CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
NEW MEMBERS
"Well, our friend is off! Now what can we do?" wailed Ruth, as thescouts sat disconsolately about the fire.
"I wish we could camp in the Adirondacks this summer! We still haveAugust, you know," said Joan.
"Mr. Gilroy particularly mentioned _next_ season, and besides, you haveto become a registered Troop, before you can accept his invitation,"hinted Mrs. Vernon.
"I should think we ought to hurry up and begin, then," suggested Julie.
"How can we? Those girls in Elmertown will all be away for theirvacations, and how can we find them?" grumbled Ruth.
"Mr. Gilroy said he had given orders in Freedom that any time we wantedto take a trip about the country, we were to have the automobile herented that day for the hunt. He said that this would be his present toyou this summer because he would not be here personally to take youabout," said Mrs. Vernon.
"What did you say--did you refuse or accept?" asked Ruth.
"At first I said I didn't think he ought to pay for the drives, but hesilenced me with a look, and said: 'I have already paid for ten drivesin advance--so they must be used up.'"
"Hurrah! Then we can go for one to-morrow, can't we?" cried Joan.
"I have been planning where to go if we take a drive to-morrow,"answered Mrs. Vernon.
"Why can't we go to Elmertown, first of all, and find out about the newmembers. I don't want to postpone that until it is too late to teachthem anything. You see, we must get on in scoutdom, so we can visit Mr.Gilroy's place next year," said Julie.
"That's what I wanted to suggest, Julie--that we drive home and find outabout new members," responded Mrs. Vernon.
So the grocer's order-man was told that afternoon to have the chauffeurbring his car up to the crossing of the trail with the woodland road thenext morning, where his passengers would be waiting for him.
The following day was fair, so the scouts hurried with the camp-work andthen ran down the trail to wait for the car. They were soon on the roadto Elmertown, enjoying the smooth running of the car over the fine road;after the rough mountain trails, and Hepsy's uncertain going, it was aluxury.
Many stops were made in Elmertown, but of all the girls' homes visitedonly five were available to join the scouts. Many were away on visits,and a few were not allowed to consider joining a camp where escapedconvicts were caught behind the walls!
This last excuse caused such merriment from the scouts that severemothers wondered what there could be to laugh at in dangers such as theyran while camping in the woods.
The five girls who were so eager to join the scouts, had the willingconsent and co-operation from their mothers. So Mrs. Vernon felt it wasmuch better to take girls whose parents appreciated the benefit of thescout work, rather than to have girls whose mothers were waiting tocriticise or discourage their children in the undertaking.
When the five had been finally decided upon, the Captain notified themthat the car would call for them that day week, and they were to beready to return to camp.
"It will take you a week to prepare, girls, for you must write to NewYork and secure a handbook for each, and not only read it, but study thefirst rules in the book. We have been doing that since we went to camp,so now you will have to catch up," said Mrs. Vernon.
"And rest assured we will give you some awful initiation tests beforeyou become full-fledged members!" threatened Julie.
The scouts and the "would-bes" laughed at this, for they knew the testswould be funny ones that would amuse every one.
"Only pack sensible things, girls. Middy blouses, a pair of khakibloomers and a pair of blue serge ones. You'll need a serge dress, too,and a heavy sweater. If you have a light-weight sweater, also, so muchthe better," advised Mrs. Vernon.
The elated scouts-to-be eagerly promised everything, and then watchedthe car drive away. But they felt no envy or regret for they would betraveling the same road a week hence.
"Verny, maybe we ought to be glad we've got all the extra furniturenow," ventured Betty, as they climbed the familiar trail and passed bythe Royal Suite.
"That's so, Verny. We can let the new members furnish their hut with thestuff," said Joan.
"Only they haven't any hut," Ruth added.
"They will have to build one, like we did, to pass a test in carpentry,"remarked Julie.
"I think Betty's suggestion better than the one Ruth made lastnight--that we chop up the furniture for kindlings," now spoke theCaptain.
"Well, I didn't really mean that, you know! I only said it when I had togo and collect damp wood for the fire," admitted Ruth.
That evening as the scouts sat about the camp-fire, Mrs. Vernonremarked: "I wonder if you girls realize how much you have alreadyimproved in this one month of camp-life?"
They then began to compare notes.
"Julie isn't nearly as impulsive as she used to be," said Betty.
"But she still has enough left to find fault with," laughed the Captain.
"And Betty isn't so preachy as she was when we weeded dandelions on yourlawn," commented Ruth.
"Betty is beginning to have more confidence, too," added Julie, gazingat her twin in a speculative way.
"What about me--how have I improved?" eagerly asked Joan, looking fromone to the other of her companions.
"You--oh, Joan, you are hopeless!" laughed Julie, whereupon Joan fellupon her and they had a rough-and-tumble time on the grass.
"Thus endeth every serious lesson I try to teach," laughed Mrs. Vernon,when the contestants came back to the fire.
"I say, scouts: can any one see the improvement in Verny?" now calledJulie, in rebuttal of the Captain's last words.
But the girls refused to testify, and then a new subject was introduced."I am sure I heard thunder just then."
"I thought I saw a flash a little time ago," added Joan.
"Maybe we had better get our things in under cover, then, and be readyto go to bed if it rains," suggested the Captain.
Consequently a mad scurrying took place and the scouts were cozilyhoused when the rain came down.
