<h2><SPAN name="iv" id="iv"></SPAN>CHAPTER FOUR<br/> <small>COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON</small></h2>
<p class="noi"><span class="dropcap"><span class="dropcap2">“</span>U</span>NCLE BILL! Uncle Bill! Council this afternoon!”
came a chorus of voices over the stretch
of water between the sailing dory and the Farwell’s
launch which had just made a landing at her
pier.</p>
<p>“You just got here in time: three o’clock this afternoon,”
added Fred, as he steered the dory closer to
the launch.</p>
<p>“Hey! Don’t run me down,” laughingly joked Mr.
Farwell. “There, that’s better! Now, Miriam, come
over here and kiss your old father.”</p>
<p>As the dory gently glided alongside the launch,
Miriam sprang aboard and hugged her jolly father.</p>
<p>“Oh, papa! I’m going to win a <em>coup</em> to-day! I’m
so glad you’re here to see me get it. And Paul’s going
to have one of the green tassels cut off his badge,
too. Cousin Fred has been training us all.”</p>
<p>“Well, well! Fred has so many <em>coups</em> now, I suppose
he can spare you some, eh?”</p>
<p>“Oh, papa! you <em>know</em> I couldn’t take any one else’s
<em>coups</em>! I have to win them myself!” declared Miriam.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_68" id="Page_68">68</SPAN></span>
“Never mind him, you know he is only teasing you,”
said Fred, soothingly. “But Uncle Bill, Miriam is
going back with <em>us</em> as she has to make out her <em>coup</em>
claim properly and she is going to help us prepare for
the Council. Please, everybody come! We just
count on you, Uncle Bill, to liven everything up, you
know.”</p>
<p>“Depend upon your Uncle Bill! Now, young ’uns—lively
about it, if you’re going! I’m about starved
and nothing will keep me here a minute longer. If I
don’t show up at the house pretty soon, Bridget will
think I’ve had luncheon, and what a calamity that
would be! See you all later—three o’clock sharp!”
And Uncle Bill caught up his suitcase, jumped out on
the wharf, and called to his wife: “I’m starved! I’m
starved! Fee fo fi fum!”</p>
<p>Meantime Mrs. Farwell had been talking confidentially
to Elizabeth and Miriam. Then, as she laughed
and promised them to keep the secret, they left her.
She watched them climb safely down to the dory again
before she turned to give some orders to the Captain
of the Zeus, finally turning to follow her shouting and
singing lord and master up the path to the house.</p>
<p>The two girls pushed off from the launch, Fred let
the sheet run out and before a light southerly breeze,
the little dory soon showed her heels to the wharf at
one island and in about ten minutes was lying at the
float-stage of the other.</p>
<p>While Fred furled the sails of the dory, Billy ran<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_69" id="Page_69">69</SPAN></span>
down the cliffs to meet the sailors. “Say there!
You’d just better hurry up! Lunch is most ready!”</p>
<p>Quiet reigned during the first part of the luncheon
as every one was hungry. But as appetites abated,
Billy started a discussion as to some of the entertainment
for the Council in the afternoon. It appeared
that he and Dudley and Paul had a motion picture play
of a jitney which they were anxious to give.</p>
<p>“Have you rehearsed it—do you know if it is any
good?” asked Fred, sceptically.</p>
<p>“You know we don’t want anything below par,”
added Elizabeth.</p>
<p>“Well, if you doubt us, we’ll do it right here to let
you judge!” offered Paul, eagerly.</p>
<p>“Guess you’d better,” replied Fred.</p>
<p>So, the three boys left the table and placed three
chairs—two side by side and one directly in front
of the other two. Bill played the part of chauffeur
and went through all of the motions of starting a
jitney. No sooner was it running than a passenger
(Paul) hailed him to stop. The chauffeur made the
motions of applying brakes, getting out to open the
door and assist the passenger inside, then tried to
crank up again.</p>
<p>No sooner had he succeeded in starting the engine
again, than a second passenger (Dudley) hailed the
jitney to stop. Billy repeated the same actions as before
but the first “fare” refused to move over in the<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_70" id="Page_70">70</SPAN></span>
seat and the second one tripped over his outstretched
feet.</p>
