CHAPTER XIII
Under Canvas
After the scare in the small hours, everyone settled down again toslumber. Nevertheless the girls woke with the birds. Many of them hadregistered a solemn vow the night before that they would watch the sunrise, and each was pledged to arouse the others at all costs; so at thefirst hint of dawn heads began to pop out of tents, and the camp wasastir. Addie Knighton, still half-dazed with sleep, was led firmly byGertrude Oliver to the edge of the lake and forced to wash her face.
"You'll thank me when you're really awake," purred Gertie, ignoring hervictim's protests. "It's only what I promised you faithfully last night.You told me to duck you in, if nothing else would do it."
"Oh, I'm awake now! I am truly. You needn't be afraid I'll go back tobed," bleated Addie, afraid her friend might proceed to extremities."Hadn't you better haul up Alice next?"
"I left Chrissie doing that. She's going round the tents with a wetsponge. Look! Isn't that worth getting up to see?"
The grey of the sky had flushed into carnation pink, and up from behindthe wall of the mountains rose the great ball of the sun, red at firstthrough a veil of mist, but shining out golden as he cleared thecloud-bank. Everything was waking up. A peewit called by the water'sedge, a cock crew from the farm-yard, and a dog barked lustily.
"Our thief of the night complaining of an attack of indigestion, Ihope," said Ulyth, joining Addie and Gertie at the lake-side. "How muchcan a dog eat without feeling ill?"
"We had a collie that consumed three rabbits once," laughed Addie. "Wedidn't ask it how it felt afterwards. It got a good thrashing, Iremember."
"We'll keep a stick handy to-night, in case of any more raids. Who's onbreakfast duty? I'm getting wildly hungry. I hope the bacon hasn'tdisappeared with the mutton."
Although the three days' sojourn under canvas was in a sense a holiday,it was conducted in a very business-like spirit and with rigiddiscipline. All the daily duties were performed zealously by bands ofservers, who polished tins, peeled potatoes, washed plates, or cleanedshoes, as the case might be. The League was putting to a practical proofthe seven rules of the Camp-fire Law. Beauty was all around them, andknowledge to be had for the asking. They proved themselves trustworthyby their service, and glorified work in the doing of the camp tasks.Health was drawn with every breath of mountain air, and, judging fromtheir faces, the seventh rule, "Be happy", seemed almost superfluous.Everyone looked radiant, even Mary Acton, who was a champion grumbler,and generally ready to complain of crumpled rose-leaves. After breakfastand service duty came drill, a more than usually formal affair, for Mr.Arnold himself reviewed them. He had great experience with the BoyScouts, so the girls were anxious to do the utmost credit to theirbeloved Guardian of the Fire. The Ambulance Corps gave a demonstrationof First Aid; another detachment took down and re-erected a tent; thejuniors showed their abilities in knot-tying, and the seniors insignalling. Their inspector declared himself perfectly satisfied, andcommended certain members for special proficiency.
"I shall tell the boys' battalions how well you can do," he declared."It will put them on their mettle. They won't want to be beaten by aladies' school."
When the display was over, all dispersed for a ramble round the lakewhile the dinner stewed; only the cooks on duty remained, carefullywatching their pots. Ulyth, Rona, Lizzie, and Gertrude wandered past thefarm and up the hill-side to the head of a crag, whence they had aglorious view down over the sheet of water below.
"Llyn Gwynedd looks so cheerful and innocent now, one wouldn't believeit could ever be treacherous and do dreadful things," remarked Gertrude.
"What things?" asked Ulyth.
"Why, I believe someone was drowned just down there a great many yearsago. I heard Catherine saying so last night, so I suppose it's true."
"It's perfectly true, and I can tell you who it was," answered Lizzie."It was the eldest son of Lord Glyncraig. He was fishing here, and theboat got upset. It was the most dreadful tragedy. He was such a fine,promising young fellow, and had only been married quite a short time. Hewas the heir, too, which made it worse."
