306 THE GARDEN, YOU, AND I 



evidently been used as winter fodder for young cattle, 

 for what remained of it was nibbled about the base, 

 leaving a protruding, umbrella-like thatch, not very 

 substantial, but sufficient shelter for a still night. Then 

 and there we decided to play gypsy and camp out, 

 literally under the sky. Evan unharnessed the 

 horse, watered him at a convenient roadside puddle, 

 and tethered him at the rear of the stack, where he 

 could nibble the hay, but not us! Then spreading 

 the horse-blanket on some loose hay for a bed, with 

 the well- tufted seat of the buggy for a pillow, and 

 utilizing the lap robe for a cover against dew, we 

 fell heavily asleep, though I had all the time a half- 

 conscious feeling as if little creatures were scrambling 

 about in the hay beneath the blanket and occasionally 

 brushing my face or ears with a batlike wing, tiny 

 paws, or whisking tail. When I awoke, and of course 

 immediately stirred up Evan, the moon was low on 

 the opposite side of the stack, the stars were hidden, 

 and there was a dull red glow among the heavy clouds 

 of the eastern horizon like the reflection of a distant 

 fire, while an owl hooted close by from a tree and then 

 flew with a lurch across the meadow, evidently to the 

 destruction of some small creature, for a squeal accom- 

 panied the swoop. A mysterious thing, this flight 