<p>Again the chauffeur cranked and at last they were
off! ’Twas the “rocky road to Dublin” all right, for
the luckless passengers swayed and bumped in their
seats, until suddenly the car stopped on a hill. Try as
he would, the poor chauffeur could not start it again.</p>
<p>He came to the door and implored the two passengers
to help him push the machine up the hill. They
were indignant but finally consented. The brow of
the hill reached they all jumped in again and down
the jitney coasted. Just as the engine was nicely
started again, the car struck a rut and overturned.</p>
<p>When Billy signalled the overturn, Paul, Dudley
and he, tipped over the chairs and all lay sprawling
on the floor.</p>
<p>A chorus of “Hows” greeted the performance and
the juvenile contingent judged it worthy of the Council
audience.</p>
<p>“Well, maybe we can improve on this, too, when
we once feel the spirit of the Council move us,” ventured
Billy.</p>
<p>“Oh sure thing!” bragged Paul, chestily.</p>
<p>And the others laughed heartily at his manner, but
nothing daunted, Paul added, “Practice makes perfect,
you know.”</p>
<p>A quiet half hour was spent in signing up <em>coup</em>
claims and looking over the Tally of the last Council.<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_71" id="Page_71">71</SPAN></span>
Then, every one retired to the tents to dress in ceremonial
Woodcraft costumes.</p>
<p>As the last Brave left his tent the chugging of
engines was heard and the launch Orion rounded
the south end of Sunset Island, while at the same time
the Zeus arrived from Isola Bella.</p>
<p>The Orion brought Aunt Edith and Uncle Tom
from the mainland. With them were some visitors
and Miss Travis, known to the boys and girls as Aunt
Flo-flo. Aunt Edith introduced one of the visitors to
the members of the Pentagoet Tribe.</p>
<p>“This is my little friend Trixie Ashe—she has come
to spend several weeks at Rosemary.”</p>
<p>Trixie was about thirteen but looked older. Being
the only child and always in the society of elders she
felt out of her element in the camp of the young
Woodcrafters. Then, too, she was expensively
dressed in apparel more adapted for a house-party
than for a rough outing.</p>
<p>Trixie looked around with keen interest at the
animated faces of the boys and girls she had heard so
much about during the past few days. Her opinions,
already formed of how such athletic young folks
would look, underwent a sudden change. Before she
had quite finished her survey, Trixie admitted to herself
that she had never met a group of such fine-looking
happy young people.</p>
<p>She turned to Aunt Edith and remarked, “You
didn’t exaggerate a bit, Mrs. Charlton, when you told<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_72" id="Page_72">72</SPAN></span>
me how picturesque the costumes were and how very
interesting the Island is.”</p>
<p>“I am glad you like it, but really you know, these
costumes are for ceremonial occasions only. No one
could run or feel free in them for actual camp-life.
We have a suitable uniform for every-day use,” returned
Aunt Edith.</p>
<p>During this interview, Mrs. Remington and Mrs.
Farwell were giving Bridget with “the secret” (an
immense layer cake) into Mose’s charge, for there
were to be refreshments served at the end of the
Council.</p>
<p>“Come along now, Woodcrafters—it’s nearly three
o’clock,” reminded Billy, leading the way to the Council
place.</p>
<p>The others followed and soon Fred, in full costume,
took the Council Chair and opened the meeting
by proclaiming: “Meetah Kola, nayhoonpo
omnicheeyey nee-chopi”—meaning, “Hear me my
friends, we are about to hold a council.”</p>
<p>“Shingebis will now light the Council Fire after the
manner of the Forest Children,” ordered Wita-tonkan,
the Island Chief, turning to Billy as he spoke.</p>
<p>Then Shingebis, “The Northern Diver,” brought his
fire-sticks to the centre of the Council Ring and proceeded
to make fire by rubbing the sticks briskly until
an almost imperceptible wisp of smoke curled up
from the tiny heap of black wood-dust that fell into<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_73" id="Page_73">73</SPAN></span>
the fire-pan under the sticks. More and denser smoke
followed.</p>
<p>The moment a spark glowed in this powder, the
group of Woodcrafters greeted it with a “How!”
