130 TENANTS OF AN OLD FAIl.U. 



trading cave dwelling and log cabin of the Quaker 

 jiioneers. " 



" Ah, you rogue !" said the Doctor, as he adjusted his 

 glasses, "3'ou quite deceived me, I confess ; but I par- 

 don you in advance, for I dare say that you Avill 

 abundantly reward my curiosity, although in another 

 direction.-' 



The object to which our attention was directed re- 

 sembled in miniature a chimney of mud and sticks, such 

 as one may see upon log huts on the frontier. A circu- 

 lar opening in the ground an inch wide was sunk 

 downward quite out of sight. Around this on the 

 surface was built, in the form of an irregular pentagon, 

 a little chimney or turret, composed chielly of bits of 

 gi'ass-straw and stalks of weeds, crossed at the corners 

 and raised one above another to the height of nearly 

 two inclies. The inside of this tube was lined with a 

 thin sheeting of silken web which was carried for a 

 little distance below the surface. Particles of earth 

 were intermingled with the sticks. 



" Do you mean to say," exclaimed the Doctor, " that 

 this is the nest of a spider ?" 



" You shall sec for yourself," I answered, " for I have 

 brought with me the means for exploring the interior 

 of our cave-dweller's home. But first we may as well 

 save this part of the nest as a specimen for our cabinet." 



T tilled the turret with a tufl of cotton to prevent it from 

 breaking up under the handling, then carefully cut it 

 away from the surface with a large knife and laid it in 

 a pnper box. Next I quite filled up the hole, which 



