b Veal!" retorted Julie, causing every one to roar at the questioner.

Bob flushed, but walked over to the stove where the Captain stood
stirring the dumplings in the chicken soup. "That's a fine stove,
Captain," ventured he.

"Yes, it is something like the one we built last year in camp. That was
so convenient we decided to have another this summer. Wouldn't you boys
like to examine it closely?"

Thereupon the Grey Foxes did examine it closely, much to their advantage
on useful ideas of kitchen equipment. Then they saw the fireless cooker
that was in use for the time being; so they passed on to inspect the
various birchbark hanging-baskets filled with flowers; the rustic
fern-boxes, and all the useful articles the scouts had manufactured of
birchbark and acorns.

"It takes a girl to do fancywork, all right. Now, we boys are not gifted
that way, you see, but we can make other things, instead," remarked
Alec, bestowing a male's compliments on feminine accomplishments.

"Just what can you make, or have done, that we girls are not able to
do?" demanded Julie.

"Oh, I wasn't personal in any way,--I just meant that it is quite
natural for women to do the light things while men have to look after
the business of life!"

"Well, the quicker you open your eyes to facts, and see that we women of
the present age are fast outstripping the men in _every_ calling, the
better it will be for your own good!" said Julie.

"Just glance around, boys, and tell us if you can make a better showing
for _your_ four years," added Joan, waving her hand at the various
exhibits.

It happened that the girls had each been given a cue by Julie, so that
when the Grey Fox boys came into camp, Judith was found sweeping
carefully with a camp-made broom, Amy and Betty were placing a tabletop
upon its legs and then starting to set the table, and the other scouts
were busy with other unusual things. Now Dick walked over to Judith.

"How did you know you could make a broom like this?" said he.

"Why, this is an old one made the first day we came to camp. You ought
to see our new ones. They are fine!"

Dick examined the broom, and called Alec over. "They can make brooms,
all right, Alec!" said he, showing the article in question. It was made
of long hickory shavings, well bound about a good handle, and promised
to outlast any dozen store brooms.

"But why sweep this grass,--that's foolish," said Alec.

"No, because this is where we will sit ab