"But there are other sons, aren't there?" asked Ulyth.
"Yes, but he was the flower of the family. The rest are no good. Thesecond son, the present heir, is a helpless invalid, the third is in asanatorium for consumption, and the fourth was the proverbial prodigal,and disappeared. If Lord Glyncraig knows where he is, nobody else does."
"Hadn't the one who was drowned any children?"
"Only a girl. The second and third aren't married."
"Then will the estate have to go to the prodigal in the end?"
"I suppose so, if he's alive, and turns up to claim it."
"Peers have their troubles as much as commoners," commented Ulyth. "I'venever heard this before. I'm sorry for Lord Glyncraig. Plas Cafn is toogood to go to a prodigal."
"Yet prodigals sometimes turn out better than elder brothers, if weaccept the parable," remarked Rona, throwing stones into the water asviciously as if she were aiming at an enemy.
"Don't!" said Ulyth. "You'll disturb the trout, and Mrs. Arnold wants tofish this afternoon. Rona, do stop! Let's go down to the edge again, andtry and find some bog bean. You'll get a proficiency badge if you canshow twenty specimens of wild flowers and name them. Yes, I won minelast year, and so did Lizzie."
"I'd rather win a proficiency badge for shooting," grunted Rona. "Whycan't Teddie let us get up a ladies' rifle corps?"
"Only wish she would, just! It would be prime," agreed the others.
Dinner was ready by twelve o'clock--not at all too early for a companythat had breakfasted at seven. Despite the purloining of the leg ofmutton there was enough to go round, and everybody decided that thecooks deserved proficiency badges. The servers also did their workpromptly, and removed plates and dishes with the maximum of speed andthe minimum of clatter. By half-past one everything was washed up andpolished, and the kitchen department in apple-pie order.
"I'm afraid we may have rain," said Miss Teddington, looking anxiouslyat the sky, which was now completely overcast with clouds.
"One often gets a shower among the mountains when the valley escapes,"commented Mrs. Arnold. "I don't think it will be much this afternoon, ifthere's rain at all. The patrols know what to do if it begins. This greysky will be good for fishing."
Mrs. Arnold was an enthusiastic angler, and had brought herfishing-tackle with her to camp. She intended that afternoon to hire aboat from the farm and see if she could beguile some of the wily troutfrom the lake.
"I'll take four girls with me," she announced: "two to row, one tosteer, and one to help with the landing-net."
Needless to say, she could have had dozens of volunteers, but her choicefell on Kathleen Simpson, Ruth White, Gladys Broughton, and EvieIsherwood, who, highly elated, went off to unmoor the boat. Then, Ruthand Kathleen rowing, and Gladys steering, they made gently down the laketowards the west end, where the stream flowed out.
Pretty Mrs. Arnold looked particularly charming in a blue-and-whiteboating-costume, with a little blue fisherman's cap perched on her fairhair. It was the fashion for the girls to adore her, and she certainlyhad four whole-hearted admirers with her that afternoon, ready to be ather beck and call, and to perform any service she wished. They followedher instructions to the letter, and watched her line and reel with tenseeagerness.
"I hope we may catch some salmon trout," said Mrs. Arnold; "they're muchmore delicate than the ordinary ones. If we've luck we may get enough atany rate to give Miss Bowes and Miss Teddington a dish for supper. Rowgently along there, I saw a fish jump; if it's hungry it may fancy myfly. Good biz! there's a bite. I'll have to play him gently; he feels astrong fellow. Are you ready, Evie, with the landing-net?"
It was frightfully exciting as Mrs. Arnold wound her reel, and the preycame within reach. Was he really hooked, or would he break away at thelast moment and disappoint them?
"We've got him! We've got him! Quick, Evie! Oh, I say! Isn't hesp
lendid?"
A silvery-grey, gleaming, glittering object was leaping in thelanding-net at the bottom of the boat.
