“And we couldn’t be more rested, or in better condition to carry heavy loads,” said Miss Phillips, as they came upon the canoes lying just as they had left them, bright and shining after their washing in the rain.
“And now for the heavy work!” said Lily, tucking her luggage into the _Water-Witch_.
“Thank goodness for that chicken dinner!” added Ethel.
Two days later the scouts found themselves encamped in a locality where the stream was particularly wide. They were to remain there until the following afternoon in order that the girls who wished might qualify for the Sailor’s Badge.
In their eagerness to pass their first-class test and thus become eligible for the trip to Washington the previous spring, the members of Pansy troop had given a little attention to the study for merit badges. Most of the girls had passed the Cook, Flower-finder, and the Needlewoman tests; and all of them on the present trip wore the Pioneer’s badge. But for so energetic a troop, Miss Phillips felt almost as if this branch of the work had been neglected; for this reason, she placed more emphasis than ever upon the winning of the Sailor badge. And the girls were equally enthusiastic.
“There are two parts to this test: the first is a general test for everyone who aspires to proficiency in water sports, and the second part gives you a choice--in showing your ability to manage a row-boat, a sail-boat, a canoe, or a motorboat. We shall of course all select the canoe.”
“I’ve been looking at some of the questions,” said Marjorie; “but I can’t answer them. For instance, about the right of way, and the port and the starboard of boats, and----”
“Oh, that part is easy,” said Miss Phillips; “I can tell you things like that. It’s practical demonstrations that I’m afraid of. With the exception of Alice, you can all swim twenty-five yards with your clothing on----”
“Does that mean that I’m out of it?” cried the girl, in disappointment. “Why, I can paddle as well as the rest of the girls!”
“You may qualify for everything else except the swimming, and then do that on Silver Lake,” said the captain. “Now, to continue--of course everybody knows the sixteen points of the compass and how to find the four directions from the sun or stars.”