860 



GLEANINGS IN. BEE CULTURE. 



Dec. 1. 



months' absence would enable him the more 

 clearly to realize the condition of his own mind, 

 and also enable him upon his return to detect, 

 if there was in her, any real mental improve- 

 ment. With these thoughts in mind he decid- 

 ed to cast his lot with Dr. llayden; and, turn- 

 ing to him, he said, '" I would accept your offer, 

 doctor; but as you leave to-morrow afternoon 1 

 could hardly be ready to accompany you. I 

 have an errand to perform. A very kind friend 

 of mine up the river — Prof. Buell — " 



'•Prof. Buell! Huell," interrupted the doctor. 

 " Prof. Buell ? Why, that name sounds half way 

 familiar; but my professor was plain Bull — a 

 good strong name — Bull, and a good man he 

 was too." 



"Well, Fred," said Matt, after leaving the 

 camp, " yees are gettin' along foine with the 

 docthor; and something whispers me (perhaps 

 it's one of Alfaretta's meremaids) that yees will 

 make a good sthrike to go with him. Respect- 

 in' the pony, I will see to its delivery to Mr. 

 Buell, for I must go up the river soon." 



"It seems that things could not be more 

 nicely arranged for my departure," Fred replied. 



Matters were satisfactorily arranged the 

 next day, and late in the afternoon the little 

 band left camp. Dr. llayden, having in mind 

 Fred's recent illness, provided him with one of 

 the easiest-riding ponies; "and," said he, 

 " you will scarcely know the difference between 

 that pony and saddle and a rocking-chair." 



" "WELL, SIR, MY APIARY IS LOCATED IN THE MIDST OF THAT SPARKLE, CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN." 



"Prof. Buell, as I was saying," continued 

 Fred, " commissioned me to purchase a gentle 

 riding-pony for his invalid daughter." 



"That's another familiar feature," said Dr. 

 Hayden, reflectively. "My professor had a 

 daughter, but Bull was the name— Bull. But 

 the pony I have is just what you want. We 

 brought in a few pack ponies, and shall have 

 but few things to pack to the mountains, and 

 can spare one— a pretty black pony, gentle, 

 fleet of foot, with all the qualities for a lady's 

 horse. You have plenty of time to-morrow to 

 give the pony a trial. Take it over to Matt's 

 old maids' hospital and give each dame a ride." 



Fred had so much confidence in the doctor 

 that he had a mind to accept the pony then 

 and there; but he deferred his decision until 

 the morrow. 



They pursued a northwest course, traveling 

 upon unfrequented roads, and well into the 

 night of the second day they camped beside one 

 of those beautiful lakes which give Lake Coun- 

 ty its name." 



"Your companions must be familiar with 

 this route," said Fred, " to follow it so easily in 

 the night." 



" Not only the Indians but their ponies know 

 every inch of this ground," said the doctor, 

 " and to-morrow night we make our last stage; 

 and I will tell you now that we shall then be in 

 the Round Valley Indian Reservation." 



"Round Valley?" repeated Fred; " why, I 

 have heard that those Indians bear an ugly 

 reputation." 



"You should not believe all you hear," said 

 the doctor. " You said a little while ago that, 