"Oh, what luck!" yelled Evie.
"He must be a patriarch!" cried the rowers.
"I can't see him. Oh, do let me look!" squealed Gladys, forgettingeverything in her eagerness. "Ruth, you're in the way. I must look."
And up she sprang, trying to push past Ruth and Kathleen.
"Sit still!" shouted Mrs. Arnold frantically, but the mischief was done.
It all happened in two seconds. No one quite knew how, though Ruthdeclared afterwards that in trying to scramble past her Gladys steppedon the gunwale. Over toppled the boat, and almost before its occupantsknew their danger they were struggling in the water. The girls couldswim a little--a very little. Kathleen, gasping and spluttering,struggled valiantly towards the bank; Evie, with a certain instinct ofself-preservation, turned on her back, and managed to keep herselfafloat somehow. Ruth and Gladys clutched the upturned boat and, clungthere screaming. Mrs. Arnold was in even more desperate straits. Shecould not swim, and she had fallen too wide of the boat to be able tograsp it. The few patrols left in charge of the camp stood for a momentparalysed, then tore along the side of the lake towards the scene of theaccident. But someone else was quicker. Rona, hunting for botanyspecimens, had been watching the fishing from the bank close by. Therewas a rush, a splash, a swift little figure wildly ploughing a paththrough the lake, beating the water with short, impatient strokes.
"I won't clutch you," cried Mrs. Arnold, pluckily keeping her presenceof mind. "I believe I can manage to float."
She lay still as Rona put a hand under her shoulder and towed hertowards the shore, so still that she neither stirred nor spoke whenDoris and Catherine, who had reached the spot, helped to drag her fromthe water.
"Oh, she's drowned!" shrieked Doris.
"No, no! Lay her down flat. She's opening her eyes."
Marion Harper and Madge Johnson, both tolerable swimmers, were plungingto help Evie; Kathleen was already struggling ashore. "Wait till we cancome for you!" shouted Rona to Ruth and Gladys; "don't let go the boat."
Evie was pulled ashore first, not much the worse. Rona had trouble withGladys, who had waxed hysterical, but with Marion's help she landed hersafely and went back for Ruth. By this time the danger-signal, blownlustily from several League whistles, brought all who were anywherewithin reach rushing to the rendezvous. Mrs. Arnold, with wet goldenhair clinging round her white face, leaned against Catherine's shoulder,while Doris rubbed her hands.
"I'm glad my husband's gone to Capel Garmon to-day. Please let me tellhim myself," were her first words. "It was good little Rona who savedme," she added, smiling faintly at Miss Bowes, who was down on her kneesbeside her on the grass.
"I wish I'd done it. I wish I'd done it. Oh, how I envy you, Rona!"cried Ulyth, regarding her friend with wide shining eyes of admiration.
Miss Teddington, pale but very self-controlled, had taken command of thesituation. Eight people were thoroughly wet through and bedraggled, andmust be hurried to camp and dried, and given hot drinks as speedily aspossible. The rescuers needed cosseting as much as the rescued. Madgeand Marion were shivering and trembling, and Rona, now the excitement ofher sudden dash was over, looked more shaky than she would allow.
"We must tuck them up in blankets," said Miss Teddington. "First AidCorps on duty, please! The difficulty is going to be how to get theirclothes properly dried in a place like this."
Mrs. Arnold, with Miss Bowes to look after her, went to the farm to seekfresh garments. As for the girls, there was nothing for it but to go tobed for an hour or two, while a band of servers lighted a good fire,wrung the water from the drenched articles of clothing, and held themto the blaze. Blankets were commandeered freely from other beds, andpiled round the seven heroines, who, propped up with pillows, each had akind of reception as she sipped her hot cocoa.
"We all of us forgot about the boat," said Rona suddenly. "It's driftingupside down, and the oars are anywhere."
"Never mind. David Lewis will get it somehow, I suppose. It will drifttowards the bank, and he'll wade for it."
