\'It\'sverydifficult，\'Pollyoftenexclaimed，\'togetadressthatwilltonedownyourhairandahatthatwilltoneupyournose，whenthefirstisredandthelastasnub!Mynoseistherootofallevil；itmakespeoplethinkI\'msaucybeforeIsayaword；andasformyhair，theythinkImustbepeppery，nomatterifIwerereallyasmeekasMoses。Nowthere\'sMargery，thedear，darlingmouse!Peoplelookathertwosleekbraids，everyhairdoingjustwhatitoughttodoandlyingstraightandsmooth，andask，\"Whoisthatsweetgirl?\"
There\'ssomethingwrongsomewhere。Ioughtnottosufferbecauseofonesmall，simple，turned-upnoseandaheadofhairwhichrevealstheglowingtintsofautumn，asJackgracefullysays。\'
\'Heretheycome!\'shoutedJackfromthegroupontheHowards\'piazza。
\'ChristopherColumbus，whatgorgeousness!TheFlamingo，theDove，andtheBlue-jay!Good-morning，youngladies；maywebeallowedtotravelinthesamesteamerwithyourhighnesses?\'
\'Youneedn\'tbetroubled，\'laughedBell。\'Weshallnotdisclosethesegloriesuntilwereachthecamp。Butyouaredressedasusual。
What\'sthematter?\'
\'Why，thefactis，\'answeredGeoffrey，\'ourcouragefailedusatthelastmoment。Wedonnedouruniforms，andlookedlikebrigands，highwayrobbers，cowboys，firemen，——anythingbutmodestyoungmen；
andasitwastoowarmforulsters，wetookrefugeincivilisedraimentforto-day。Whenwearrive，youshallbeholdourdashingsombrerosfixedupwithpeacockfeathers，andourrefulgentshirts，whichareofthemostoriginalstyleanddecoration。\'
\'Aboriginal，infact，\'saidJack。\'Wehavebroadbeltsofalligatorskin，pouches，pistols，bowie-knives，andtan-colouredshoes；butwedisliketoflauntthembeforetheeyesofacitypublic。\'
\'Heretheyare!\'criedGeoffrey，fromthegate。\'Uncle，andaunt，andDicky，and——goodgracious!Ishereallygoingtotakethatwretchedtanterrier?\'
\'Won\'tgowithouthim，\'saidBell，briefly。\'Therearecaseswhereitisbettertosubmitthantofight。\'
Sothelastgood-byesweresaid，andElsieboreupbravely；better，indeed，thantheothers，whoshedmanyafurtivetearatleavingher。
\'Makehasteandgetwell，darling，\'whisperedthegirls，lovingly。
\'Pray，pray，dearMrs。Howard，bringherdowntousassoonaspossible。We\'lltakesuchgoodcareofher，\'teasedBell，withonelastsqueeze，andstrongsignsofashowerinbotheyes。
\'Come，girlsandboys，\'saidkindDr。Paul，\'thesteamerhasblownherfirstwhistle，andwemustbeoff。\'
Oh，howclearandbeautifuladayitwas，andhowcharminglygraciousDameOceanlookedinherwhitecapsandblueruffles!Eventhecombinationsteamboatsmellofdinner，oil，andcloseairwasobliteratedbythekeensea-breeze。
ThegoodshipOrizabaploughedherwaythroughthesparkling，sun-litwaves，traversingquicklythedistancewhichlaybetweentheyoungpeopleandtheirdestination。Theywatchedthelongwhitefurrowthatstretchedinherwake，thecloudofblacksmokewhichfloatedlikeadarkshadowabovethelaughingcrestsofthewaves，andtheflocksofsea-gullssailingoverhead，withwildshrillscreamseverandanonswoopingdownforsomebitoffoodflungfromtheship，andthenfloatingformilesonthewaves。
Howtheysung\'LifeontheOceanWave，\'\'BoundingBillow，\'and\'RockedintheCradleoftheDeep!\'HowJackchanted，-
