154 



ON THE PRAIRIE 



home ; and after a tiresome day it is pleas- 

 ant just to lie still in the twilight by the 

 side of the smouldering fire and watch the 

 men as they busy themselves cooking or ar- 

 ranging the beds, while the solemn old 

 ponies graze around or stand quietly by the 

 great white-topped prairie schooner. 



The blankets and rubbers being arranged 

 in a carefully chosen spot to leeward of the 

 wagon, we were not often bothered at night, 

 even by quite heavy rainfalls; but once or 

 twice, when in peculiarly exposed places, 

 we were struck by such furious gusts of 

 wind and rain that we were forced to 

 gather up our bedding and hastily scramble 

 into the wagon, where we would at least be 

 dry, even though in pretty cramped quar- 

 ters. 



