it was drawing ahead--smoothly, with clean, rhythmic
strokes. The green cap made a game spurt. Probably those last five
yards were the bravest effort of Clara VanSittart's life. But
everything was against her--ice cream, conscience, and Pip-Emma. She
lost her stroke, took a mouthful of lake, and foundered. The watchful
Prissy in the motorboat hauled her in like a drowning puppy. The rest
of the entry, consternated, gave up the struggle. They were up against
the imponderable--sheer inspiration. Pip-Emma's Gang flashed past the
winning flag like a silver fish.

The Penguins cheered. Their pride, their self-esteem, had foundered
with their leader. But honorable Camp tradition demanded that they
should cheer. Pip-Emma collapsed breathless. She saw Janet climb out
of the water and her Pop and Ma go to meet her, trying to look as
though they weren't fit to burst. Janet threw her wet arms about them
both, and then the three of them turned toward the tents, Janet
walking in the middle. She walked differently. She had her head up and
was swinging her cap and talking hard, like someone accustomed to
being listened to.

Pip-Emma stood up. Alone and hidden by the trees, she performed an
exultant war dance. She did not know it. But it was Hell's Kitchen
dancing on Park Avenue.

* * * * *

To celebrate Miss Thornton's birthday the Happy Warriors went on a two
days' hike. The Peewits camped on the other side of the Lake, which
gave them the illusion they had hiked an enormous distance. The
Penguins were to climb the Little Mountain, and the Pelicans the Big
Mountain. Miss Thornton stayed in camp. Having been wakened at the
crack of dawn by eager voices singing "Happy birthday, Miss Thornton,"
she felt justified.

At the last moment one of the Penguin counselors went down with a
cold, and Prissy had to take on the Penguins single-handed. Ordinarily
she wouldn't have cared. The Penguins, as campers, were almost
annoyingly efficient. But they were in bad shape. Their morale was
shot to pieces. They had lost faith. They weren't even sure whether
they liked hiking, or the Camp, or one another, or themselves. They
watched Pip-Emma and wondered anxiously what she thought.

Pip-Emma wouldn't have told them for the world. In fact she didn't
really know. But as she climbed up through the cool shadows of the
forest, with Janet tagging at her heels, something happened. It was as
though she really were seeing trees for the first time. They