and a louder chorus of “Hows” sounded as a flame
burst forth from the handful of tinder which Shingebis
applied.</p>
<p>“Now know we that Wakonda hath been pleased
to smile upon us,” said Wita-tonkan, solemnly.</p>
<p>A few moments after the fire was burning well, the
Chief took up the peace-pipe and explained that he
was about to perform the peace-pipe ceremony.</p>
<p>“First I light the cedar bark and kinnikinick, or
dried red ozier dogwood bark, in the bowl of the pipe.
Now I offer the peace-pipe to Wakonda, the Great
Spirit and Maka Ina, Mother Earth, imploring their
presence at the Council. The whole Council must
answer ‘Noon-way’ or amen to these prayers.</p>
<p>“Then I proceed to beg each of the Four Winds in
turn to do us no harm from cyclone, cold, rain or heat.
All present will please respond ‘Noon-way’ as before.”</p>
<p>The visitors were quite impressed and when the first
prayer came, “Hay-oon-kee-ya” (Be with us) the
response was fervent. Then, as the pipe was presented
to the West Wind, and Wita-tonkan cried,
“Hay-oon-kee-oon-ee-ya-snee” (Come not upon us)
the chorus of “noon-ways” was so loud that Mose and<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_74" id="Page_74">74</SPAN></span>
Bridget who were now busy in the bungalow making
lemonade, fairly jumped.</p>
<p>“When Ah git done wid dis lemyonade Ah’se goin’
out behin’ dose rocks an’ watch d’ show,” declared
Mose.</p>
<p>“Shure, an’ Oi’ll be wid’ye,” promised Bridget,
emphatically.</p>
<p>The peace-pipe ceremony being concluded and the
Tally read, Wita-tonkan suggested that, there being
so many visitors present, they make short work of preliminary
business matters and proceed directly to the
claiming of the <em>Coups</em>.</p>
<p>“Are there any Honours to be claimed?” called
Wita-tonkan.</p>
<p>“Oh Chief!” said Miriam, standing up instantly to
show her father her knowledge of Woodcraft, “I
claim an Honour for standing broad-jump—five and
a half feet.”</p>
<p>“Have you the claim properly attested by three
witnesses?” asked the Chief.</p>
<p>“Here it is,” replied Miriam, holding out a paper.
“And moreover, my witnesses are present in Council.”</p>
<p>“Come forward, Miriam,” announced Wita-tonkan,
taking the claim from her hand. He read it aloud to
the assembled Council and asked, “You have all heard
this claim, properly made out and witnessed, and now
what is the pleasure of the Council regarding this
matter?”</p>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_75" id="Page_75">75</SPAN></span>
Shingebis stood, saluted and said, “Oh Chief! I
move that this Honour be awarded.”</p>
<p>Paul now stood, saluted and said, “Oh Chief! I
second this motion.”</p>
<p>Wita-tonkan then said to the assembly, “This claim
has been duly moved and seconded and now, it is
ready for the vote, there being no question of its
validity. The Council will please make its wishes
known by saying ‘How’ for approval, and ‘Wah’ for
dissent.”</p>
<p>Then the loud chorus of “hows” brought Mose and
Bridget running from the kitchen to the vantage point
back of the boulder.</p>
<p>The Chief, taking Miriam by the hand, congratulated
her and presented her with the <em>coup</em> feather
symbolising her attainment. She smilingly took her
seat amid the pleased murmurs of the Pentagoet Tribe.</p>
<p>“Any more Honours to be claimed?” asked the
Chief.</p>
<p>“Oh Chief! I have at last completed the requirements
for the last rank in the Little Lodge,” cried
Paul, springing to his feet. “I was eleven years old
last month, so I am anxious to do this before I pass
into the Big Lodge.”</p>
<p>Paul had various sheets of paper signed by his witnesses
at different times throughout the past year
which he now presented to the Chief. Wita-tonkan
read them aloud to the Council.</p>
<p>“Know one wild bird for each year of your age.”</p>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_76" id="Page_76">76</SPAN></span>
“Oh Chief! I really know a lot more than eleven
birds—I am trying for the Bird <em>coup</em>,” explained Paul,
proudly.</p>
