206 BOONEVILLE TO SARATOGA. 



acy as chief -cook; and so we left the tent folded up, and 

 took rooms at the hotel. 



After supper, we took a final ride with John out upon the 

 lake, for, on the morrow, we were to part with him; he to 

 return westward, we, in a day or two, to go eastward. The 

 ride was a little melanchol}^ because it was our last with 

 John, whom both the lad and I had come to warmly regard 

 as a i)ersonal friend. He had been as true and fa'ithful as a 

 brother, and so strong and wise and discreet that in all our 

 experience with him, in our long journey and camping, 

 there had not been an accident, mistake or mishap. 



The rain came, sure enough, while we were on the lake. 

 We went ashore on an island. John drew his boat on land, 

 turned it over, with one end up on a limb, and we sat and 

 talked the rain out in entire dryness and comfort. 



Even Ned confessed to some satisfaction, when we 

 removed our clothing and went to bed in sheets again. 

 But he could hardly sleep. " Do you think we shall ever 

 see John again? " said he. " I never want any other guide 

 but John." Silence for a while; — " How old do you think 

 John is?" more silence; — " Do jou think, when I've grown 

 up to be a man and come to the woods, that he will be too 

 old to come with me as my guide ? " 



But we were tired, and, after our wakeful night in a 

 storm under a tent, very sleepy; and even "John" was at 

 lenath forgotten in the mvsteries of slumber-land. 



