The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-22
'1Roughing It" With Hal
IN CAMP.

tain towering above them. But little Jack couldn't even say "Gee!" All he could do was stand with his mouth open and stare.
 l And continued Goldie, while MT. Hamilton listened quite as solemnly. and besides I kinder feel a flock of .wampuses will visit us tonight-and you know what they do to tents what ain't pitched right. No, MT. Hamilton. come to think of 1t I guess these two youngsters couldn't do 1t right"
 "Wampuses?" gasped little Jack. "Wh--what is wampus?"
 Goldie looked up quickly with finely simulated -amazement. "Wampus, Wampus! Mr. Hamilton, Jack doesn't know what a wampus is! Tell him about 'em--and about them prefering tents to any other thing to eat. My, ain't these young fellers green! Never heard of Q wampus"
 1 "A wampus-" began MT. Hamilton. "A wampus-is-is-"
 But he didn't finish the explanation, though both Jack and Hal were stand ing side by side, eager and waiting with mouths open. Instead, unable ''to hold it in any longer" both MT. Hamilton and Goldie broke forth iD loud guffaws that echoed and re- echoed against the walls of the can- yon in which they were to camp for the night. They were, you see, sim ply having little fun with the two boys-sort of initiating them as ten derfeet.
 For moment neither Hal nor Jack understood quite what had happened. Being the older. Hal naturally Saw It. first and joined in the laughter. And then little Jack "got next" and laughed as heartily as any of them. But both boys determined, from then on, to be prepared for Goldie and his pranks.
 The business of making camp for the night was finally attended to. h. deed, both boys marvelled at the speed with which the big canvas bags tied on the backs of the pack horses, un- der Goldie's expert manipulation were transformed into two tents, securely put up and begged down with guy ropes, large enough for a man to stand upright within them.
 The boys were set to work gathering boughs of trees and dry leaves with l which to make the shake downs" or beds for the night. And when they returned from their search they found a roaring fire going and their horses corralled under cluster of trees at one side of the clearing and within thirty yards, perhaps, of the stream that roared and sung it's way through 1 the valley
 They were much interested in this 1 corralling and, at an opportune mo- inent stole off to see how it was done. ffa,. o11 ;f Goldie's method of doing it was. It had taken him about an hour in which to erect the tents, build the fire, etc And during that time the horses had l been grazing on the rich grass.
 Then, fearing complete darkness, Goldie had rounded them up and tied each, with halter, to one of the trees in the cluster Around the whole he had fastened several of the ropes; so that the horses were hemmed in by the ropes which ran from tree to tree about them.
 Returning to the fire, the boys be- held both Goldie and their father down on their knees .'coolsing sup per" And how good it did smell!
 huge tin coffee pot was sputter- ing and singing away on some live embers and giving out clouds of frag- rant steam. 9oldie was frying bacon in skillet-and it's odor was fairly maddening to the two hungry boys.
 As for MT. Hamilton, he was open ing numerous mysterious packages and tin cans and cutting huge slices of cheese and bread and placing them on a. piece of oilcloth he had laid on I the ground near the fire.
 Hungry" inquired Goldie, throu1h the smoke.
 "You bet" exclaimed Jack.
 H. replied Hal hesitating a moment - believe, Goldie, could eat that knot of yours now---if you'd fry it for me!'
 "Ha! Hal" roared MT. Hamilton. He's come back at you, Goldie!"
 And Goldie, too, joined in the laugh ter at his expense, for he could take as well as give joke.
 All ready" he sang out presently Fall to. Tomorrow morning we'll get up early and catch some trout for breakfast. In the meantime--no com pany manners permitted.p
 And, you may be sure. the boys needed no further invitation. |