The Campfire Girls at Camp Keewaydin | Page 5

the year before, and she drew her own conclusions about Jane's
popularity.
"Who is Mary Sylvester?" Agony asked presently.
"Mary Sylvester," repeated Miss Judith in a tone which caught the
attention of all the Winnebagos, it was so full of affection. "Mary
Sylvester is the salt of the earth," Miss Judith continued warmly. "She's
the brightest, loveliest, most kind-hearted girl I've ever met, and I've
met a good many. She can't help being popular; she's as jolly as she is
pretty, and as unassuming as she is talented. For an all around good
camper 'we will never see her equal, though we search the whole world
through,' as the camp song runs."
Agony looked over to where Mary Sylvester sat, the center of an
animated group, and yearned with all her heart to be so prominent and
so much noticed.
"I heard someone on the boat say that she would probably get the

Buffalo Robe this year; that she had almost gotten it last year,"
continued Agony. "What is the Buffalo Robe, please?"
"The Buffalo Robe," replied Miss Judith, "is a large leather skin upon
which the chief events of each camping season are painted in colors,
and at the end of the summer it goes to the girl who is voted the most
popular. She keeps it through the winter and returns it to us when camp
opens the next year."
"Oh-h," breathed Agony, mightily interested. "And who got it last
year?"
"Peggy Atterbury," said Miss Judith. "You'll hear all about her before
very long. All the old girls are going to tie black ribbons on their tent
poles tomorrow morning because she isn't coming back this year. She
was another rare spirit like Mary Sylvester, only a bit more prominent,
because she saved a girl from drowning one day."
Agony's heart swelled with ambition and desire as she listened to Miss
Judith telling about the Buffalo Robe. A single consuming desire
burned in her soul--to win that Buffalo Robe. Nothing else mattered
now; no other laurel she might possibly win held out any attraction; she
must carry off the great honor. She would show Nyoda what a great
quality of leadership she possessed; there would be no question of
Nyoda's making her a Torch Bearer when she came home with the
Buffalo Robe. Thus her imagination soared until she pictured herself
laying the significant trophy at Nyoda's feet and heard Nyoda's words
of congratulation. A sudden doubt assailed her in the midst of her
dream.
"Do new girls ever win the Buffalo Robe?" she asked in a voice which
she tried hard to make sound disinterested.
"Yes, certainly," replied Miss Judith. "Peggy Atterbury was a new girl
last year, and the girl who won it the year before last was a new girl
also."
Her doubt thus removed, Agony returned to her pleasant day dream

with greater longing than ever. The conversation at their table was
interrupted by shouts from the next group.
"Oh, Miss Judy, please, please, can't we live in the Alley?"
Another group farther down the table took up the cry, and the room
echoed with clamorous requests to live either "in the Alley" or "on the
Avenue." The Elephant's Child came in at the end with a fervent plea:
"Please, can't I be in Pom-pom's tent this year?"
"Tent lists are all made out," replied Miss Judith blandly. "You'll all
find out in a few moments where you're to be." She sat calmly amid the
buzz of excited speculation.
"What do they mean by living 'in the Alley'?" asked Sahwah curiously.
"There are two rows of tents," replied Miss Judith. "The first one is
called the Avenue and the second one the Alley. This end of camp,
where the bungalows are, is known as the Heights, and the other end
the Flats. There is always a great rivalry in camp between the dwellers
in the Alley and the dwellers on the Avenue, and the two compete for
the championship in sports."
"Oh, how jolly!" cried Sahwah eagerly. "Where are we to be?" she
continued, filled with a sudden burning desire to live in the Alley.
"You'll know soon," said Miss Judith, with another one of her quizzical
smiles, and with that the Winnebagos had to be content.
In a few moments dinner was finished and Mrs. Grayson rose and read
the tent assignments. The tents all had names, it appeared; there was
Bedlam and Avernus, Jabberwocky, Hornets, Nevermore, Gibraltar,
Tamaracks, Fairview, Woodpeckers, Ravens, All Saints, Aloha, and a
number of others which the Winnebagos could not remember at one
hearing. Three girls and one councilor were assigned to each tent.
Sahwah and Agony and Hinpoha heard themselves called to go to
Gitchee-Gummee; Gladys and Migwan were put with Bengal Virden,
the Elephant's Child from India, into