"Then at once he'd point to them, and the parents would be proud of him.
"His father also taught him that shaking a blanket in Indian languagemeant 'I want to talk with you.' Holding up a tree branch--'I wish tomake peace.' Holding up a weapon--'I am prepared to fight,' and manyothers like our own signal of the Camp Fires," said Kate, "which is oneof the oldest of Indian signs."
"Isn't this a lovely story?" broke in Patty. "I can't wait for itsfinish."
"And it's late; I'll have to talk more rapidly, I fear," replied MissHollister, "or postpone the rest until tomorrow night."
"Oh, don't," went up a shout of young voices,--"please finish. Why, we'dkeep awake all night if you stopped now."
Kate laughed good-naturedly and signed to one of the Fire Makers to puton more wood. Quickly Ethel jumped up and brought an armful, for ourCamp was very ceremonious. Then as the flame burst forth anew sheproceeded:
"So you can see that little Mus-kin-gum was a loveable child, endowedwith more than ordinary intelligence. His father also told him of theGreat Spirit, and the child listened reverently. He was an unusualchild--bright for his age--and he learned quickly. He was alsoaffectionate, and Mus-kin-gum became as weak as a woman when the littlefellow would put his arms about his neck or clasp him by the hand.
"The mother had taught the child a prayer to the Great Spirit. It wasthis:
"'Great Spirit, listen Thou to us; guide us this day; help us, lest wefall; make our will Thy will--our ways Thy way.'
"Mus-kin-gum's great fear was that he might lose him ere he grew up tomanhood, for next to O-hi-o he adored his boy.
"One morning big and little Mus-kin-gum started for the woods. They werein high spirits as they kissed O-hi-o goodbye.
"'We will shoot for you a big deer,' said the boy, 'and we will bring toyou many large fish.'
"O-hi-o smiled and wished them luck. After watching until out of sightshe left her wigwam to spend the day with her parents. It was a warmJune day and it reminded O-hi-o of her courting days. She lived it allover again, and her heart gave thanks to the Great Spirit for Hiskindness--for the wonderful love and happiness that had since been hersin the possession of her husband and child. And the birds sang as on theday that Mus-kin-gum first beheld her at the door of her father'swigwam. She could see his eyes holding her own; she could feel her heartbounding in her bosom, and the red flushed into her cheek even as it haddone then.
"She spent a pleasant day talking of her two dear ones and her parentswere never weary of listening. They made her repeat the little prayersaid to the Great Spirit by the idolized grandson.
"'I must leave now,' she said, 'and prepare their supper. They will bewatching in the valley for the smoke from our wigwam,' and kissing herparents fondly she left.
"In the meanwhile it grew dark.
"'Little one,' said Mus-kin-gum, 'we must hasten. I feel rain in theair. Look at the clouds and behold it in them ready to fall.'
"And the little fellow looked and laughed, thinking it fun to be caughtin a shower. They were close to the edge of the woods ready to descendthe path leading to the valley, when suddenly with terrific force therain began to fall, followed by a mighty wind that rent the clouds andrushed through the woods. Thunder pealed loud and long; lightningflashed, blinding the eyes. Little Mus-kin-gum grew pale and trembled.Never before had he feared a storm.
"'It is the voice of the Great Spirit,' he said solemnly, and began torepeat the prayer.
"Seeing his fright, his father drew the boy's head to his breast andheld it there so that he might not see the lightning as it flashed withunusual violence.
"At last one flash came, and with it went the spirit of braveMus-kin-gum. His arms loosened their hold on the screaming child. Hereeled and fell backward--dead. The last bolt had killed him.
"Then followed peal after peal of thunder. The boy called to him invain. He even tried to raise him in his arms. Seeing that it was uselesshe threw himself on his breast and moaned, every now and then lamentingin loud cries.
"The storm ceased. When, after the night fell, and Mus-kin-gum and theboy failed to appear, O-hi-o gathered together a band of young men fromnearby and started out to search for them. O-hi-o kept calling,'Mus-kin-gum, where art thou? My little one--art thou safe?'
"Then on the air floated a child's voice calling to its mother.
"Like a deer, O-hi-o flew to the spot. The child was rubbing his eyes.He had fallen asleep on his dead father's breast and was awakened by hismother's voice, but he never left his father's body.
