EXPLANATION NIGHT 95 



only hit it once, 'way back where it didn't hurt it, 

 when it stood still," speaking as if the target was a live 

 thing; "but I shot my Peccary pretty nearly in the 

 head." 



This remark made the others laugh, as Dodo had 

 only succeeded in missing the Peccary's nose by an inch 

 or so. 



" I don't see how you can shoot so well lying on the 

 ground. Rap," she continued. " I should think it would 

 squeeze you all up ; but you hit the Deer twice." 



" I suppose it's because I've tried before, with a 

 bigger gun that kicked when it went off, so the little 

 one seemed very easy, and, even if you have two legs, 

 you can keep steadier lying down than standing up." 



" Who is going to tell the story to-night — you, 

 father, or Uncle Jack?" asked Olive, hanging up her 

 big apron and taking her place in the chimney nook ; 

 for though the campfire was roaring and glowing, the 

 far-away parts of the old room were too cold for sitting 

 still, and the young people wore long coats which Airs. 

 Blake had made from rougli red and blue blankets — 

 a cross between toboggan suits and blanket wrappers, 

 which served not only to keep them very warm, but 

 prevented the wood sparks from setting fire to their 

 lighter clotlies. 



"We shall not have any stories to-night," said her 

 father; "this will be Explanation Night — the explana- 

 tion of the Mammal tree, where we shall find our four- 

 footed Americans. You must learn and remember 

 some things about this tree before we begin to climb 

 it, for when Nez and Olaf tell you stories, they may not 

 like to be interrupted by too many questions. 



