48 FOREST OUTINGS 



But I was the first one in. Six is company, seven a crowd. I figured that 

 I had gone at this point as far as is proper in examination of the recrea- 

 tional attitudes of such decent, friendly, and bewildered youngsters. "See 

 you later," I called and swam back to my camp. 



The other two couples took quite a while at their kidding, rough- 

 housing, and loud talk before they too plunged into the stilled expanse of 

 that beautiful lake and swam together quietly. 



Next day was Sunday. Outside the girls' tent Jen, the first one up, 

 gave a final stir to a smoldering can of beans, then stuck her head into the 

 tent and hollered: 



"Hey! the fellas want us to eat with 'em. Let's take the beans and 

 tomatoes up. They got coffee." 



She struggled with her straight hair in the small hand mirror. 



"Nuts! Why wasn't I born with curly hair?" She put on a sweater. 

 "Those guys oughta be dressed by now. Let's go up." 



Sue got up sleepily and started to dress. "Me'n Bill had another battle 

 last night," she said. 



"What's eatin' Bill, anyway?" asked Jen. "Can't he stand his job?" 



"Oh, the job's okeh. But it ain't getting us anywhere." 



"You're telling me!" said Jen. "Come on; let's eat." 



They swam again, twice, and hiked that day. The camp was full now. 

 Every overnight site and every picnic table was taken. Night came on. 

 The holiday crowd grew quiet, each little group busy around its own 

 stove. Occasionally the rhythmic crack of a wood chopper snapped through 

 the dusk. Then the stars came out and the boys and girls drifted down to 

 the council fireplace on the beach. 



Bill and Jim carried in driftwood. 



"Say, Harry, this stuff's wet. Git that can of kerosene we washed the 

 engine in. That'll make it go." 



"Okeh. C'mon, Bett. Let's go." Bett leaped to her feet. She started. He 

 rose and followed. Cries from the crowd at the council fire. One man cried, 

 "Take it away, sister!" 



Jen spoke more sternly: "Listen, you! Don't go into any clinches. We 

 want that juice here before we freeze." 



