One Saturday before the weather was too cold, they all went to Bedloe’s Island, now renamed Liberty Island, in New York Harbour. Here they climbed the endless round of narrow iron steps until they regretted having started the ascent. But there was no turning back, as the descent was on the other side and no one could go down when once started up.
Having wearily climbed to the crown of the head in the Liberty Goddess Statue, they were disappointed at not finding the view any better than that seen from the balcony where the elevator stopped, but which was wonderful from that vantage point. From the Statue they walked about the Island and then took the small boat back to Battery Park.
The Aquarium was visited next, and here the girls found many odd and interesting fish. One funny fish, grey in colour and about fifteen inches in length, kept bumping his nose against the glass side as if to come through. At each bump he slid back in the water and tried again.
“‘Constant dripping wears the rock away,’” said Zan, watching him come back again and again to strike the glass.
“He is only playing tag with his nose,” explained Jane.
“But why should he always keep his mouth open half-way, as if he had difficulty in breathing?” asked Nita.
“Maybe he has—that constant bumping on his nose will cause a swelling and close up the nostrils,” ventured Elena.
“Oh, I have it!” cried Zan, nodding her head vigourously. “The poor thing has asthma from that damp atmosphere! He gasps through his open mouth and tries to break down the screen of glass to get more air!”
This explanation brought a laugh not only from the girls who crowded about the glass case, but from some observers who also stood watching the queer fish.
Just before Thanksgiving, Mrs. Remington invited Wickeecheokee Band to spend the week-end in camp in the woods back of the house. Fred’s Tribe would also camp there, and it was thought a good time to hold contests between the boys and the girls.