LOST IN THE CHE A T MOUNTAINS. 1 29 



der, we fixed up a brush bed, and to pick up both guns (the guide had 

 with our feet toward the fire, pre- no gun), and soon joined me, threat- 

 pared to sleep. ening to blow the old man full of 



The old man sat silently in front holes if he did not throw his knife 

 of the burning logs, peering out into out to us. He surrendered, and we 

 the darkness. The sounds that came back to the fire, 

 greeted our ears were anything but There was no more sleep for any 

 reassuring, though we had become of us that night, and this little epi- 

 accustomed to them in a measure by sode had put us in a good humor all 

 this time. The panthers continued around. To our dismay it soon be- 

 to call at intervals. The wild cats gan to rain heavily. We moved the 

 added their cries, and the coons, fire closer to the trunk of the tree 

 down by the water's edge, whistled where we sat, getting first one side 

 gleefully. wet and then drying it, while the 



I lay there listening and thinking other became soaked. One becomes 



for fully an hour, but could not accustomed to almost anything in 



sleep. The strange thoughts that time, and after a few hours we 



came to me were anything but con- commenced to look around for some 



soling. While ruminating, with eyes diversion. The rain had driven the 



half closed, I was at first astonished most of the animals away by this 



and afterward amused, to see the time, and we had ceased to be 



old man leave his post at the fire alarmed by their cries. It was about 



and, after scrutinizing us for a min- three o'clock when Jack dropped a 



ute, deliberately but carefully pull cartridge in the fire behind old 



some of our bedding from under us Daddy. In a moment it went off,, 



and, curling himself up with his feet and the old man jumped about six 



to the fire, settle down for a snooze, feet. We asked what it was, and he 



In five minutes he was snoring so said it was " the heat a bustin' them 



loudly that the other sounds of the —rocks." 



woods seemed as naught. W 7 e treated him to a number of 



Letting him sleep for half an hour, these explosions, which he always 



and noticing that the fire was getting explained in the same way, and 



low, I nudged Jack and told him to heaped further imprecations on 



keep quiet, and we would have some " them durned rocks." Finally, a 



fun. Raising Jerry in my arms, I whole handful of shells was dropped 



leaned over, and holding him about in the fire behind the old chap. A 



two feet above our sleeping guide series of explosions followed that 



and " guard," let him fall. Jerry unnerved him and blew out the fire, 



weighs about 60 pounds. He fell but he never suspected the cause of 



all in a heap on the old man's it. When we told him afterward, he 



stomach. With a yell, Daddy sprang said he "wished he'd a knowed it at 



to his feet, pulled a knife, and was the time ; he'd a made it hot for us 



about to start in to annihilate the young uns." 



" painter," when he recognized Jerry. So the night wore on. The first 



Realizing that he had been asleep ray of light, about five o'clock, was 



and that Jerry's actions were very hailed with delight, and we resumed 



unusual, he glanced toward us. We our march. 



feigned sleep poorly on account of After a tramp that was much 

 shaking with suppressed laughter. shorter than we expected, our stream 

 The old chap saw what was up, and, led us to the Cheat river, and we 

 Jerry having escaped, was bound to reached our stopping-place that day. 

 vent his rage on something. With We ate an enormous supper, 

 an oath, and uplifted knife, he sprang breakfast and dinner combined, 

 toward me. I jumped up and lit out and then turned in and slept the 

 in the darkness, leaving my gun. sleep of the just until the next morn- 

 Jack had presence of mind enough ing. 