\'IwishIwereafish，Withagreatlongtail；
Atinylittletittlebat，Awiggleorawhale，Inthemiddleofthegreatbluesea。Oh，my!\'
\'Oh，howIlongtobethere!\'exclaimedPhilip，\'tothrowasidealltheformalcustomsofawickedworldIabhor，andliveafreelifeunderthebluesky!\'
\'Why，PhilipNoble!Ineversawyouinsideofahouseinmylife，\'
criedPolly。
\'Oh，yes；you\'remistaken。I\'vebeenobligedtoeatmostofmymealsinthehouse，andsleepthere；butIdon\'tapproveofit，andit\'satrialtobebornewithmeeknessonlywhenthere\'snoremedyforit。\'
\'Besides，\'saidJack，\'evenwhenweareout-of-doorsweareshellingthereluctantalmond，poisoningthevoraciousgopher，pruninggrape-
vines，and\"sich。\"NowIamonlygoingtoshoottoeat，andeattoshoot!\'
\'Hopeyou\'veimprovedsincelastyear，oryou\'llhavealowdiet，\'
murmuredPhil，inanundertone。
\'Themanofgeniusmustexpecttobethebuttofridicule，\'sighedJack，meekly。
\'Butyou\'llnotrepine，althoughyourheartstringsbreak，willyou?\'
saidPolly，sympathisingly；\'especiallyinthepresenceofseveralwitnesseswhohaveseenyouhandleagun。\'
\'HowgladIamthatI\'mtoonear-sightedtoshoot，\'saidGeoffrey，takingofftheeye-glassesthatmadehimlooksowiseanddignified。
\'Ishallloungeunderthetrees，readMacaulay，andorderthemeals。\'
\'Ishallneedanassistantaboutthecamp，\'saidAuntTruth，smilingly；\'butIhardlythinkhe\'llhavemuchtimetolounge；wheneverythingelsefails，there\'salwaysDicky，youknow。\'
Geoffreylookeddiscouraged。
\'And，furthermore，IdeclarebythenoseofthegreatTamo\'ShanterthatIwillcutdowneverytreeinthevicinityereyoushallloungeunderit，\'saidJack。
\'Softly，myboy。Hill\'sblue-gumforestisnotsoveryfaraway。
You\'llhaveyourhandsfull，\'laughedDr。Paul。
HereMargeryandBelljoinedthegroupafteraquickwalkupanddownthedeck。
\'Papa，\'saidBell，excitedly，\'wecertainlyarenearingtheplace。
Doyouseethatbendintheshore，anddon\'tyourememberthatthelandingisn\'tfarbelow?\'
\'Bell\'sbumpoflocalityisimmense。Therearenineteenbendsintheshoreexactlylikethatonebeforewereachthelanding。Howmanyknotsanhourdoyousupposethisshiptravels，myfaircousin?\'
askedGeoffrey。
\'Icouldtellbetter，\'repliedBellcalmly，\'ifIcouldeverrememberhowmanyknotsmadeamile，orhowmanymilesmadeaknot；butI
alwaysforget。\'
\'Oh，see!There\'saporpoise!\'criedJack。\'Polly，whyisaporpoiselikeawater-lily?\'
Butbeforehecouldsay\'Guess，\'Phil，Geoff，andthegirlshaddrawnthemselvesintoaline，and，withawhispered\'One，two，three，\'tosecureagoodstart，repliedinconcert，\'We-give-it-up!\'
\'Whatadeafeningshout!\'criedAuntTruth，comingoutofthecabin。
\'What\'sthematter，pray?\'
\'Nothing，aunty，\'laughedPolly。\'ButwehaveformedasocietyforsuppressingJack\'sconundrums，andthisisourfirstpublicmeeting。
Howdoyoulikethewatchword?\'
AuntTruthsmiled。\'Itwasveryaudible，\'shesaid。\'Yoursisevidentlynotasecretsociety。\'
\'IwishIcouldfindoutwhooriginatedthisplan，\'quothJack，murderously。\'ButIsupposeit\'soneofyougirls，andIcan\'trevengemyself。Oh，whenwillthisbarrierbetweenthesexesberemoved!\'
