40 CAMP-FIRES OF A NATURALIST. 



oats and wheat, while two acres were in potatoes. 

 His herd of one cow and burro had increased until 

 he had several of each kind. Substantial furniture 

 replaced the pole table, bedstead, and stools, and to 

 crown all there was a large cooking-range in the 

 kitchen. As all these additions had been transported 

 up the narrow trail on the backs of burros, it was 

 always a mystery to Dyche how the stove had been 

 brought in. The two old-fashioned fire-places gave 

 to the whole a home-like appearance which brought 

 many pleasant memories to Dyche. 



As the naturalists neared the ranch they saw 

 Harvey at work in his field, and Dyche gave the 

 signal-yell which had been used last year to notify 

 the ranch of the death of a deer. As the sound 

 reached Harvey he gave a jump and sent back the 

 answering yell, while from the house rushed the boys, 

 and even old Reuben recognized the sound and added 

 his sweet voice to the general clamor. They came 

 pell-mell down the trail, with Reuben bringing up 

 the rear ; and Dyche was soon surrounded by the trio, 

 each trying to shake his hand and all talking at once. 



"There's not been a deer killed since you left here," 

 said Harvey. " Beaty and his partner have a cabin 

 up here above the meadow, where they are mining 

 mica. They have been hunting deer and hunting 

 deer all winter and got nothing. I guess they have 

 either run them all off or made them so wild that 

 you won't be able to get one. I've been telling them 

 how you got one at every shot and whenever you 

 wanted one." 



" Well, we'll have something better this year. I've 



