In the Sierra 



! 



her lamb and suckled it, all lay down and 

 required no attention until morning. 



Supper was announced by the call, 

 " Grub ! " Each with a tin plate helped him- 

 self direct from the pots and pans while 

 chatting about such camp studies as sheep- 

 feed, mines, coyotes, bears, or adventures 

 during the memorable gold days of pay- 

 dirt. The Indian kept in the background, 

 saying never a word, as if he belonged to 

 another species. The meal finished, the 

 dogs were fed, the smokers smoked by the 

 fire, and under the influences of fullness and 

 tobacco the calm that settled on their faces 

 seemed almost divine, something like the 

 mellow meditative glow portrayed on the 

 countenances of saints. Then suddenly, as 

 if awakening from a dream, each with a 

 sigh or a grunt knocked the ashes out of 

 his pipe, yawned, gazed at the fire a few 

 moments, said, "Well, I believe I'll turn 

 in,'' and straightway vanished beneath his 

 blankets. The fire smouldered and flickered 

 [ 13 1 