"Where did you learn to swim like that, Rona?"
"In the lake at home. We had one nearly as big as this close to ourfarm."
"The Cuckoo's turned up trumps," murmured Alice Denham. "I didn't knowshe was capable of it."
"Then it only shows how extremely stupid and unobservant you are,"snapped Ulyth.
The servers declared afterwards that drying clothes round a bonfire wasthe most exciting duty they had ever performed. Gusts of wind blew theflames in sudden puffs, necessitating quick snatching away of garmentsin the danger zone. Shoes were the most difficult of all, and neededcopious greasing to prevent their growing stiff.
"I wonder if the Ancient Britons went through this performance?" saidWinnie Fowler. "Did they have to hold their skin garments roundcamp-fires? Thank goodness, we've got these things dry at last! We'reonly in the nick of time. Here comes the rain."
It was a melancholy truth. The Welsh mountains have a perverse habit ofattracting clouds, even in June; the sky, which had been overcast sincemidday, was now inky dark, and great drops began to fall. It was acalamity, but one for which everybody was fully prepared. The patrolsrushed round the camp loosening ropes, lest the swelling hemp shoulddraw the pegs from the ground, and took a last tour of inspection to seethat no bed was in contact with the canvas.
"If you even touch the inside of the tent with your hand you'll bringthe water through," urged Catherine in solemn warning; "so, for your ownsakes, you'd best be careful. You don't want to spend the night in apuddle."
It was a new experience to sit inside tents while the storm howledoutside. Rain up at Llyn Gwynedd was no mere summer shower, but adriving deluge. Servers in waterproofs scuttled round with cans of hottea and baskets of bread and butter, and the girls had a picnic mealsitting on their beds. One tent blew over altogether, and its distressedoccupants, crawling from under the flapping ruin, were received asrefugees by their immediate neighbours. Fortunately the storm, thoughsevere, was short. By seven o'clock it had expended its fury, and passedaway down the valley towards Craigwen, leaving blue sky and the promiseof a sunset behind. Glad to emerge from their cramped quarters, thegirls came out and compared experiences. There was plenty to be done.The fallen tent had to be erected, and various cans and utensils whichhad been left outside must be collected and wiped before they had timeto rust.
"This is the prose of camp-life," said Catherine, picking thegravy-strainer out of a puddle and rinsing it in the lake. "I hope weshall get the poetry to-morrow again."
"Oh, it's lovely fun when it rains!" twittered some of the younger ones.
Mr. Arnold came down from the farm to inquire rather anxiously how thecamp was faring after the storm, and particularly to have news of thegirls who had been in the lake. He had left Mrs. Arnold in bed, stillrather upset with the shock of the accident.
"I feel responsible for bringing you all here," he said to MissTeddington. "I shan't be easy in my mind now till the whole crew's safeback at The Woodlands."
"We've taken no harm," Miss Teddington assured him. "The girls kept dry,and they're as jolly as possible; indeed, I think most of themthoroughly enjoyed the rain."
Llyn Gwynedd, after showing what it could do in the way of storms,provided fine weather for the next day. The ground soon dried, andcamp-life continued in full swing. Mrs. Arnold, herself again after anight's rest, took the morning drill, and led a ramble up the slope ofGlyder Garmon in the afternoon. She was the heart and soul of the"stunt" that evening.
The girls, at any rate, were sorry to say good-bye to the lake onFriday morning, whatever their elders might feel on the subject.
"I hope the Boy Scouts will have as ripping a time as we've had," wasthe general verdict when, having left the camp in perfect order, theprocession set out to tramp down to Aberglyn.
"Barring total immersions in the lake, pleas
e," said Mr. Arnold, as hereturned the parting salute.
"But that was an opportunity," urged Ulyth. "I wish it had come my way.Rona, Madge, and Marion will all get special bravery medals at nextquarterly meeting. I've no luck!"