78 FOUR-FOOTED AMERICANS 



blanket Avhich he folded over her knees and drew about 

 her shoulders like a shawl, so that only her head peeped 

 out, while the others arranged theirs to match. '' It's 

 like being in a bag. How nice and warm it feels," she 

 said, nestling down. ''I didn't know just one blanket 

 could be so comfortable." 



" Just one skin robe or wool blanket is all that the 

 Indian hunter, or plainsman, has to stand between him 

 and the bitter cold night," said the Doctor ; '' so that 

 many people who are living the out-door life continu- 

 ally, have tlieir blankets sewed into this shape and 

 lined with fur, and they are called sleeping bags." 



"That is wliat Dodo\s blanket will l)e lono^ before we 

 get home," said Olive, as Dodo nodded and swayed on 

 the seat. 



" No, Fm going to stay awake so as to see every- 

 thing," said she, suddenly stiffening up and opening 

 her eyes very Avide. 



" Look at the mist coming up out of the river and 

 lowlands," said Rap ; ''it's just as if they had gone to 

 sleep and it was their breath." 



'^ We shall save three miles by following the river 

 lane," said the Doctor to Mr. Blake, who was driving. 



By this time the liglit that guided them came from 

 the great full hunter's moon, and all that was left of 

 daylight was a few dull red shadows in the west. 



" There are lots of little beasts out to-night," said 

 Rap, his eyes being almost as keen in the darkness as a 

 cat's. " Oh, Doctor, do you hear that barking down 

 the river bank ? I'm as sure as anything that it's a 

 dog that has treed a Coon, for the noise keeps coming 

 from the same place. Can't we stop and see ? " 