"As O-hi-o drew near she beheld her poor brave handsome Mus-kin-gumlying with his face upturned to the moon, whose beams fell upon him.O-hi-o knelt down and kissed her husband but she uttered no cry--only adull muffled moan escaped her, for she was the daughter of an IndianChieftain and it would not have done. She had been taught to bear painwithout a murmur, but the look upon her face was terrible. The young menwould gladly have died to have brought young Mus-kin-gum to life for hersake.
"Then the eldest lifted the child, who still sat by his dead father'sside, and placed him in his mother's arms, and as the little fellowsobbed and kissed her lo! her eyes filled with tears and she headed theprocession that followed bearing the body of their beloved Mus-kin-gumadown the steep path that led to her wigwam.
"And Mus-kin-gum was buried with great ceremony and honors becoming a aman of his station. But O-hi-o took no further interest in life. Thechild now clung to his grandfather, who tried to take his father'splace. Every day O-hi-o would lead him to the grave on the mountainside, and together they would pray to the Great Spirit.
"'And I prayed in the woods,' said the boy, 'when the thunder rolled andthe lightning came, but the Great Spirit turned away his face and tookmy father.'
"'He was called to live among the stars,' O-hi-o would reply.
"'And is he up there?" the child would ask. 'I will look for him,' afterwhich every night would little Mus-kin-gum stand or lie on the groundgazing at the stars, declaring at times that he could discern his fatherlooking down upon them.
"But alas! from the day of the storm the boy could never again hear thevoice of thunder, nor see the flashes of lightning, without going intoconvulsions. Upon the first distant roar he would jump up and down,scream loudly, and run to his mother, burying his head on her breast,relapsing into a state of semi-consciousness until the storm should havepassed. It was pitiful, and poor O-hi-o's tears would fall on the boy'shead, for it was thus he had stood before his father while Mus-kin-gummet his death.
"As time went on the attacks grew worse. Vainly did old Wa-chi-tasummon the best known medicine men and old women, but each one shook hisor her head doubtfully. Vainly did the tribe assemble in the Councilwigwam to consult with one another and pray to the Great Spirit forMus-kin-gum's son--for his recovery. Nothing seemed to avail. The childgrew worse and worse, never caring to leave his mother's side.
"Then came a bad year for the Indians. There was a drought. The fruitfell from the trees while yet in flower. The grass turned brown andwithered. The crops died. The water dried up and there was none for thecattle. The different tribes met and prayed with no result.
"'We must die,' they said. 'Behold! the Lake even has gone, andsomething must be done.'
"And the wise men declared that the Great Spirit must be angry with themand that he demanded of them a sacrifice. The more they talked the morethey believed that it was imperative. 'One life must be sacrificed,'they said,--'one life for many. That is the only way to save our people.No rain has fallen in nearly four months. The Great Spirit demands andmust be obeyed.'
"Then into the midst of the wise men and chieftains came O-hi-o. She wasvery beautiful and the braves held their breath as they gazed upon her.By her hand she led the son of Mus-kin-gum.
"'I have heard what you said--oh! wise men,' she began. 'I have no wishto live longer. I and my son are ready to be your sacrifice. My heart isin the grave upon the mountain side. My son is not strong; his health ispoor. We give
ourselves for the good of our people.'
"Many wept. The wise men regarded her as they might an angel sent by theGreat Spirit. Her parents gazed upon her with pride and adoration.
"'But,' she continued, 'I would choose the manner of my death. On thepinnacle of rocks overlooking this valley, where each day that he huntedin the woods my dear Mus-kin-gum would stand and wave to me, tomorrownight 'neath the light of the moon, with my son's hand in mine--togetherhe and I will leap from that rock into the valley below,--the oncelovely valley now so desolate. Do not refuse me,' she cried, as manyprotested suggesting others not so young. 'No, I will gladly make thesacrifice for my dear father's people.'
"So they counselled together and accepted the offer made by theirChieftain's daughter.
"O-hi-o and Mus-kin-gum spent their last day with the old people, who,while filled with pride, were heartbroken. They clung to the mother andchild, nor were they ashamed to show their love and weakness.
"'I shall be with my father,' said little Mus-kin-gum. 'You may look formy mother and me in the stars, Grandpa. I have seen father there. Besure and watch; we shall all be together,' and the child smiled as hekissed his grandparents, whose hearts were breaking.
