Immediately after dinner, the Band gathered again in the living-room and Miss Miller began showing the girls how to make different kinds of knots. This was something new and it proved very interesting although it took a long time before anything like a successful knot resulted from the many twists and snarls made in the rope.

Then, Miss Miller showed them how to make a threadlashing, and to splice a rope correctly. This also was unusual work and proved interesting.

"I want to have you each try for a degree of Frontier Scout and eight tests successfully taken along these lines will win the degree for you. I wanted to teach you how to solder a tin and temper a knife. You already know how to use an axe correctly, and knowing how to do the things shown you this afternoon will make seven altogether. I spoke to Bill the other day about showing you how to milk his cow, and he laughed but proved willing to teach," said Miss Miller.

"Oh, Miss Miller, save us that experience!" cried Jane.

"I'd be scared to pieces to go near that wild-looking animal, Miss Miller!" exclaimed Nita, fear shining from her eyes.

"Why, she wouldn't hurt you," laughed Zan.

"But just think! She may turn and butt me!" said Nita, shuddering at the idea.

"Ha, ha! She couldn't, Nita—her horns are worn off with age!" screamed Zan, the very suggestion of grey old Bossy butting making her double over.

"Well, I think I'd rather lose a degree or take some other test," insisted Nita, so the subject was dropped for the time being.

The next hour was given to making records in Tally Books, filling in claims and witnessing properly all the claims the girls were entitled to take, and then the question of how to win additional coups and grand coups started again. Whenever a pause occurred in camp routine and fun, that seemed to lack something to fill in, the subject of how to win coups was always the most interesting to discuss.

Zan had gone to the porch to bring in a bucket of drinking water and she now announced that the rain had ceased and she had seen enough blue sky to make an old maid's night-cap.

"I don't think it can last!" said the Guide.

"Oh, don't say it so dubiously, Miss Miller. Haven't we had enough of rain all week?" cried Jane.

"It is through now, however! The wind has veered!" exclaimed Hilda who had gone to the side-door and watched the weather-vane on the barn.

"The wind may change again within a moment's time," ventured the Guide.

"Oh, pshaw! We'd rather take a chance on the weather than stay cooped here any longer!" said Elena, backed by the sense of being shut up in a house, even though the day had been disagreeable.

"Well, are we going to start for the Bluff?" came from Zan.

"Yes, but we may as well take our left-over dinner with us. It won't be such fun to get that camp-fire burning in the soaked fire-place," replied Hilda.

As the suggestion was a good one, the girls each took a dish or pail and started on the trail to camp.

"It really is too bad we couldn't take the cheerful fire with us—but I left the wire shield in front of it, in case it blazes up again," remarked Nita.

"That was very thoughtful of you, dear. I quite forgot about the fire," admitted the Guide.

"We won't need it again, so it doesn't matter much," came from Jane.

"Supposing it begins to pour rain again before night—shall we run to the house for the night?" said Elena, who had been listening to Nita's conversation with the Guide.

"It won't rain any more, never fear!" called Zan.

Wickee was not fond of walking in wet leaves, or past bushes that showered water all over him as he passed, so he dropped to the rear of the line and walked carefully in the narrow pathway that had been well-worn during the past month.

At camp, everything looked dismal and uninviting. The rain had beaten through into the cupboard and all the groceries were sodden. It had trickled on top of the ice-chest and by following a groove in the lid, managed to force an entry inside. The consequence was that a pool of rain-water stood two inches deep about the ice, butter, pudding for supper, and other items that were floating about when the lid was raised.

"I hope to goodness, the cots are dry! And the crex mats in the tents!" complained Nita.

"Humph! Feel of the mats!" laughed Zan, jumping up and down in her tent to hear the water squash underneath the piece of matting.

"My bed's all dry!" shouted Jane joyously.

"So's mine!" came from Elena.

"I'm thankful to say that mine is dry, too!" said Miss Miller, prodding the mattress.

"I put the rubber blanket over mine, so I know it's dry as bones!" laughed Zan.

"That is what we all should have done, for the dampness will permeate even if the tents are water-proof," said the Guide, spreading the rubber over her cot.

The other girls followed Zan's idea and then came out to see what was to be done about supper.

Just as they sat down on some rustic stools that had been made by the Band during the past weeks, the sun shot forth a ray as if to say good-night. The birds refused to come out and greet it, however, and nature seemed too wet to rejoice at the tardy appearance of the sinking orb of day.

"Let's build a roaring fire of our dry wood and sit about it telling ghost stories!" suggested Jane, after supper.

