86 FOUR-FOOTED AMERICANS 



"We can save the ashes," said Olive, "until we 

 have a great heap of them." 



"So we can, and these benches go into the chimney 

 on each side, so we can sit in there if it grows cold, or 

 if we need to watch the cooking." 



" Now some hooks and nails in that corner for your 

 mop, dish-rags, and dish-pan, and you are ready for 

 housekeeping," said the Doctor. 



"All except the broom," said Olive. "Nez had 

 fresh hemlock twigs tied to a stick; but the hemlocks 

 are too scarce here to be used in that way." 



" I will tell Rod to tie you a birch broom. TJiat is 

 what (irandma Hunter always used on this sanded 

 brick floor. If there is anything else wanting, you 

 can look for it yourselves." 



Jjong before they had finished admiring their camp 

 the dinner bell rang, and they hurried to tidy them- 

 selves, wondering how the morning had galloped away. 

 Nat, who could hardly finish his pudding before going 

 back to camp, came running in, his eyes ablaze with 

 questions. 



"Daddy I daddy! Rod has taken your gun rack 

 from the back entry into camp, and there is a little 

 rifle in it that I've never seen before ; and when 

 I asked, him what it was for, he said, ' For you and 

 Rap to hunt big game with.' I told him that there 

 wasn't any big game near here, and he said : ' Yes, 

 there's a 1 )eur down between the birches in the long 

 pasture. I saw it there just now.' Woii't yon please 

 come and see, quick, before it gets away ; though I 

 don't tliink it would be nice to shoot it, for it's com- 

 pany, and there's only one, and we can't even pretend' 



