new discoveries. Timid as the deer might be, there was nothing nervous
about the squirrels and chipmunks which abounded in the woods near the
lake, and as soon as they saw the girls they came running about, so that
there were often half a dozen or more begging noisily for dainties to
afford them a change from their diet of nuts, sitting up, and chattering
prettily as they got the morsels that were tossed to them.

"I never saw them so tame, even at home," said Bessie, surprised. "We
had plenty of them there, but I suppose they were wilder because the
boys used to shoot them. They don't do that here, I suppose?"

"No; the people who hunt around here go in for bigger game. They would
think they were wasting their time if they bothered to shoot chipmunks
and squirrels."

"I've seen them tame before, but that was in the park, at home, and it
isn't the same thing at all," said Dolly.

"No; though they're very cute, and I'm glad there are so many of them
there. But here, of course, they're in their real home, and it's
different, and much nicer, I think."

Then, after luncheon, Miss Eleanor divided the girls into watches.

"I think we'll have more fun if a certain number stay home every
afternoon to prepare dinner and cook it," she said. "Then the rest of
you can go for walks, or do anything you like, so long as you are back
in time for dinner. In that way, some of you will be free every
afternoon, and those who have to work won't mind, because they will know
that the next day they will be free, and so on."