A. BEAK IN THE CAMP. 45 



One by one the negroes came to life, and yawning and 

 muttering gathered together the remains of the fire. 

 The Doctor raised himself on his elbow, and benignantly 

 surveyed the dull circuit of a dozen yards that the mist 

 left open to his vision. The dogs snuffed the air wist- 

 fully, looked into the trees, and sauntered out into the 

 mist, looming as large as the ponies as soon as they 

 gained a little distance. In a moment a sharp yelp was 

 heard from one of the smaller dogs. Again, after a 

 pause, another, then a prolonged " yeough " from an old 

 hound. 



" Whas dat are !" said Scipio, raising his curly pate 

 from the coals that he was vigorously trying to blow into 

 a blaze. 



" Nebber you attendsiate to the dogs, you lazy nigger ; 

 you cook," retorted his comrade, and Scipio renewed his 

 puffing. 



" Geow-ou-ou-ou !" roared out all the dogs in chorus, 

 with a burst of clamor that awakened the sleepers, and 

 before any one could get to his feet a huge black bear, 

 that appeared as big as a bull, dashed out of the fog, 

 followed by all the dogs in full cry, right through the 

 camp, scattering the fire, overthrowing Scipio in the 

 ashes, scaring the ponies from their tethers, and leaving 

 the Doctor sprawling on his back. 



" Bress de Lord !" shouted the negro, scrambling out 

 of the coals ; " did de Lord ebber see like o' dat ?" 



" Tally-ho !" echoed the Doctor, hurriedly snatching 

 an axe. 



