196 FOUB-FOOTED AMERICANS 



a lantern, tlie Doctor began pnlling on his Ijoots, while 

 Olaf took a long pole belonging to an eel spear from 

 tlie corner. 



'' What are you going to do, kill him? " asked Rap. 

 '' Oh, now he's up on the table I " 



'' No, put him in this bag," said Nez, taking an old 

 meal sack from under his bunk. " The only way to 

 catch one of these critters alive without wisliin' liim 

 dead is to poke him off somewhere into something. 

 So " — Scratchy Push, and after a short struggle the dis- 

 turber, making queer faces all tlie while, was securely 

 bagged and tlie cabin retired to sleep again, while the 

 Porcupine spent the night under the table, too much 

 disgusted by the small size of his quarters to give 

 anotlier concert. 



* * * * 7^ 



It was still dark the next morning when the boj's 

 smelled coft'ee boiling. Other things beside the early 

 hour contributed to the darkness, — the windows were 

 small and few at best, and the panes were turned into 

 ground glass by the heavy coating of frost. The pail of 

 cold water did not make bathing seem attractive to Nat, 

 who edged away from it, saying that he had not brought 

 a sponge; but Rap, wlio was used to rough living, dipped 

 his face in the water, shook off the big drops, and 

 polished it Avith his handkerchief. 



'' I don't believe my hands will be clean for a month," 

 said Nat, looking at his red, chapped, grimy paws. 



" It's fun camping for a little while, but beds Avith 

 sheets are so comfortable, and Rap, — don't you think 

 in winter camping is pretty smelly ? " 



'^ Yes, I suppose it is ; but then you know real camp- 