<p>Wita-tonkan continued: “Know one wild four-footed
animal for each year of your age.”</p>
<p>“I knew twelve animals my first year in Woodcraft,”
said Paul.</p>
<p>“Know one forest tree for each year of your age.”</p>
<p>“I know more than enough for that too; we found
so many kinds of trees at Wickeecheokee Farm last
summer when the Little Woodcrafters spent a week
in camp there,” explained Paul.</p>
<p>“Know one wild flower for each year of your age.”</p>
<p>“Oh, I know nearly enough to win the flower <em>coup</em>,”
boasted Paul, looking around at the others.</p>
<p>“Know one garden-flower or shrub for each year of
your age.”</p>
<p>Paul nodded that he had done this also.</p>
<p>So Wita-tonkan read on to the last of the requirements
now accomplished by Paul, until he read the
last one which was: “Know one constellation for each
year of age.”</p>
<p>“Oh, I got that one easy! I only had to know three,
but I was so near twelve years, that I just learned
another one to make four for good measure,” ventured
Paul.</p>
<p>“Which is the good measure?” laughed Wita-tonkan.</p>
<p>“I found Orion and know all about him,” declared<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_77" id="Page_77">77</SPAN></span>
Paul, then he proceeded to describe the Hunter with
his Club.</p>
<p>Bridget, listening intently to this part of the Council
procedure, gasped at the information vouched for
by Paul.</p>
<p>“Mose, shure an’ that hunter must hev been me
ancistor—O’ryan! He war a king ov Oireland, God
bliss the old Sod! An’ Oi’m tould that O’ryan alwiss
carried a cloob too: a black t’horn cloob it war!”</p>
<p>Moses looked sceptically at the rotund figure of the
Farwell’s cook and doubted the truth of her imperial
descent. But the name suddenly struck him as being
familiar and he remembered where he had heard it so
often.</p>
<p>“Agh, shucks! It isn’t yo’ ancestor, Bridget, at
all! They be talkin’ ’bout th’ Charlton’s motor
launch—dat’s called ’Ryan affer a bunch ov stars!”
declared Moses, complacently.</p>
<p>“Shure, an’ don’ ye’se tink Oi don’ know me own
fam’ly histry ov all th’ great men what come from
th’ ole sod!” scorned Bridget, turning her broad back
disdainfully upon Mose. “An’ don’t Oi know it war
afther me great-grand-fayther that Misther Cha’ton
named his boat ‘O’ryan’!”</p>
<p>While the controversy lasted between the native
of the Sunny South and the descendant of Kings from
the Emerald Isle, Paul had the last tassel of inexperience
cut from his Woodcrafter’s Badge and took<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_78" id="Page_78">78</SPAN></span>
his seat with a sense of having accomplished something
worth while.</p>
<p>The Chief then found no other Honours to be
claimed so he proceeded to the entertainment of the
guests present.</p>
<p>“Are there any Braves eager to challenge each
other?” asked he.</p>
<p>“Oh Chief! I challenge Shingebis to a hand-wrestling
match!” called Dudley, known in Council as
Wahdago.</p>
<p>“I accept, Oh Chief!” replied Billy, quickly.</p>
<p>Then followed a mortal combat (?) between the
two equally experienced Braves, until both were red
in the face and puffing for wind. In the end, Wahdago
lost an opportunity and Shingebis was quick to
avail himself of the mistake. Thus the contest ended
by awarding Billy the victory.</p>
<p>“Any more challenges?” came from the Chief.</p>
<p>“Oh Chief! I challenge Paul to a canoe tilting contest,”
called Billy.</p>
<p>“I propose that we defer that contest for the present
and watch any game or match that needs to take
place in the circle. We will go down to Treasure
Cove later for the water sports,” advised Fred.</p>
<p>Then Uncle Bill jumped up and raised his hand in
salute. “Oh Chief! I challenge any one present to
recite original poetry written for this or a similar occasion
which has not yet been heard by others.”</p>
<p>“I accept that challenge, Oh Chief,” laughed Elizabeth,<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_79" id="Page_79">79</SPAN></span>
sending a knowing glance at her Aunt Miriam.</p>
