AN AUTUMN HOLIDAY 55 



den contidence in Nez that young people and dogs have 

 in those who really love them, said, " I'm going to 

 learn to shoot this winter and hear all about the wild 

 American animals, and sometimes you will let us come 

 to see you, won't you, and you'll tell us stories ? " 



" Oh, do," echoed Dodo, looking up at him with a 

 smile that generally had yes, as its reward, " and per- 

 haps you'll tell us just one story for dessert to-day." 



" Sure enough I will," he answered ; " and I'll set 

 you a camp and a fire all slick and ready while you're 

 a-gettin' your nuts. Then you can come over yonder," 

 and without more ado he disappeared in the trees. 



" Where are the nuts ? " asked Dodo, looking up to 

 the sky. 



" On the ground partly and in the trees mostly," 

 said Olive. " If these trees in front of us had a good 

 shaking, we could pick up enough hickories to last all 

 winter." 



The horses were unharnessed, tethered to stumps 

 and blanketed ; for in spite of the bright sun the air 

 was keen, and the wind had suddenly sprung up, scat- 

 tering the leaves and sending down quite a hailstorm 

 of nuts. 



When Mr. Blake and the Doctor, climbing some of 

 the smaller trees, aided the wind in its work, the nuts 

 gave the gatherers such a pelting tliat they had to stop 

 until the squall was over. 



" It's almost too easy to be fun," said Nat, as they 

 tied up the mouth of Rap's bag, which was already 

 filled. "I think I'd rather hunt for things a little 

 longer." 



" Good boy," said his father ; " that is the spirit that 



