224 WAITING IN THE WILDERNESS 



that lightning never struck a mulberry tree, and 

 many times was advised to take refuge under one. 

 But I did not sit down against a big tree during a 

 storm. Early I realized that if I tried to run 

 away from lightning I might run the wrong 

 way. Lightning was never on my nerves. 



One day a violent lightning storm boomed and 

 rumbled around me, and occasionally I heard a 

 smash as though something had been struck. A 

 tree several steps away showed that it had 

 been branded by lightning. It was a mulberry 

 tree. I was in another mulberry eating berries. 

 Suddenly a high explosive dropped from on high 

 and smashed one side off a mulberry not twenty 

 feet from me. 



Any one who has camped knows that there are 

 twelve good months in the year, each of which 

 might be called the camper's delight. Each 

 month is more than ninety per cent, interesting; 

 it may have some spots in it not to one's liking, 

 but each has a number of special prizes, and 

 lucky is the camper who has enjoyed the outdoors 

 in every month. 



Outdoors in January there are no flies, 

 mosquitoes, snakes, rain, sunstroke, jiggers, gnats, 

 and flu. But coasting, skating, tracking, and 

 the camp-fire are at their best. On through the 

 months the birds, flowers, trees, and animals are 

 doing something, often exciting, that is not done 