So, it came to pass that at bedtime that night, five sought their cots in a shivery frame of mind, due to gruesome stories, at which each tried to outdo the other in relating.

It was quite dark and the wind, which had not shifted, was blowing weirdly through the forest, ever and anon sending a dripping leaf, or wet twig into the faces of the fearsome girls.

"I can't help thinking of that cheerful log we left burning in the fire-place at the house," called Jane.

"And what a delightful walk it would be through the woods and over the buckwheat field!" sneered Zan.

"So long, girls, I'm in bed!" came from Hilda's tent.

"Mark for you in the morning—slang!" quickly added Elena.

Miss Miller, although standing on a thoroughly soaked mat, listened to the girls with a smile. She had raised a faint remonstrance when the ghost stories had become nerve-quaking, but the girls laughed merrily and begged to continue.

Just as she was ready to jump into bed a crack of thunder sounded directly overhead and a vivid flash of lightning illuminated the woods.

Shrieks from the other tents did not tend to make matters more comfortable, for it was inevitable that a shower was about to get them.

"Close the flaps and see that your tents are all well secured!" called the Guide.

In a short time the wind tore along the clearing of the Bluff and tried to rip up anything that was not rooted in the soil. The rain came down in a deluge while thunder and lightning seemed to come simultaneously, until the girls hid their heads under the bed-covers.

The water finally managed to trickle through the seams of the canvas and soon little pools of water stood in the hollows formed by the sides of the forms under the covers. Miss Miller had wisely inspected the pegs and ropes that held her tent down taut, but the girls neglected the advice given them a short time before. They took for granted that all would be well with the tents.

Then, a lull in the storm gave the girls courage to call to each other, "It's over, thank goodness! We're still dry!"

But they spoke too soon. A few minutes afterward a flash and peal of thunder announced a second storm, still heavier than the first one. A regular hurricane blew up the slope from the roadway and at every gust the tents threatened to give up their hold and fly away with the cyclone. The girls hurriedly jumped from their beds and held on to the straining ropes.

"I know just how a ship-wrecked sailor feels when the shred of sail is about to be torn away in the squall!" shouted Zan, so as to be heard above the commotion the storm caused.

Although her canvas was safe, the Guide arose and hurriedly dressed in case she would be needed at either of the other tents.

She was just about to light a candle when a horrifying yell, as from one throat, came from Hilda's tent—or at least where the tent had been. A terrific gale of wind had forced a way under the canvas and lifted the tent clear off the ground and flung it against some trees. The girls were left exposed to the elements and no partiality was shown by the rain on account of meager clothing.

"Help! Girls, come and help us get the tent!" screamed Jane.

Miss Miller was about to open the flap of her tent when the wind blew out the lighted taper. She leaned over to place it on the stand when screams from Zan and the third tent announced some catastrophe. They had hurriedly opened the tent-flaps and the wind, taking advantage of the opportunity, blew in and at once filled the hollow canvas opening. In another second both tents were blown over and down against the ground.

All five girls flew to Miss Miller's remaining tent and clamoured for admittance—the water pouring down their backs and their feet wet from the soggy grass.

The Guide shouted for them to enter one at a time through the tiny crevice she made in the opening of the tent. They crowded inside and stood shivering and ready to weep at their predicament.

"What shall we do?" cried Nita, who had never been exposed to such rude behaviour of the wind or weather.

"We can run down to Sherwoods', but they won't have any beds! They only have one room upstairs, you know," said Zan.

"You horrid thing, you talk as if this was a picnic!" whimpered Hilda.

"It is. After it is over you'll all sit and laugh at the figures you're cutting now!" shouted Zan, grinning in a superior manner at her companions.

Suddenly Miss Miller clasped her hands. "Thank goodness, we carried the trunk of steamer rugs into my tent the other week when you needed more room in your tents! I've got them right here and you girls can drop those soaking gowns and wrap the blankets about you for warmth and comfort."

The four extra thick blankets were taken from the trunk and one from the Guide's bed, giving each girl one. Zan had held a match during the time Miss Miller had to open the trunk, but it had burned down and gone out again. In the thick darkness the girls took off their gowns and wrapped the dry blankets about their forms.

The storm ceased as suddenly as it arose, so the Band debated the possibility of reaching the farm house that night.

"I left that lovely fire!" said Nita, with a sigh.

"And it can't be more than nine o'clock!" added Hilda.

"I say, let's start! We can't be more uncomfortable than huddled here. And we certainly can't sleep in one cot!" suggested Zan.