<p>Thereupon, Uncle Bill drew forth a paper and
cleared his throat. Having made obeisance to the
Chief and then to the guests, he read:</p>
<div class="poetry-container">
<div class="poem">
<p class="center">Mpret.</p>
<div class="verse">
<div class="line">On Albania’s throne</div>
<div class="line indent">When the war clouds met</div>
<div class="line">Shivering alone</div>
<div class="line indent">Sat little Mpret.</div>
<div class="line">Said he to himself</div>
<div class="line indent">“As Wilyum of Wied</div>
<div class="line">There was far less pelf</div>
<div class="line indent">But much less need</div>
<div class="line">Of a quiet nest</div>
<div class="line indent">Where a prince might dream</div>
<div class="line">And sure of his rest</div>
<div class="line indent">Let his medals gleam.</div>
<div class="line">Now this ‘safety first’</div>
<div class="line indent">Is good dope, I wot:</div>
<div class="line">This war is accursed</div>
<div class="line indent">I’ll go on my yacht.”</div>
<div class="line">The throne is empty:</div>
<div class="line indent">“It’s the one best bet,</div>
<div class="line">It will stay that way!”</div>
<div class="line indent">Said little Mpret.</div>
</div></div>
</div>
<p>Applause greeted the conclusion of this little skit
and Uncle Bill resumed his seat, bowing with a conqueror’s
air, as if to say he knew the laurels were his.
But he also knew that he had no mean competitor in
Elizabeth, who now stood up and prefaced her verse.</p>
<p>“Every one here knows that the first sail of the season
is not all joy—particularly if it is choppy, or if<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_80" id="Page_80">80</SPAN></span>
there is a heavy sea on and the wind falls and the
craft bobs around helplessly. If you are not accustomed
to the motion and you lose interest in the sights
and sounds, you may also begin to lose other things
as well.”</p>
<p>Several of those present began to laugh for they
sensed the trend of Elizabeth’s prologue as referring
to a sickly time Uncle Bill experienced during his first
sail on troubled waters.</p>
<p>“My poem is called ‘Sea-sick,’” explained Elizabeth.</p>
<div class="poetry-container">
<div class="poem"><div class="verse">
<div class="line">“The mate was sick, the Captain too,</div>
<div class="line indent">The passengers and ‘hand’;</div>
<div class="line">The breeze was strong enough to slew</div>
<div class="line indent">The boat around the strand.</div>
</div><div class="verse">
<div class="line">The waves were some unpleasant heights;</div>
<div class="line indent">They bumped the trusty boat</div>
<div class="line">We lay beneath the seats and sights,</div>
<div class="line indent">And wished we weren’t afloat.</div>
</div><div class="verse">
<div class="line">A land-loom came into our view,</div>
<div class="line indent">A hull-down took from sight,</div>
<div class="line">The hulls of tugs and steamers blue—</div>
<div class="line indent">But we wished it was night.</div>
</div><div class="verse">
<div class="line">A herd of porpoises then came</div>
<div class="line indent">And bobbed about our ship:</div>
<div class="line">We had no wish to see a fish—</div>
<div class="line indent">The sky-line seemed to dip.</div>
</div><div class="verse">
<div class="line">We tacked our boat and went ashore</div>
<div class="line indent">And had a solid meal.</div>
<div class="line">We did not want to feel much more</div>
<div class="line indent">The way we just did feel!”</div>
</div></div>
</div>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_81" id="Page_81">81</SPAN></span></p>
<p>When Elizabeth finished, every one cried “How”
and Aunt Edith declared she was deeply affected by
the vivid description—it almost made her seasick!</p>
<p>“Who was mate on that trip?” asked Uncle Tom.</p>
<p>“Fred was mate and I was the ‘hand’ but I won’t
tell tales on the Captain—let him speak for himself,”
laughed Elizabeth.</p>
<p>“Well, I was the passenger and I can swear to <em>my</em>
