"Miss Hollister, our four tents are up."

"Yes, that's Father's surprise," she rejoined. "He sent up one of his men
yesterday so that we need have no trouble." And turning to Ethel she
said: "Usually we have to hire a man in the village to come up and do
such work, but Father has anticipated us this time."

"Isn't he lovely?" said the girls in unison, jumping like children from
the wagon and peeping into each tent. There were all the baskets ready
to be unpacked, and following the buckboard came the trunks.

They quickly removed their hats, etc., and bade the driver goodbye, who
by the way was now using handfuls of leaves to clean the animals; after
which each one was assigned her task.

"Patty Sands, you may unpack and wipe the china. Mattie Hastings, you
may put it in place. Ethel, you may watch this time, as you are a
tenderfoot. Nora, you arrange the blankets, towels, and linen in order,
will you?" And so Kate kept each girl working.

Mollie Long made the cots; Sallie Davis put the cooking utensils in
place; Edith Overman and Edna Whitely began gathering sticks for the
fire.

"Oh!" ejaculated Ethel, "that's my task, isn't it? I'm the Wood
Gatherer," she said.

"The first day a tenderfoot is our guest," replied Mollie Long,
laughing. "You wander away and think of the story you'll have to write
and read aloud."

"In other words," broke in Nora, "go way back and sit down."

But Ethel watched the girls work. It was a revelation to her. They
seemed more like boys.

"Why," explained Edna Whitely, "if necessary we could drive the stakes
and put up our tent, couldn't we, Miss Hollister?"

"Yes, I hope you'd be able to," she said. "I think women do far harder
work than that every day."

Kate had changed her gown for a pair of bloomers and was working hard
running back and forth giving orders like a general. By twilight every
trunk was unpacked and in its place. Each girl had changed her gown and
the Camp Fire was ready to light after tea. Then came preparations. In
one tent there was an oil stove. Outside stood a barrel of oil. It was
an extra tent to be used as a kitchen. Two upright stakes with one
running across, upon which were many hooks, served to hold all of the
kitchen utensils. They hung from it as naturally as though in a real
kitchen. One of the packing boxes became a serving table and afterwards
did duty for a sink. In the center of the kitchen was a long table made
of planks laid upon a wooden ho