"'My two brave ones,' said old Wa-chi-ta, 'if the rain comes to us itwill be you who have sent it.'
"The tribes assembled from miles around. It was a hot, torrid night,although the moon shone brightly. All was silent as O-hi-o and littleMus-kin-gum came forth to the sacrifice. She wore her ceremonialcostume; her long, black hair was flowing and held in by a beadedheadband. She looked so beautiful as she marched up the mountain thatpeople wept, but she walked proudly with her head erect, leading herchild by the hand, and the little fellow also held his head upright andseemed without fear. Soon the ledge was reached. Looking down into thevalley below they took their position.
"'Farewell,' said O-hi-o, 'I do this for the love I bear you, mypeople.'
"Then she kissed the boy many times and, reconsidering, she lifted himin her arms. The child put his face to hers and clung tightly about herneck. She whispered in his ear. He raised his head and called aloud:'May the rain fall and may you all be happy.'
"Then holding her child close to her heart the brave woman stepped tothe edge, closed her eyes, and leaped into the valley below,--the valleyin which stood her wigwam."
Kate paused. The girls were hanging breathlessly on her words. SallieDavis and Mattie Hastings were crying, while Edna Whitely and MollieLong drew nearer.
"Oh, don't stop," gasped Patty Sands, "please go on, Miss Kate. I'm allexcited."
Kate laughed.
"Do let me get my breath, girls. I had no idea it would take me solong."
"There fell no rain that night, but the people as they marched down intothe valley thought of nothing but the sacrifice. Probably had it rainedthey would not have known it. They were silent, thinking with admirationof the wonderful act of heroism that they had just witnessed.
"The next day searching parties started out to seek the bodies of themother and child, but not a trace could be found.
"'The Great Spirit has taken them in the flesh,' they said. 'Perhaps Heis angry that we allowed it.'
"Everyone grew frightened. None seemed to care to speak. Suddenly a lowpeal of thunder was heard, then a louder one, after which came a flashof lightning.
"'A storm!" they cried, 'the sacrifice has not been in vain,' and theyfell to their knees.
"It rained as it had never rained before. It fell in sheets. The cattledrank greedily and the water was plentiful. After the third day it grewlighter and the rain slacked. People ventured out of doors, and lo! thevalley with the wigwam of Mus-kin-gum had disappeared. In its place,behold! a river. Up and down as far as eye could reach flowed theshining waters. A miracle had been performed, and the wise men came frommiles around.
"'We will call the river O-hi-o,' they said, 'for it is the soul of herwho has saved us.'
"And the river spread and grew larger. The braves explored and foundthat it was too long to measure. It would take days and days to find theend; in fact, they doubted that there could be an end.
"One morning they discovered a smaller river that emptied into the onethey had named O-hi-o. That increased in length as well, but with theircanoes they could paddle a hundred miles. They also noticed a peculiarthing about this smaller river. Whenever there came a thunder shower theriver would rise and become covered with whitecaps, and rush madly downlike a torrent until it seemed to fairly leap into the Ohio; and onewise man--the wisest of the tribe--said:
"'Behold, it is little Mus-kin-gum. Can you not see how the stormaffects him? Was he not so in the flesh? Can you not see how he seekshis mother's bosom for shelter?'
"And so the mystery was explained. From the date of the appearance ofthe two rivers everything in that part of the country prospered. Thecattle were second to none. The fruit was the fairest and most lusciousfruit ever grown, while the crops--corn, buckwheat, oats, barley andwheat--could not be excelled."
("Today the fisheries are the finest and the Grand Reservoir is thelargest body of artificial water in the world--equal in extent to allothers in the state. It is well for you to know that," said Kate,interrupting the story).
"And whenever the Indians prayed to the Great Spirit they would thankhim for having sent O-hi-o as a voluntary sacrifice; and each starlightnight old Wa-chi-ta and his wife would search among the constellationsfor their three loved ones. Then they, too, passed into the HappyHunting Grounds. But with many of the Western tribes the legend remainsuntil today.
"For years to come the little Indian children would say to one another:
"'It's going to storm. Hear the thunder; see it lighten; let us go downand watch the little Mus-kin-gum get frightened and rush into hismother's arms.'"
"That is the end," said Kate.
"Oh! it is lovely," they all cried, "and we thank you so much."
"You see," she added, "now I am glad that I called this Camp Fire the'Ohio.' That is our legend, and we can have a little copy made to annexto our book."
