"To obviate this discrepancy in building with uneven logs, we can fill in the chinks with clay. When that hardens it will act like a solid cement between the logs.
"I prowled about yesterday and found a place down on the bank of the stream, where the clay was of the kind we need to use. We will bring some of it up to camp to-morrow, and after mixing it with water and sand, fill in the cracks in the walls. As it is now, should there be a heavy rain that would wash the water down over the cliff, the floods will pour in through the chinks of the log wall that is built against the rocks and run over the floor of your house."
"We'll attend to that first thing, as you say, Verny; but let's hurry up, now, and get started for our walk," Joan said.
After they had been walking for an hour or more, trying to name the various birds they saw, or tell about the peculiarities of woodland plants they found, Mrs. Vernon thought they had better start back for camp.
"It is only half an hour to our usual dinner-hour, and it will take us that long to reach camp. Before we have our Sunday dinner cooked it will be an hour later than our usual time on week-days."
"At least we will be fashionable, then," laughed Julie. "Every one has dinner an hour later on Sundays--that's why the men always complain."
"It isn't because of style, Julie, but you know the men-folks never _will_ get up on Sunday mornings, and that sets back all the work. 'Liza says she's going to strike altogether about cooking Sunday dinners unless every one will get up just as they do on week-days," explained Betty, conscientiously.
Her long harangue was greeted with appreciative laughter, but Betty looked from one to the other questioningly. Julie ran over and gave her a hug, and cried: "Her was a dear little lamb, so her was!"
They were quite near camp when Joan happened to remember that she had forgotten to place the water-cress in the pan of water to keep it fresh.
"Too late to cry over it now," said Julie. "It will be so wilted that we'll have to throw it away."
"That leaves us without a salad as we had expected," Ruth complained.
"Why didn't _you_ put it in water, then! You manage to find fault with everything that goes wrong, but I notice that you seldom do anything yourself!" snapped Joan.