“Who rubs together the tinder sticks and imparts the spark that produces the flame?”

“The Torch Bearer,” answered Harriet in a low voice.  Her face now seemed to be burning almost as hotly as was the council fire before her.

“What are the further duties of a Torch Bearer?”

“To act as a leader of her fellows in their sports and in their more serious occupations, to assist them in learning that work, that accomplishment, bring the greater joys of life; to assist the guardian in any and all ways,” was the low-spoken reply.

“Correct.  And having more than fulfilled the requirements, I now appoint you to be a Torch Bearer, a real leader in the Camp Girls’ organization, thus entitling you to wear that much-coveted emblem, the crossed logs, flame and smoke.  Workers, arise and salute your Torch Bearer with the grand hailing sign of the tribe!”

CHAPTER XII

MYSTERY ON A SAND BAR

“I—­I thank you.”

Harriet, placing the right hand over the heart, bowed low, and the ceremony was complete.  The voices of the Wau-Wau Girls were raised in singing, “My Country, ’Tis of Thee.”  Then they ran forward, fairly smothering Harriet with their embraces and congratulations.

“You forget that I am the real hero,” Tommy reminded them; whereat they picked up the little girl and tried to toss her back and forth, with the result that she was dropped on the ground.

The guardians added their congratulations as soon as they succeeded in getting close enough to Harriet to do so.  Grace also came in for her share of congratulation and praise, with which she was well content.

“Come, girls,” urged Miss Elting, “you know we have to make our beds, and the hour is getting late.”

“I’m not thleepy,” protested Grace, “I could thtay awake for ageth.”

“You will be by the time we find our sleeping place.  It is some little distance from here.”  Harriet glanced at the guardian inquiringly.

“Yes, it is the cabin,” answered Miss Elting.  “Mrs. Livingston lost no time in arranging for us to occupy it, though I am not at all certain that it is the wise thing to do under the circumstances.”

“Under what circumstances?” asked Harriet.

“Storms.”

“But they can do us no harm.”

“We shall have to take for granted that they will not.  Mrs. Livingston sent to town to ask permission of the owner, who readily granted it.  He had forgotten that he owned the cabin.  It seems that no one has occupied it in several years.  Mrs. Livingston also obtained some new blankets for us, but for to-night we shall have to put up with some hardships.  To-morrow you girls can fix us bough-beds; then we shall be quite comfortable.  But we shall have to cook out-of-doors, there being no stove in the cabin.”

“We shan’t be able to cook on the bar.  The breeze from the sea is so strong there that it would blow the fire away.”