The next morning Mrs. Vernon said: "I have been waiting for spare timeto give you scouts a few lessons in first aid, but now that we expectnew members in the Patrol, it may be just as well to wait for them. Manycan learn as easily as a few individuals."
"Still, that need not keep us from having a few tests," replied Joan,who looked for some fun in this practice.
"True; and if you have a little lesson now, you ought to be able to helpthe new members when they come in," added Mrs. Vernon.
"All right--let's begin," said Julie.
"My first question will be: What would you do for first-aid in case ofaccident?"
Julie giggled: "I'd take mighty good care not to have one! I call thatgenuine first-aid."
The others laughed, and Mrs. Vernon said: "You are right of course,Julie, but that is not what I mean. Because there are many people whomeet with accidents, who need aid at once. And there are nine-tenths ofthe people who know nothing about rendering help properly. However,during the last ten years, due a great deal to scout work, I believe,the schools are taking up this work and teaching children just what todo."
"We never had it in our school," said Betty.
"Maybe the town is too small to pay an instructor, but all city schoolsteach first-aid, I'm sure," replied the Captain. "Now, girls, let us beserious in this lesson.
"Drop your skirts and practice in your bloomers, as you can move abouteasier that way."
The scouts did as they were told, and then Mrs. Vernon said: "We'll tryBetty first, as she is the lightest of you girls.
"Now let us pretend Betty went in swimming and was taken suddenly withcramps. She sank. One of you saw her disappear and called on the othersfor help. You ran to the water's edge and saw some one swim to shorewith her; no one but you scouts knew how to revive her, so you wentright to work to save her life.
"Now, Betty, stretch out on the grass just as yo
u would if you had beendragged in from the water in an unconscious state," advised Mrs. Vernon,helping Betty to repose as she should.
The three scouts watching, giggled as this sort of work was fun. WhenBetty was in the right position, Mrs. Vernon called:
"Now scouts, loosen her clothing as quick as possible--because everysecond counts with her life.
"If she has on corsets, unhook them immediately that respiration may notbe retarded. If she has on a skirt with tight belt, or otherclose-fitting garments that prevents circulation, undo them at once, oreven cut it open if it can be accomplished in no other way. Now sheought to breathe. Tell me, can she draw her breath easily?"
"Can she! She's breathing so hard that I'm afraid she'll explode unlessshe has a chance to laugh!" retorted Julie.
The scouts all laughed, but Mrs. Vernon remained serious, as she knew itwould never do to give Julie encouragement.
"Now then, empty her lungs of water by laying her, breast downwards, andholding her up by the middle. Julie and Joan do that."
Betty was very ticklish, and the moment Julie took hold of her sides,she squirmed and giggled. Julie tried to be severe.
"Teacher, this drowned scout won't let me get a good grip on her side. Ifear she will have to expire unless she rolls over at once."
Even Mrs. Vernon had to laugh at Julie, and Betty said: "Well, I'll rollover, if you'll make Julie stop tickling me."
Obliging little Betty then rolled over face downwards, but in a secondshe was up on her feet, squealing and shaking herself. Every one wassurprised, and Julie said aggrievedly:
"Now what's the matter?"
"Oh, I saw a nasty fat spider running in the grass right under my nose!I wish some one else would drown for me, Verny."
The girls laughed, and Julie added: "It's bad enough to have you getcramps and drown without inviting us to follow suit!"
"Here, Betty, get down in this short grass where there will be no plumplittle spiders," advised the Captain.
Betty complied, and then the two aids again took their places besideher.
"Now we will begin again. Take Betty by the middle, girls, and allow herhead to hang down for a few moments to take the water out of her lungs."
This lesson was done well, then Mrs. Vernon said:
"Now turn the patient face downward on her breast and give artificialrespiration."
"Explain, Verny--that long word is too much for me," said Julie.
"You press the lower ribs down and forward towards the head, thenrelease. Repeat this action twelve times to every minute."
Now Julie and Joan worked with a will, and Betty found herself revivedfar enough to object to their energetic treatment. She had had fiverespirations administered, and her first-aids were giving the sixth,when Betty kicked out with her heels and tripped Joan over upon herface.
"My! This dead one came to mighty quick, Verny. We must be powerful goodtreaters," laughed Julie.
"Scouts, I am sure Betty is well along the road to recovery, so we cango on to the next lesson," laughed Mrs. Vernon.
"The next thing to do, is to place heated bottles of water at Betty'sfeet, and rub her arms and legs briskly, but be sure to always rubtowards the heart," said the Captain.
"Must I have more treatment?" asked Betty, plaintively.
"Sure! You're not all alive yet," laughed Ruth.
Julie and Joan began rubbing as they had been told, but Betty suddenlysat up and said: "Last night you said I was becoming moreself-confident! All right, now I am so confident that you two girls areeach going to get a big kick, that you'd better get out of myway--quick!"
"Scouts, don't give up," called Mrs. Vernon, laughingly. "Betty is doingfine, so you must not stop such treatment."
"Then you come here and take my place," said Joan, who dodged the kicktoo often for comfort's sake.
"But she must be put in a warm bed, and give her hot drinks, you know.With plenty of fresh air, I trust she will be as well as ever," saidMrs. Vernon.
But Betty had managed to kick both her nurses and that ended the lesson.
Girl Scouts at Dandelion Camp Page 17
