OUT-DOOR COOKERY 69 



clay pastry. Dessert — roast apples on strings, ginger 

 cookies, and" — as Nez came from the cabin with a jar 

 — " wild plum jam, and coffee with condensed cream! " 



The first course was eaten with much relish, and then 

 "they gathered around the fire to see Nez uncover his 

 famous pies. The first one being opened disclosed a 

 mass of blackened feathers. 



" I knew it wouldn't be any good," whispered Dodo 

 to Nat. 



"You know too soon then," he replied, as Nez with 

 a skilful pull took feathers, skin, and all from the bird, 

 showing its smoking, nicely cooked body all ready to 

 be eaten. 



" Oh ! " said the children, as they cut it, or, I should 

 say more truthfully, pulled it apart. 



"It's terribly good with a little salt on it," said 

 Dodo ; " here's a dear little wish-bone for you, Olive, 

 and both top legs." And for the next half hour the 

 conversation was nearly extinguished by the food. 



"Please, are you going to tell us a story now?" 

 asked Dodo of Nez, as he began collecting the tin 

 plates, cups, pots, and pans. 



"Wash up yer kit first, then campfire and talking. 

 You see, missy, in the woods it don't do to let yer 

 vittles cool on the dishes ; it's too hard to clean 'em. 

 Got a kittle? Yes ? " and he filled the largest tin with 

 water, which he set on the fire to heat for dish-washing. 



"Any dish-rag?" and Nez carefully put the good 

 scraps in a pail to feed to Stubble when he should 

 return, wiped each article out with a handful of leaves 

 which he carefully burned as soon as soiled, — then the 

 dish-washing was an easy matter. 



