“Fred, why don’t you boys invite the girls to dinner at your camp in the woods?”
“How!” eagerly chorused the girls.
“Why, so we will, if the girls will bring the grub over from the barn. We haven’t enough to go around such a crowd.”
Everyone laughed, and Mrs. Remington added: “If I was a Black Bear, I’d scout for victuals and not expect the squaws to bring their own feast!”
Fred understood his mother only too well, and he quickly took the hint, calling Fiji to help him. In another moment the two had disappeared in the woods and were seen no more for some time. The others walked slowly back to the Council House to change the beaded costumes to camp clothes again.
About the time the girls were ready to follow the hosts to the camp in the woods, Fred and Fiji were seen crossing the field, carrying heavy baskets on their arms and bags suspended over their shoulders.
“They must have scouted, Mother!” laughed Mr. Remington.
And “mother” nodded understandingly and laughed also.
At camp the Woodcrafters found Fred and Fiji unpacking boiled ham, potatoes, pickles and preserves, bread, a pie, and other edibles. In the bag that had been slung over Fiji’s back was a stone crock filled with delicious cookies still warm.
“There girls, the cookies will hold you together while we roast potatoes and get the lunch ready,” said Fred.