyously splashing water at each other, as well as over their own faces and necks, and thought to herself: "Yes, I took a lot of trouble to use that basin, but they will always remember that dry moss will soak up moisture if a dry condition is required."
For breakfast that morning, the Guide mixed some batter for pancakes. The girls heard the beating of the spoon and gathered about curiously.
"Batter cakes, girls. I'll mix them this time, and one of you can watch them bake. The others can look after other work. I'll prepare some cocoa, if you like."