How the Doctor Gained His Point. 



Several years ago, two friends and I went into camp one 

 night on the bank of the Wapsie River in southeastern Iowa. 

 After making camp and getting supper, we sat around the fire, 

 enjoying its warmth and puffing at our pipes of Durham. Dur- 

 ing our talk the question came up as to how one could get 

 the most good out of a campfire on a cold night. My com- 

 panions thought the best way was to sleep with one's feet next 

 to the fire, Indian style. I said that I preferred to lie with my 

 back to the fire, and swap sides as they became alternately hot 

 and cold. But in this land the majority rules, consequently 1 

 gave in, and we went to bed with our heads and bodies under 

 our little dog tent and our feet to the fire, which was just out- 

 side the tent flap. 



In five minutes the boys were both snoring, but the fire of 

 defeat was smoldering in my breast, and I could not sleep. 

 Suddenly an idea struck me and I crawled out cautiously from 

 under the blankets and moved the smoldering fire up as close 

 to the boys' feet as I could without burning the tent ; then I 

 piled on a lot of hard, dry limbs, crawled between the blankets 

 again, drew in my feet, covered my head and went to snoring. 



In a few minutes G , who was next to me, groaned, 



turned over, drew up his feet and thus escaped the fiery tor- 

 ture. Poor B - did not escape so luckily. He was built for 

 high water and therefore had more length than breadth, con- 

 sequently it was a long time before he got news from below, 

 but when he did hear from his lower extremities he sprang 

 to his feet and let out a war whoop that would have put to 

 shame a Sioux brave. 



After camp got quiet we moved the fire back, went into 

 the tent, fixed up a white man's bed, crawled into it and slept 

 until morning, but I had gained my point and thereafter I had 

 two good solid converts to my way of camping. 



Poor B , he has gone on his last long jaunt. He has 



crossed the last stream and camped on the further side, where 



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