52 Three Young Crusoe s 



key included, became enthusiastic in their search 

 for mushrooms of all kinds, both in the fields and 

 woods. These frail, bright-colored plants seemed 

 to spring up everywhere after they learned to see 

 them, and the number of different forms was truly 

 astonishing. Many were eaten fresh and others 

 were dried and laid by as a reserve stock. It was 

 discovered that most of them had their own pecu- 

 liar flavors, and added to the relish for other foods. 



Then the leathery and woody kinds, which grew 

 on trees and logs, began to be noticed and brought 

 in. They were even more abundant than the fleshy 

 kinds, but too tough to eat. William had been us- 

 ing some of the bigger ones for keeping flre and he 

 was already pretty well acquainted with them. **I 

 wonder what else they are good for?" he said. 



*'I have heard that they make the trees and tim- 

 ber decay," replied Henry, ''but I never knew they 

 were good for anything." 



*'You can get punk out of some of them," said 

 William, "and with punk you can light a fire in any 

 kind of weather." 



"I know about the watch trick," said Henry," but 

 suppose the sun isn't shining?" 



"That's just the point. Let me show you," an- 

 swered William. And he took a piece of punk from 



