254 CAMP-FIRES OF A NATURALIST. 



feeding in the brush, and supposing it to be a moose 

 had made an hour's stalk and discovered his mistake 

 just as he was about to fire at the animal. The pick- 

 eted horse showed the visitors that they were near 

 camp, and they soon found the place and made them- 

 selves at home. 



The goodly supply of home-made bread, jam, 

 cookies, pies, and the other unwonted delicacies 

 brought by the visitors was greatly relished by the 

 naturalist and his companion. Bolton could only 

 stare, while his ejaculations of " Holy smoke ! " at the 

 rapid disappearance of the good things showed how 

 he came by his nickname. The three days in the 

 swamps had put an edge on the appetites of the 

 hunters that caused an exceedingly rapid diminution 

 of the stock of provisions. But while exertion had 

 improved their appetites, it must be said that their 

 personal appearance had sadly deteriorated, and their 

 visitors were constrained to make many remarks on 

 the subject of tramps. 



As the visitors found little evidence that the hunt- 

 ing had amounted to anything they were disposed to 

 make light of the efforts of the naturalist, and many 

 were the humorous remarks which were passed at 

 the expense of men who would stay two months in the 

 swamps and have nothing to show for it. The hunters 

 contented themselves with silence, but next morning 

 when they took their visitors up the river to the 

 place where the three moose were lying it was their 

 time for laughing, and Wood and Bolton confessed 

 that the trophies were well worth the time spent in 

 capturing them. 



