104 “blistering blazes!” 
Just as we were courting our first dreams, a 
voice from the other side of the partition was 
heard, softly saying : 
“ Captain, what in thunder do you suppose ails 
this tent to-night ? It’s as hot as an oven ! ” 
“ Do you think so ? I was just wondering if 
we had camped over the crater of a volcano ; my 
head is half-baked ! ” 
“ So is mine ! ” whispered another voice, “and 
—by the great fire in London ! this ground is 
positively hot under my pillow ! ” 
There was a sound, as of men moving to an 
investigation, while any one might have heard a 
pin drop on the other side of that curtain, for four 
females were holding their breath, and trembling 
with suppressed laughter and fear of discovery. 
Not one of us had thought of the effect of our 
comfortable little arrangement upon any one be- 
side ourselves. 
“ Blistering blazes! if here isn’t a stone just 
sizzling hot ! ” 
“ Good heavens ! here’s another ! ” 
The atmosphere of intense excitement was rent, 
just at that moment, by a burst of illy suppressed 
laughter from within the veil. 
Explanations follow ; earth safe ; gentlemen re- 
lieved ; final tableau : moonlight on a tent full 
of tranquil slumber ! 
As, to our present wind-swept company, neither 
