The Girl Scouts in Beechwood Forest

The Girl Scouts #2

by Margaret Vandercook

The flame ascended, ending in a little spiral of smoke curling upward in the night air. Overhead the stars shone, the pine trees formed dark shadows. Within the radius of the firelight a girl leaned forward, her eyes fastened upon a drawing she held in her lap. One could see only vague outlines. The light danced over the figure of the girl, her bright, reddish-gold hair, cut short and held in place with an amber comb, her slender shoulders, the unconsciously graceful poise of her body. She turned to glance anxiously at another figure lying outstretched upon the ground only a few feet away. This girl appeared to be sleeping. Her eyes were closed and she was breathing fitfully. Suddenly she opened her eyes and smiled. "Tory Drew, aren't you ever going to sleep?" she demanded. "Is it your intention to sit up all night and keep guard over me? I told you that I was not suffering in the least. My fall seems not to have injured me, only for some strange reason has made it difficult for me to walk. We have been longing to spend a night out of doors alone ever since we arrived at our camp in Beechwood Forest. This is an unexpected opportunity, yet you do not look grateful. Small wonder if you are never going to sleep! What time do you think it is?"

224 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1921

About the author

Margaret O'Bannon Womack Vandercook was an American writer of children's literature. She did not become a professional writer until after her husband's death, but has since been described as the queen of Camp Fire writers, writing twenty-one Camp Fire novels under her own name as well as under the pseudonym "Margaret Love Sanderson" (also used by Emma Keats Speed Sampson, author of the Miss Minerva books). In addition to the Camp Fire Girls series, Margaret is also known for her other girls' series books, which include the Ranch Girls, the Red Cross Girls, and the Girl Scouts. Additional works include stories, articles and poems for Harper's Bazaar, Delineator, Pearson's Magazine, Book News Monthly, Paris Modes, and many other publications. She was also a member of the Louisville Kentucky Authors' Club.