Then the Fire Maker came forward and extinguished the dying embers. Eachgirl arose and kissed the Guardian goodnight, and retired.
CHAPTER XXIV
ETHEL'S FIRST DAY IN CAMP
The girls slept soundly that night and in the morning were awakened bythe singing of the birds.
"Oh! how lovely it seems to be here," thought Ethel, as she leaned onher elbow, "instead of being awakened by the toot of an automobile justto lie quietly and harken to the birds." She looked around.
The other cots were occupied by her Cousin Kate, Patty Sands, and EdnaWhitely. Kate opened her eyes and sat up.
"Have you been awake long?" she asked sleepily.
"No, Kate, only a few moments. I've been listening to the birds. Ithought Aunt Susan's home was peaceful, but even there one could hearthe autos."
Kate arose, put on her slippers and wrapper, and sitting on the cot shebegan to unfasten her long braids.
"It is the most restful place I've ever known," she replied. "But,girls, we're late. Come Patty and Edna."
Patty Sands sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes. Edna snuggled deeper intothe depth of her pillow.
"Edna, don't go to sleep. There's the bugle now," and the clear notes ofa bugle came floating into the tent.
"Oh!" said Edna sleepily, "that's Nora Casey blowing. I wish she'd stop;she has the strongest lungs I ever knew."
This morning the breakfast was eaten with a relish. They had oatmeal andcream, ham and eggs, creamed potatoes and coffee. Mollie Long hadsurprised them with some corn bread that was, as Nora expressed it,"some class."
Their cellar was beside a running brook near the tents. A littlewaterfall trickled down the rocks with a cheerful sound. Beside thestream was their refrigerator--a large deep hole that had been dug inthe ground, and into this, placed in a tightly covered tin bucket, theyput their butter, cream, eggs, and meat. It was as cold as ice. Afterthe pail had been lowered a c
lean board covered the opening, and on thisboard they placed a large stone. But the farmer with whom Mr. Hollisterhad made arrangement, brought up daily from his place fresh meat, milk,and vegetables, and twice a week pot cheese and buttermilk; so the "OhioCamp Fires" were in clover. Nothing they ate was stale and everythingtasted delicious.
After breakfast was over, Ethel, Nora, and Mollie Long cleared thetable, washed the dishes, and tidied up the tent.
CHAPTER XXV
ETHEL'S FIRST LESSON
"Girls," said Kate, after the morning's ceremonies had been performed,"today we will cook our dinner over a real camp fire. Our menu willconsist of roasted potatoes, green peas, broiled steak, and a lettucesalad. Sallie Davis is going to make one of her delicious breadpuddings, which she will bake in the oil stove, but the rest will be the'real thing.'"
The girls were delighted.
"Ethel," said Edith Overman, "in August you shall taste our deliciousroasted corn. You never ate anything so good in your life. When do youleave for home?"
"August thirtieth," replied the girl. "Do you stay up here untilSeptember?"
"Yes," replied Kate. "We leave about the fifth, but on account of you weare going home in August this year."
"Oh, how kind!" said Ethel.
Then Kate began:
"Now my little cousin, you have some work to do today. First, you mustlearn how to make knots,--the five different styles--but today it shallbe a square knot only. You are to tie it five times in succession withouthesitation. You are to read and be able to tell the chief cause ofinfant mortality in the summer, and to what extent it has been reducedin one American community. That means one city or town. This is yourschool and you must attend it before you can play. You must learn whatto do in the following emergencies: Clothing on fire; person in deepwater who can not swim, both in summer and through ice in winter; how tobandage and attend to an open cut; a frosted foot; what to do with aperson who has fainted; how to use surgeon's plaster; you must commit tomemory a poem of twenty-five lines or more, and you must learn aboutyourself--what every girl of your age needs to know. You are not tolearn all of this in one day, but a little every day. Mollie and Nora,who are proficient in these things, will help teach you. Then you'lllearn to cook, swim, and row a boat. We have a lovely lake about a milefrom here, and there are boats and canoes to hire. All these, andvarious other useful things, you are to learn. I want you to be able towin an Elective Honor in some one of the seven crafts. You must wearyour beads, but you must win them first. Next week we shall remove theroofs of our tents and sleep in the open. I wish you girls to get amonth or two of it. That counts one honor."