matters to a focus. " What a picture you fellows 

 will make," I said aloud, as my right hand slowly 

 worked the kodak out of the case which hung 

 under my left arm. Still keeping up a steady fire 

 of looks, I brought the kodak in front of me 

 ready to focus, and then touched the spring that 

 released the folding front. When the kodak mys- 

 teriously, suddenly opened before the wolves, 

 they fled for their lives. In an instant they had 

 cleared the grassy space and vanished into the 

 woods. I did not get their picture. 



With a gun, the wolf encounter could not have 

 ended more happily. At any rate, I have not for 

 a moment cared for a gun since I returned en- 

 thusiastic from my first delightful trip into the 

 wilds without one. Out in the wilds with nature 

 is one of the safest and most sanitary of places. 

 Bears are not seeking to devour, and the death- 

 list from lions, wolves, snakes, and all other bug- 

 bears combined does not equal the death-list 

 from fire, automobiles, street-cars, or banquets. 

 Being afraid of nature or a rainstorm is like 

 being afraid of the dark. 



The time of that first excursion was spent 



75 