"Wait until I see if I can find the candle I had when the deluge came," said Miss Miller, groping about for the table.

"We'll need more than one light, Miss Miller," said Zan.

"I'll see if I can find the small stump I had last night," replied the Guide, finding the matches and lighting one.

The candle was soon lit and the stump found, so all prepared to leave the shelter of the small tent and seek the house.

Zan carried the new candle while Miss Miller fastened a hat-pin in the bottom of the stump and carried that. The girls easily avoided bushes and long wet grass in crossing over the Bluff, although their moccasins soon squeaked with water.

"I wish I knew where the lantern was—it would be so much steadier a light," ventured Zan, from the rear.

"I left it at the house the other day—I forgot to bring it back to camp," admitted Elena.

"I wish we had made a law to make folks pay forfeits for forgetting!" snapped Zan, impatiently.

"What's the matter with you to make you so cross? You're well rolled up in that blanket and you've got the torch, too!" retorted Elena.

Zan bit her lip but said nothing. The truth of the matter was that she felt guilty in driving Miss Miller out in the night with a rubber blanket wrapped about her. Zan reasoned that all the trouble would have been avoided if they had all paid attention to Miss Miller's advice in the beginning and pitched their tents in good ground between the trees as she did. Her tent stood any gale, while theirs—well, compare them!

"Oh, gracious me! There goes my blanket!" cried Nita, as the article slipped from her back and fell in the grass.

Just as Zan stooped to hold the candle so Nita could see where to take hold of the blanket, a puff of wind snuffed it completely out.

"Pshaw! Did you ever see the likes!" growled Zan.

"Here, light it at mine!" called Miss Miller.

Plodding along the narrow trail, now on one side in the wet grass, now on the other where the bushes shook drops all over them, they finally came to the maple grove.

"Thank goodness, we are thus far!" sighed the Guide.

"And the worst bit to cross or I'll miss my guess!" retorted Zan.

"Oh, no, we'll soon be through and over the wall of the buckwheat field. There, we can skirt the edge of the wall until we come to your lawn," added Jane.

"If you're not mired before you get to the field," said Zan, warningly.

"Why, what do you mean?" cried several voices.

"The Sap bush generally oozes water after a heavy, rain like to-day's. If we feel water bubbling up about our feet we'd better come back here and go around the grove," said Zan.

"We've had days of dry weather and the rain will have soaked in the ground immediately, so I guess we are safe to cross," replied Miss Miller, wearily.

Zan said nothing more but waited anxiously.

They managed to get over the snake fence safely and part way through the grove when a strong wind blew the branches of the maples enough to shake down a quantity of water from the leaves. As troubles never come singly, the water fell upon both small flames and extinguished them, leaving the Band in total darkness.

"Zan knows the way, so we'll follow her," suggested Jane.

"Don't blame me if we get stuck!" grumbled Zan, as she unwillingly took the lead.

All went well for a short time and Zan began to congratulate the Band upon their speedy arrival at the house. She was about to make a remark of that kind to cheer them when one of her feet sunk down over five inches in water. The bubbling about her foot warned her to pull out quickly.

She did so and jumped back. But the girls behind had not heard the water gurgle and had kept right on after Zan. By the sudden spring backwards, Zan and the girl behind collided and both rolled down in the sodden grass.

"Couldn't you look where you were going!" half-cried Elena, as she tried to crawl upon her feet. One moccasin had dropped off and she could not find it in the tall grass.

"I was looking but it was so dark that the eyes I carry at the back of my head could not see you!" chuckled Zan, to whom a spill more or less in the wet woods meant nothing.

"I'll have my death of cold as it is, to say nothing of walking in bare feet through this soaked grass!" complained Elena.

"Instead of grumbling you ought to be glad you won't get anything worse than your death! Wet feet can't harm you if you've gone the limit, anyway!" retorted Zan, irritatingly.

"I wish my mother knew of the way I am soaked!" Elena continued, whining.

"Well, she won't, thank goodness! She'd use every speck of mustard in our cupboard, and keep us up all night to heat water in which to roll you and the mustard!" Zan replied.

"Are you two going to keep us here all night while you quarrel over some one who isn't here, nor even expected?" asked Jane, peevishly.

Miss Miller had quietly chosen the way back, determined to go about the grove if necessary, so she had not heard the altercation between Elena and Zan.

By taking the round-about way to reach the house the weary and worn Band did not cross the front lawn, but arrived at the back door. As the doors were never locked they soon were indoors and before the fire-place where Nita's log still blazed cheerily up the chimney.