feelings,” exclaimed Billy, looking at his Uncle Bill.</p>
<p>But Uncle Bill returned the look boldly and murmured:
“From what you say, that sure must have
been some sail!”</p>
<p>“Wah! Wah!” cried a number of voices and everyone
laughed.</p>
<p>The poetry had to be judged for other virtues than
mere fidelity of description, so the “palm” was
awarded to the composer of “Mpret.”</p>
<p>Following this verse contest, Billy announced that he
and two friends would produce a moving picture play
depicting a jitney in distress. So many impromptu
additions were shown that the rough and tumble
“movie” was highly applauded by the other children.</p>
<p>This over, the Chief stood up. “For a change in
the programme, I think we will call upon Pah-hlee-oh,
The Moon Maid, to entertain us by dancing the
Storm Cloud.”</p>
<p>Fred had signalled Elizabeth while the Jitney act
was being done, and she slipped away from the circle
unseen by the others. At the beating of the tom-toms<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_82" id="Page_82">82</SPAN></span>
she now appeared from behind a group of trees, holding
a long white veil behind her head. The veil was
of chiffon and the light breeze wafted it gracefully
about as the dancer entered the Council Ring.</p>
<p>The Storm Cloud dance is one of the most graceful
of the Indian Dances and Elizabeth was well-trained
so a genuine treat was given the visitors that day.</p>
<p>Then to the surprise of every one present, Uncle
Tom stood and said, “I challenge Uncle Bill to a tub-tilting
match.”</p>
<p>This also proved a great success, for Uncle Bill,
always ready to provoke fun and laughter, did his
part with great gusto. The result was that the exact
rules were not followed but far greater sport was
furnished by the two heavy performers in unexpected
actions and twists and ferocious grimaces.</p>
<p>After a Folk Song contest and Character Dances
were given, every one walked down to the Cove to
watch the canoe tilting between the two boys with
Captain Ed and Benton as seconds. This was interesting
as the boys were well matched, but Billy came
off victorious at last, having upset his opponent by
thrusting the soft-padded pole suddenly in the pit of
his stomach.</p>
<p>Billy and Dudley dressed and then a Talk Fest was
started by the Chief against Dudley; as they finished
the victory was accorded Dudley with the remark,
“He’s the fastest talker on the hemisphere!”</p>
<p>The appearance of Mose, carrying a huge tray of<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_83" id="Page_83">83</SPAN></span>
refreshments, now put to flight any other ideas of
sport, and when the ever-hungry Woodcrafters were
satisfied, the obliging waiter flopped down in a kitchen
chair and looked wearily up at Bridget for consolation.</p>
<p>“Ah d’clare t’ goodness, d’ way dem fo’kses ack in
dat Woodcraf’ bisnis, an’ den go an’ git such empty
stomacks, is amusin’ t’ me! Jus’ look at dem vacant
plates—would yo’ b’lieve dey had ben piled up high
wid san’witches an’ fixin’s t’ say nuffin of th’ cake
an’ lemyonade!”</p>
<p>Bridget had been taxed to the limit by the great demand
for lemonade, and she sniffed disdainfully:
“’Twar mesilf ez beat twelve aigs in th’ layer cake!
No wonder it melted away like snow in July! Not a
crumb fer the cook, ayther!”</p>
<p>Mose looked compassionately at the defrauded cook
and remarked: “Ah’ve hearn say dat a <em>good</em> chef
neveh gits lef’ fo’ a bite! Now Ah’m a <em>fust</em>-class
cook so Ah had a good big snack o’ dat twelve aig
cake befoh it passed outen my control!”</p>
<p>Bridget sent Mose a resentful look and flounced
angrily from the kitchen, while Mose shook with
silent amusement at his competitor in culinary arts.</p>
<p>The guests departed in the sunset glow and the
Pentagoet Tribe felt that they had acquitted themselves
unusually well, thereby earning a good night’s
sleep.</p>
<hr class="divider" />
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_84" id="Page_84">84</SPAN></span>
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