n which the girls paddled
up to the dock, disembarked, dragged the canoes across the dock
and launched them again on the other side. Again Hinpoha and
Nakwisi won.
Then came a race between the two crews with the paddlers standing
on the gunwales, which tested the skill of the girls to the
uttermost. With superhuman effort they kept their balance and
came sweeping in neck and neck, the watchers on shore cheering
lustily. "Go it, Hinpoha!" shouted Nyoda, and Hinpoha raised her
head to look at her, lost her balance, and upset the canoe,
leaving Sahwah and Migwan the victors.
The spectators applauded heartily, and sang cheers for the
winners, when suddenly the applause was echoed from behind them.
Nyoda wheeled swiftly around and faced two gentlemen standing at
the foot of the path leading to the dock. As she turned they came
forward, hats in hand. The elder man spoke: "I am Professor
Bentley, of Harvard University, and this is Professor Wheeler."
Nyoda graciously acknowledged the introductions. "We have been
staying at the other end of the lake," resumed the stranger, "and
intended to return home to-day, but missed the steamer. We were
told that a steamer passed Wharton's Landing at noon, so we
walked over for it. Can you tell us which is Wharton's Landing?"
"That is Wharton's Landing directly opposite," replied Nyoda,
"but the steamer has already gone past. There is a different
schedule on holidays. However, it passes again at six this
evening. Won't you be our guests until then? We can take you
across in the launch." The strangers accepted the invitation and
Nyoda introduced the other girls.
Professor Wheeler looked long and hard at Hinpoha. He seemed
unable to take his eyes from her hair.
"And now," said Professor Bentley, when they were all comfortably
seated upon the rocks, "would you mind telling me what you are
and what you were doing when we came up?"
"We are Camp Fire Girls," they cried in chorus, "and we're
celebrating the Fourth of July!"
"So you're Camp Fire Girls, are you?" answered Professor Bentley.
"That is a Species of the Female that I am greatly interested in.
How fortunate that I should have come upon them in their native
wilds! Is this where you hibernate?--excuse me, I mean
sunburnate!" He wanted to ask a great many questions about the
girls, but Professor Wheeler was anxious for the water sports to
continue.
"The Audience!" exclaimed Sahwah in a rapturous aside to H
|