The camp-fire was a glory-burst in the dark- 

 ness, and the small many-spired evergreen tem- 

 ple before me shone an illuminated cathedral in 

 the night. All that evening I believed in fairies, 

 and by watching the changing camp-fire kept my 

 fancies frolicking in realms of mystery where all 

 the world was young. I lay down without a gun, 

 and while the fire changed and faded to black and 

 gray the coyotes began to howl. But their voices 

 did not seem as lonely or menacing as when 

 I had had a rifle by my side. As I lay listen- 

 ing to them, I thought I detected merriment in 

 their tones, and in a little while their shouts 

 rang as merrily as though they were boys at 

 play. Never before had I realized that coyotes 

 too had enjoyments, and I listened to their shouts 

 with pleasure. At last the illumination faded 

 from the cathedral grove and its templed top 

 stood in charcoal against the clear heavens as I 

 fell asleep beneath the peaceful stars. 



The next morning I loitered here and there, 

 getting acquainted with the lake-shore, for with- 

 out a gun all objects, or my eyes, were so changed 

 that I had only a dim recollection of having seen 



77 