\'Itrustnotinyourlifetime，\'shudderedPolly，\'orwemightaswellbeginto\"standroundourdyingbeds\"atonce。\'
CHAPTERII:THEJOURNEY
\'Away，away，frommenandtowns，Tothewildwoodandthedowns，Tothesilentwilderness。\'
Whateverthedistancewasinreality，thesteamerhadconsumedmoretimethanusual，anditwasquitetwoo\'clock，insteadofhalf-pasttwelve，astheyhadexpected，beforetheywerelandedontheoldandalmostforgottenpier，andsawthesmokeoftheOrizabaasshesteamedaway。
Aftercountingovertheirbagsandpackagestoseeifanythinghadbeenforgotten，theylookedaboutthem。
Therewasadirtylittlesettlement，amileortwotothesouth，consistingofacollectionoftumble-downadobehouseswhichlookedlikeablotchonthebrownhillside；afewcattlewerebrowsingnearby，andthelocalityseemedtobewellsuppliedwithlizards，whichdartedoverthedustygroundinalldirections。Butthestartlingpointofthelandscapewasthatitshowednosignofhumanlife，andPancho\'sordershadbeentohaveSenorDonManuelFelipeHilarioNoriegaandhiswood-cartonhandpromptlyathalf-pasttwelve。
\'CanPanchohaveforgotten?\'
\'Canhehavelosthiswayandneverarrivedhereatall?\'
\'CanSenorDonManuelFelipeHilarioNoriegahavegrowntiredofwaitingandgoneoff?\'
\'HasSenorDonManuelFelipeHilarioNoriegabeendrinkingtoomuchaguardienteandsoforgottentocome?\'
\'HasPanchobeenmurderedbyhighwayrobbers，andservedupintostewfortheireveningmeal?\'
\'WithHopYetfordessert!Oh，horrible!\'Theseweresomeofthequestionsandexclamationsthatgreetedtheearsofthelizards，andcausedthemtoflyoverthegroundinamoreexcitedfashionthanever。
\'Onethingiscertain。IfPanchohasbeenstupidenoughtolosehiswaycomingfiftymilesdownthecoast，I\'lldischargehim，\'saidDr。
Winship，withdecision。
\'Whenyoufindhim，\'addedAuntTruth，prudently。
\'Ofcourse。Butreally，mamma，thislooksdiscouraging；Iamafraidwecan\'tgetintocampthisevening。Shallwegouptothenearestranchhouseforthenight，andseewhatcanbedoneto-morrow?\'
\'Never!\'exclaimedtheyoungpeople，withonedeafeningshout。
\'Never，\'echoedPhilipseparately。\'Ihavevowedthatabedshallnotknowmeforthreemonths，andI\'llkeepmyvow。\'
\'Whatdoyousaytothis，UncleDoc?\'saidGeoffrey。\'Supposeyougouptothestorehouseandoffice，——it\'saboutamile，——andseeifthegoodsarethereallright，andwhetherthemensawPanchoonhiswayuptothecanyon。Meanwhile，PhilandIwillrideoverheresomewheretogetateam，orlookupSenorDonManuelFelipeHilarioNoriega。JackcanstaywithAuntTruthandthegirls，towatchdevelopments。\'
\'But，papa，can\'twepitchthecampto-night，somehow?\'askedBell，piteously。
\'Idon\'tseehow。Wearebehindhandalready；andifwegetstartedwithinanhourwecan\'treachthegroundIselectedbeforedarkandwecan\'tchooseanynearerone，becauseifPanchoisanywhereincreationheisontheidenticalspotIsenthimto。\'
\'But，Dr。Paul，I\'lltellyouwhatwecoulddo，\'suggestedJack。\'Ifwegetanykindofastart，wecan\'tfailtoreachcampbysevenoreighto\'clockatlatest。Nowit\'sbrightmoonlight，andifwefindPancho，he\'llhavethebaggageunloaded，andHopYetwillhaveafirelighted。What\'stopreventourswingingthehammocksfortheladies?