"Girls, have any of you seen Wickee since he followed us to the woods this afternoon?" said Zan, suddenly.

No one had, but all had heard the scratching at the front door.

"He wasn't at camp with us to-night, for he would have begged for supper," added Nita.

Some of the girls ran to the front door and, opening it, displayed Wickee on the door mat. He was perfectly dry and had been camping on the porch in preference to returning through the cold wet woods when his mistress went to camp that afternoon.

As Zan went out to the well to bring in a bucket of water, she called to all of the others, "Oh, come here and see Lake Superior!"

When Miss Miller and the girls reached the porch a strange sight, indeed, met their gaze. The torrents of rain that had fallen could not seep into the ground quickly enough and had run down from the gardens and grove, over the surface, until the lawn was reached. As the front lawn had a decided depression in the centre a lake about an acre in extent was the result.

"Imagine what would have happened if we had stumbled into this in the darkness, coming by the path we generally use?" said Miss Miller.

"We'd have had something worth Elena's crying over," said Jane.

"Well, I don't care, now! I'll be sick anyway after this soaking!" whimpered Elena.

"Indeed you won't! You'll go straight home if you continue that strain of thought here where all of us are proving that health is not subject to wet skins!" replied Miss Miller, sternly.

Elena was so amazed at the unexpected attitude of the Guide that she hurried into the house and said not another word of fear of sickness.

The girls assisted Miss Miller in making hot lemonade to warm their chilled bodies. Then, every one was ordered to rub down thoroughly with Turkish towels, and pop into bed under blankets which had been warmed through before the blazing fire.

No one felt the slightest discomfort from the drenching, but the girls all complained of the closeness of sleeping in rooms. They felt as if they were cramped in boxes.

"I don't know what we shall do at home. I begin to see what Daddy means when he says 'folks don't need over-heated homes and poorly ventilated rooms,'" sighed Zan.

"The doctor is perfectly right, too. Half the ills the present generation suffers from are caused by poor ready-made foods, lack of sufficient exercise through rapid-transit, and the sweetmeats and indolence two-thirds of our women indulge in, to say nothing of late hours, excitement and major evils," added Miss Miller.

"Daddy has written a book on just that subject, Miss Miller! How queer you should speak like he does. He thinks that this generation is using up the vitality and perfect health bestowed upon us by our ancestors, and if we don't start soon to build a fund for ourselves and our descendants we will dwindle into a puny race. That is why he is such a radical for less medicine and more common sense in every-day living," replied Zan.

"Well, we'll all read that book, Zan, when it is ready, and no doubt find out how to live better," said the Guide.

Breakfast was eaten in the house while the welcome sun streamed in at doors and windows, and the birds came out of their refuges and sang blithely to one another.

No one wanted to remain indoors any longer than was necessary, so they started for the Bluff as soon as dishes were washed. The water that had formed the pond on the lawn the night previous had soaked into the ground leaving the lawn a soggy looking place, indeed.

As the Band neared the Bluff the sound of rushing water made them look at each other in surprise.

"Oh, I bet anything, the terrific fall of rain has started a freshet! If it is, girls, it will be wonderful! Do let's run!" shouted Zan, leading the race.

"It is! it is! Look at that torrent pouring down the ravine and falling over the Bluff, Miss Miller!" cried Zan, excitedly, as they came out from the woods.

It certainly was a beautiful sight! The water that rushed down through the ravine roared over the Falls; the pool being encircled by the steep banks turned the water back on itself when it could find no outlet excepting the narrow stream at the lower end. Thus, a miniature whirlpool formed which added greatly to the wildness of the scene.

"Our tents are a fine mess!" exclaimed Elena, disgustedly, seeing the damage made by the wind the night previous.

"Humph! Miss Miller's stood all right! I see now why we should have chosen a spot as Miss Miller did—we, too, could have anchored our tents to the tree-trunks and had a better hold for our stakes than we found in the shallow ground here," admitted Zan, looking over the wreckage.

"I suppose the sooner we get busy rigging things up again, the better it will be for their drying out. All that bedding and the cots have to be dragged out and hung on bushes to dry!" said Jane.

"I'll go down and have Bill come up to help us. We will borrow a line from Mrs. Sherwood and hang the wet bedding on that," offered the Guide.

All that morning was spent in straightening out the damage of the night before, and when, finally, tents were well secured alongside the tent of the Guide, the Band was ready for a big dinner.

The Guide had been attending to the cooking while the girls worked over their tents and beds, and at noon they all sat down to rest and enjoy a well-earned meal.