Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-08-13
CHAPTER VII.
Storm Bound.

" ing All out. All OUT. lay
light down the creek~ Then,
breathing prayer Of thankfulness, the
boy sat up and looked about him "The
long night is over at last, and l am
alive" he said and congratulated him
self.
How did you sleep?" asked the su,
pervisor.
First rate-at least during the latter
part of the night" Wayland briskly
lied.
"That's good. l was afraid that Ad-
irondack bed of yours might let the
white wolf in"
'My blankets did seem trife thin"
confessed Norcross.
ut doesn't pay to sleep cold" the SUI
pervisor went on. "a man wants to
wake up refreshed, not tired out with
fighting the night wind and frost. l
always carry good bed"
1t was instructive to see how quietly
and methodically the old mountaineer
went about his task Of getting break
fast. First he cut and laid a couple of
eight inch logs on either side Of the
fire, so that the wind drew through
them properly; then, placing the Dutch
oven cover on the fire, he laid the bot
tom part where the flames touched it.
Next he filed his coffeepot with water
and set it on the Goals. From his pan
nier he took his dishes and the flour
and salt and pepper, arranging them
all within reach, and at last laid some
slices of bacon in the skillet.
At this stage of the work smooth
cred cry, half yawn, half complaint,
came from the tent. ooh, hum! Is it
morning?" inquired Berrie.
Morning" replied her father. "Its
going toward noon. You get up or
you'll have no breakfast"
ThereupOn Wayland called: Can l
get you anything, Miss Berrie? Would
you like some warm water?"
what for?" interposed McFarlane
before the girl could reply.
ITO battle in" replied the youth.
''To battle in! If daughter of mine
should ask for warm water to wash
with I'd throw her in the creek"
Berrie chuckled. Sometimes think
daddy has no feeling for me. reckon
he thinks I'm boy"
Hot water is facilitating and very
bad for the complexion" retorted her
father. ice cold water is what you
need. And if you don't get out O. there
in five minutes III douse you with a
dipperful."
This reminded Wayland that he had
not yet made his own toilet, and, seiz-
ing soap, towel and brushes, he hur-
Tled away down the beach, where he
came face to face with the dawn. The
splendor of it smote him full in the
eyes. From the waveless surface of
the water a spectral mist was rising, a
light veil, through which the stupen-
dous cliffs doomed 5000 feet in height,
darkly Swallowed, dim and far. The
willows along the western marge burn
ed as if dipped in liquid gold, and on
the lofty cragS the suns coming ere.
ated keen edged shadows, violet as ink.
Truly this forestry business was not
so bad after all. 1t had its compen
sations.
Back at the campfire he found Berrie
at work, glowing, vigorous, laughing
Her comradeship with her father was
very charming, and at the moment she
was rallying him on his method of
bread mixing. You should rub the
lard into the -four" she said. Don't
be afraid to get your hands into it
after they are clean. You can't mix
bread with Il spoon"
isis, made camp bread for twenty
years afore you were born"
ITS a wonder you lived to tell of it,
she retorted, and took the pan away
from him. "That's another thing yor
must learn" she said to Wayland
"YOu must know how to make bread
You can't expect to find bakeshOps OF
Tanchers along the way"
In the heat Of the fire, in the charm
of the girls presence, the young MAJ
forgot the discomforts of the night
and, as they sat at breakfast and thu
sun rising over the high SUBMITS food
ed them with warmth and good chez
and the frost melted like magic from
the tent, the experience had all tn,
satisfying elements of a picnic |
seemed that nothing remained to dc
But McFarlane said, "Well, now yol
youngsters wash up and pack Will
/ reconnoiter the stock" And witt
his saddle and bride on his shoulde
he went away down the trail.
Under Berries direction Waylan
worked busily putting the camp equip
ment in proper parcels, taking no spe
cial thought Of time till the tent wa
down and folded the panniers filleO
and closed and the fire carefully cover
ed Then the girl said: 81 hope til
horses haven't been stampeded. Their
are bears in this valley, and horses ar
afraid of bears. Father ought to hay
been back before this. hope the
haven't quit u.s.
"Shaii 20 and see?"
mo, he'll bring 'em if they're in tn
hand of the living. He picketed hi
saddle horse, so he's not afoot. Nc
body can teach him anything abou
trailing horses, and, besides, you Nigh