fire. That's the most important thing,
really--to get the fire started."

"We can't use matches, can we?" asked Zara.

"No, the fire must be made Indian fashion, with two sticks. But we all
know how to do that, I think. The idea of sending two girls ahead is
to have that part of the work done when the main body reaches our
camping ground."

"Where is that? We can know now, can't we, Wanaka?" asked Margery.

"Yes, it's all right to tell you now. You know those twin peaks beyond
Little Bear Lake--North Peak and South Peak?"

"Yes," came the answer, in chorus.

"Well, our place is on North Peak, and Mr. Hastings will take his
Scouts to South Peak. The trails are different, but they're the same
length."

"Why was that kept such a secret?" asked Bessie.

"Because Mr. Hastings and I decided that it would be fairer if there
was no chance at all to go over the trail first and learn all about it.
Then there was the chance that if either party thought of it they could
locate kindling wood and fallen wood that could be used for the
fire-making. On a regular hike, you see, you would go to a place that
was entirely strange, and it seemed better to keep things just as near
to regular hiking conditions as we could."

"Oh, I see! And that's a good idea, too. It's just as fair for one as
for the other, then."

"Who are going to be the two girls to go ahead? And why can't we all
get there at the same time?" asked Dolly.

"One question at a time," said Eleanor, with a laugh. "I'll answer the
second one first. We've got to carry all the things we need for making
camp and getting a meal cooked. So if we send out two girls ahead,
with nothing to carry, they can make much better time than those who
have the heavy loads."

"Will they do the same thing?" asked Zara. "The Boy Scouts, I mean?"

Eleanor smiled.

"Ah, I don't know," she said. "They will if Mr. Hastings thinks of it,
I'm sure, because it would be a good move in a race."

"Is it quite fair in case they don't happen to think of it?" asked
Margery, doubtfully.

"Why not? This isn't just like a foot-race. It isn't altogether a
matter of speed and strength, or even of endurance--"

"I should hope not!" declared Dolly. "If it was, what chance would we
have against those boys?"

"Suppose we found some new way of rubbing sticks that would make fire
quicker than the regular way, it would be fair to use that, wouldn't
it, Margery?" asked Bessie.

"