28 CAMP- FIRES OF A NATURALIST. 



"Camp? Well, I want to know! How are you 

 going to camp? " 



" Why, we have blankets and ten days' provisions 

 in our packs." 



"Camp? Yes, camp right here in the house," 

 pointing to his one-roomed cabin. 



" We have come up here to collect insects and plants 

 and perhaps to kill animals. We did not come up to 

 inflict ourselves on you or to bother you in any way, 

 unless it might be to get a little milk from that cow 

 now and then." 



" We have the finest milk up here you ever saw 

 and you can have all you want of it. That's about 

 all we do have that's fresh, except air and water. If 

 one of you fellows don't kill a deer pretty soon there 

 won't be any meat on this mountain." 



" Are there many deer on this mountain? " 



" Deer? I want to know ! Why, you can see deer 

 'most any day over on that hillside in the quakin' asp. 

 You can stand right here in the door and see them 

 pass along any morning. They've been shot at sev- 

 eral times, though, and are gettin' kinder wild, but 

 they're here." 



"Can we camp down in that point of quaking 

 asp?" 



" No, you can camp right here at the house, cook 

 at the big fire-place, and sleep in-doors. It gets 

 mighty cold up here at night." 



At this juncture a tall lady, whose bearing was in 

 strange contrast with her surroundings, appeared at 

 the door, saying : 



" High, dinner is ready. " 



