Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-11-11
AMONG THE PINES.
somo OF tho Pleasures OF IA ENcurzion Ia
tn Carpathian Mountains.

Some OF tho Pleasures OF al ENcursion ia
tn Carpathian Mountains.
Tho horses are relieved Of their re-
! spcctivc burdens and sctloo5c to Craze;
neither hay nor oats has been provided,
nor do they expect or require it. Cur
Wallachian attendants busy themselves
in collecting iire-wood and lighting a
lorgc camp fire for the triple purpose
Of cooking the supper, keeping them
selves warm and frightening Off pos
sible bears or wolves tha. may come
prowiing about at night in quest of a
horse. There IS here no difficulty in
providing fuel enough for splendid
bonfire; and no wood burns with such
spirit O. dead fir tree.
1t is my duty here TO forestall pos
siblc anticipation by frankly acknowl-
cdging that no bear ever did come 10
disturb US in the night. Yet the
thought Of the shaggy visitor, who
might ut any moment be expected to
drop in upon us, wen; n long way
toward enhancing the romance OF the
situation. During al our stay in the
mountains, bruint was like vague, in
tangible presence, lowering around,
ani causing us delicious thrills Of hor-
rOr az every step. Ii we pluckcd n
bunch Of late rasphcrries on our path,
it was with a hand trembling with fear
lest furry paw should appear at the
other side Of the bush 10 claim his
rightful property; and We always lay
down 10 sleep half expecting to be-
awakened by an angry growl close at
hand. COnscqucntly the raspbcrries
we ate and the sleep we snatched were
swecter far than common sleep and
everyday raspbcrrios. feeling, as we
almost did, as though each had been
wrung from a furious bear in a hand
tcehaad-fght.
Our shelter-hut. roughly constructed
Of boards. con sisted Of a small en-
trance lobby, with stamped earthly
ilODr and Of one mod,rlte-sized room
abou; eight PAGES long All down one
side Of II, occupying fully half the
depth Of the apartment. ran sort Of
shelf covered with straw aud supposed
10 act rs e bed; long deal table and
wooden bench, witn a row Of pegs
for han gng mp the clothes, completed
the furniture. Besides the wooden
shutters. there were likewise remoya-
blo glass windows, which are regular
ly deposited ia n hidng-placc under
the flooring, lest they should be stolen
or wanlOnly broken by the all-destroy-
ing Wallachians. Each authorized
guide only Is apprised Of these places
Of concealment. 10 which he is careful
70 restore them whenever the party
breaks up. This particular shclter-hut
is an exceptionally wcll-huilt aud luxu-
rious one, for most Of theae are devoid
Of windows or shutters, aud often closed
on one side only.
By the time we had prepared our
supper, and cheercd ourselves with nu-
mcrous cups Of toa. it had grown quite
dark, and we were thankful to seek our
hard couches. A railway rug spread
over tho straw which covered the
boards made them quite ondurable.
and all suporliuOus skirts and coats
were pressed into service rs pillows.
Wo all lay down IN oar clothes, merely
removing our boots. for IL Is hardl,
possible 10 dress too warmly for nighi
passod ia one 0f these Carpathlan shell
ter-huisi and though the day had been
50 warm as 10 render the thinnust sum-
mer clothing necessary for walking.
mp here the nights are piorcingly cold.
and even u heavy fur sledging-cloak
was not found 70 be de trop. biqek-
woods Haga-inc.