So the end of it was that Florence and Winona rowed happily back down the river with what looked extremely like two weeks’ wash in their boat; also with the joyful certainty that Winona, at least, was going to be able to earn her share of the expenses for the extra weeks of camping.
The boys promised to paddle down in a couple of days and get the mended clothes, and—most important—the bill for them. Billy Lee wanted to see his sister, anyway, he said.
When Florence and Winona got back nearly every girl in camp was seated out in the open air, in a big circle, and nearly all of them were talking at once, planning the ceremonial meeting for that night. There was to be a ceremonial fire, a very high and beautiful one with a central pole—this last an innovation which Louise was introducing. And Winona and Marie Hunter were going to be made Fire Makers, Louise and several of the others were going to be Wood-gatherers, and Nataly Lee was going to join.
When Winona joined the circle she found that a good deal of the excitement was being caused by the Book of the Count. Marie and Helen, with paints and pen and brushes, were making the record of the days they had spent in camp a very lively affair.
Winona sat down and looked on at what Marie was doing, and read on the page they had open:
On the second day, Winona,
Ray-of-Light, the Cat-Collector
Made her way unto the village,
To buy post-cards at the village.
With her went the cheerful Comet,
Ishkoodah with flaming tresses;
With her went the Star of Evening,
Helen, gentle Star of Evening,
And Nokoma, flower-giver—
Nataly the flower-giver.
Seeking post-cards, thus they wandered,
But alas, the Cat-Collector
Much preferred to bring home kittens,
And to advertise those kittens.
All next day the ad-replyers
Tracked our camp with questing footsteps,
Asked of us—“Where are those kittens?
Give us several dozen kittens!”
For, alas, those cats had vanished,
Gone with the first two replyers
To the ad Winona paid for.
Still about our Camp come wailing
Folk who seek the cats they heard of,
Seeking several dozen kittens;
Still the Ray-of-Light, Winona,
Cannot give them any kittens,
Cannot stop their wronged insistence
On those kittens, on those kittens—
“Oh, good gracious!” asked Winona, beginning to laugh before she read any further. “Who did make all that up?”
“I did,” said Marie proudly, “but we all helped.”
“Do you mean to tell me that any more people have come catting to-day?” demanded Winona.