to help Gladys, the offer of a camping ground for the summer was
irresistible. All winter the girls had been trying to find a
place to camp for at least a few weeks the next summer, and had
given a play to raise the money. They had not thought of going
so far away as Maine, but now that they could have the camp
without paying for it they could use the money for railroad
fares. Such a shout went up from the Winnebagos when Miss Kent
broke the news that passersby paused to listen. They sang a
dozen different cheers to Gladys and her father; then they
cheered for the lake and the camp and the good time they were
going to have until they were too hoarse to speak. Gladys was
then away at school and was to be in New York City with her
parents until the first of July, so Miss Kent and her girls came
up the last week in June to open camp. Gladys had never seen the
place until that day, for her father had just bought it the
previous winter. That she did not want to come was evident to
Miss Kent. She was overdressed and rather supercilious looking,
and was not strong enough to really enjoy the rough and tumble
life of the camp. Miss Kent realized that some adjusting would
be necessary before Gladys would be transformed into a genuine
Winnebago. "But we'll do it, never fear," she thought brightly,
with the unquenchable optimism that had won for her the name of
"Face Toward the Mountain."



CHAPTER II.

THE COUNCIL FIRE.