thout a bump.

Then the next coil of the spruce roots was laid on, not flat and level,
but raised a little. Also the next, until the walls were as high as four
fingers. Then Akoko said, "Good, that is enough. It is a fine corn
basket. But we must give it a red rim for good luck."

So they sought in a sunny place along the shore, and found the fruit of
the squawberry or blitum. "See," said Akoko, "the miscawa. Gather a
handful, my Nagami. They make the red basket-dye."

They crushed the rich red berries, saving the red juice in a clam shell,
and soaked a few strands of the white willow bark in the stain. When
they were dry, Nagami was taught to add a rim to her basket, by sewing
it over and over as in the picture.

Then Akoko said, "Good, my little Bird-Singer, you have done well, you
have made some old black roots into a beautiful basket."

* * * * *

N.B. The Guide will remember that rattan and raffia can be used for this
when it is impossible to get spruce roots and willow bark. Good dyes may
be made from many different berries.

TALE 22

Crinkleroot; or Who Hid the Salad?

It has long been the custom of the Brownies to have a great feast on the
first of the merry month of May, to celebrate the return of the spring.

[Illustration: The Crinkleroot; or Who Hid the Salad?]

One springtime long ago, they got ready as usual. The King of the
Brownies had invited all the leaders; the place for the dinner was
chosen in a grove of mandrakes whose flat umbrellas made a perfect
roof, rain or shine. The Bell Bird, whose other name is Wood Thrush, was
ringing his bell, and calling all the Chief Brownies by name.

"Ta-rool-ya! _ting-a-ling-ling-ling._"

"Oka-lee! _ting-a-ling-ling-ling._"

"Cherk! _ting-a-ling-ling-ling._"

"Come to the feasting! _ting-a-ling-ling-ling._"

A hundred glow worms were told to hurry up with their lights and be
ready for that night, and busy Brownies gathered good things from woods
and waters, for the feast.

May Day came bright and beautiful. The busy ones had all the "eats" in
the Mandrake Hall, the glowworms were sleeping soundly to fill their
storage batteries ready for the night. It made the salamanders' mouths
water to see so many good things; but they were not asked, so stayed
away. There were dewdrops in acorn cups, and honey on the wax. There
were clam shells piled up with red checkerberries, and caddis worms on
the half shell, with spicebu