THE CAMP FIRE. IB 



negroes had curled themselves to sleep, and the rest of the hunters, 

 settling themselves down to the easiest positions they could invent, 

 drew forth their pipes, the universal solace to the wanderer. The 

 dogs still mumbled their bones around the fire, with an occasional 

 wrangle over some breach of canine etiquette, and the two ponies 

 appeared once tin a while, when the flame blazed brightly, munch- 

 ing the wild grass that grew around. 



It was the hour for meditation, and the mind, composed by the 

 fatigues of the day, the glowing light, and the soft climate, 

 wandered back through misty years. My cheek felt the free wind 

 of the north ; my eyes filled with moisture ; I thought of home, 

 and then I heard " zee-zee-zee-zip ! " Ah, misery ! what a 

 mosquito ! And there is another — has been sitting on my cheek 

 for ten minutes and I didn't see it. And now that I am listening 

 I hear them on every side zee-zee-zeeing all around me, and every 

 moment taking a nip. Oh, I see how it is ! I forgot to light my 

 pipe. There are Poke and Mike in undisturbed dreams of tobacco 

 and glory, smiling faintly at my convulsive slaps. Now my pipe 

 is lighted — no more nips ; blessed pipe ! Why are mosquitoes 

 created ; and what do they feed on when they can't get blood ? 

 Please answer me an oft-repeated thought, sage frequenters in 

 southern swamps. 



Do you know what an alligator is ? " drawled out the Doctor, 

 after he saw me fairly roused to the comfort of the pipe. 



" No ; do you ? " I replied. 



" Not precisely, but I came very near knowing to-day. I was 

 stooping to gather a strange flower on the bank of the river, when 

 the earth caved in with me, and let me down with a fearful thump 

 upon an old alligator that was sunning himself beneath. He gave 

 a snort and plunged into the river, and if he was half as frightened 

 as I, he will never come ashore again." 



" Pooh, man ! why didn't you take him by the legs and lay 

 him over on his back ? " 



" Oh, I hadn't the time ; he wouldn't wait." 



" Doctor Poke was up the bank before the alligator could see 

 him," said Mike, in a low quizzical voice. 



" Oh Poke ! for shame, to decline a fair fight ! " said I. 



