OF A RANCHMAN 97 



On the evening in question our camping- 

 ground was an excellent one; we had no 

 trouble about any thing, except that we had 

 to bring water to the horses in pails, for the 

 banks were too steep and rotten to get them 

 down to the river. The beds were made 

 under a great elm, and in a short time the 

 fire was roaring in front of them, while the 

 tender grouse were being roasted on pointed 

 sticks. One of the pleasantest times of camp- 

 ing out is the period immediately after sup- 

 per, when the hunters lie in the blaze of the 

 firelight, talking over what they have done 

 during the day .and making their plans for 

 the morrow. And how soundly a man who 

 has worked hard sleeps in the open, none but 

 he who has tried it knows. 



Before we had risen in the morning, when 

 the blackness of the night had barely changed 

 to gray, we were roused by the whistle of 

 wings, as a flock of ducks flew by along 

 the course of the stream, and lit in the water 

 just above the camp. Some kinds of ducks 

 in li^luin** strike the water with their tails 



