nce it
was lighted, might burn clear and bright. A cloudless summer sky gave
promise of a beautiful starlit night, so that there was no danger of a
repetition of the disappointment of the previous night--which, however,
everyone had already forgotten.

After supper, when it was quite dark, the space around the pile was left
empty. Then Mrs. Chester, in her ceremonial Indian robes, stood up in
the centre, near the fire, and one by one the different Camp Fires, led
by their Guardians, came in, singing slowly.

As each girl passed before her, Mrs. Chester made the sign of the Fire,
by raising her right hand slowly, in a sweeping gesture, after first
crossing its fingers against those of the left hand. Each girl returned
the sign and then passed to her place in the great circle about the
fagots, where she sat down.

When all the girls were seated, Mrs. Chester spoke.

"The Manasquan Camp Fire has the honor of lighting our Council Fire
to-night," she said. "Ayu!"

And Ayu stepped forward. She had with her the simple tools that are
required for making fire in the Indian fashion. It is not enough, as
some people believe, to rub two sticks together, and Bessie and Zara,
who had never seen this trick played before, watched her with great
interest. Ayu had, first, a block of wood, not very thick, in which a
notch had been cut. In this notch she rested a long, thin stick, and on
top of that was a small piece of wood, in which the stick or drill
rested. And, last of all, she had a bow, with a leather thong, which was
slipped around the drill.

When everything was ready Ayu, holding down the fire block with one
foot, held the socket of the drill with the left hand, while with the
right she drew the bow rapidly back and forth. In less than a minute
there was a tiny spark. Then rapidly growing, flame appeared and a
moment later, along the carefully prepared tinder, the fire ran to the
kindling beneath the fagots. And then, as the flames rose and began to
curl about the fagots all the girls began to sing together the Camp Fire
Girl Ode to Fire:

"Oh Fire!
Long years ago when our fathers fought with great
animals you were their protection.
From the cruel cold of winter you saved them.
When they needed food you changed the flesh of beasts
into savory food for them.
During all the ages your mysterious flame has been a
symbol to the