The Uninvited Guest 



Tug found the aroma very disagreeable to his sensitive 

 nostrils, and told Jim if he washed a little oftener his 

 hide wouldn't smell so bad when it burned. Jim then 

 relieved himself as follows: 



" Mr. Williams, my hide may be dirty, but it tain't 

 half as foul as your big mouth. In all my busy life of 

 guidin' I never 'lowed to take money from such a low- 

 down, beer-guzzlin', greasy, slum sport as you be. You 

 stay in that there tent. The outdoors belongs to me. 

 If I didn't have more respect for my guide's licence than 

 I have for your dirty carcass, I'd roll you in the fire 

 and fry out enough fat to grease all the machinery in the 

 brewery where you last worked." 



This tirade was too much for even Tug's thick-skinned 

 sensibilities, so he discharged Jim on the spot, much to 

 our amusement and Jim's indifference. 



It cleared off the next day bright and warm. After 

 re-baking the ignition apparatus, we started gaily off and 

 made camp at Lowe's Landing in good time. 



Tug breathed a long sigh of relief as he stretched himself 

 out on one of the good spring cots. He was right merry 

 and talked incessantly of the wonderfully fine time he 

 had had. 



The next morning Kempton's team arrived to take 

 us out. The moose was to follow in a truck-wagon. 



After we were comfortably jogging along, Tug heaved 

 a sigh of relief. He shivered and settled himself con- 

 tentedly down into the collar of his overcoat. 



"Gosh!" he murmured; "them wildcats make a 

 doleful sound." 



117 