Andwe\'lljustrollupinourblanketsbythefire，forto-night。
Thenwe\'llgettohousekeepinginthemorning。\'
Thisplanreceivedamostenthusiasticreception。
\'Verywell，\'repliedtheDoctor。\'Ifyouareallagreed，Isupposewemayaswellbeginroughingitnowasatanytime。\'
Youmayhavenoticedsometimes，afterhavingfortifiedyourselfagainstaterriblemisfortunewhichseemedinstoreforyou，thatitdidn\'tcome，afterall。Well，itwassointhiscase；forjustasDr。Winshipandtheboysstartedoutoverthehillsideatabriskpace，animmensecloudofdust，somedistanceuptheroad，attractedtheirattention，andtheycametoasuddenstandstill。
Thegirlsheldtheirbreathinanxiousexpectation，andatlengthgaveanirrepressibleshoutofjoyandreliefwhenthereissuedfromthedensegreycloudthefamiliarfour-horseteam，withDaisy，TuleMolly，Villikins，andDinah，lookingasfreshasiftheyhadnotbeendrivenamile，toughlittlemustangsthattheywere。
AlongconversationinSpanishensued，which，beingtranslatedbyDr。
Winship，furnishedallnecessaryinformationconcerningthedelay。
S。D。M。F。H。N。statedthatPanchowasneitherfaithlessnorstupid，butwaswaitingforthemonthecamping-ground，andthatasthegoodswerealreadypackedinhiswood-carthewouldfollowthemimmediately。Sothewholepartystartedwithoutmoredelay；Dr。andMrs。Winship，MasterPaul，JackHoward，andthethreegirlsridinginthewagon，whileGeoffreyandPhilipgallopedaheadonhorseback。
Itwasalong，dusty，tiresomeride；andDicky，whohadbeenasgoodalldayasanysaintevercarvedinmarbleandsetinaniche，grewratherwarm，cross，andhungry，althoughhehadbeenconsumingginger-snapsandapricotssinceearlymorning。Afteraskingplaintivelyforthefiftiethtimehowlongitwouldbebeforedinner，hefinallysuccumbedtohisweariness，anddroppinghisyellowhead，thatwaslikeacowslipball，inhismother\'slap，hefellasleep。
Buttheyoungpeople，whoseeyeswerenotblindedbyhungerandsleep，foundmorethanenoughtointerestthemonthisdustyCaliforniaroad，windingasitdidthroughgrandoldgrowthsoftrees，acresandacresofwavinggrain，andendlessstretchesofgorgeousyellowmustard，thestalksofwhichwerefiveorsixfeethigh，almosthidingfromviewtheboyswhodashedintothegoldenforestfromtimetotime。
Atthefootofthehilltheypassedanoldadobehut，withacrowdofpretty，swarthy，frowzyMexicanchildrenplayinginthesunshine，whiletheirmother，black-hairedandampleoffigure，occupiedherselfinhanginggreatquantitiesofjerkedbeefonasortofclothes-linerunningbetweentheeucalyptus-trees。
Thefather，awild-lookingindividualinaredshirtandenormoushat，camefrombehindthehut，unhitchedthestoutlittlebronchotiedtothefence，gavethepooranimaladesperatelytight\'cinch，\'
threwhimselfintothesaddlewithouttouchinghisfoottothelumberingwoodenstirrups，and，digginghisspurswellintothehorse\'ssides，wasoutofsightinaninstant，leavingonlyahugecloudofdusttocoverhisdisappearance。
\'Howthosefellowsdoride!\'exclaimedDr。Winship，savagely。\'I
wishtheywereallobligedtowalkuntiltheyknewhowtotreatahorse。\'
\'Thenthey\'dwalkstraightintothemillennium，\'saidJack，sagely，\'fortheircrueltyseemstobeaninstinct。\'
\'Buthowbeautifullytheyride，too!\'saidPolly。\'MammaandIweresittingonthehotelpiazzatheotherday，watchingtwoyoungSpaniardswhowereperformingfeatsofhorsemanship。Theydroppedfour-bitpiecesonthedustyroad，andridinguptothematfullspeedclutchedthemfromthegroundinsomemysteriouswaythatwasperfectlywonderful。ThenNickGutierrezmountedabuckinghorse，andactuallyrolledandlightedacigarettewhiletheanimalbuckedwithallhismight。\'
\'Seethatcunning，cunningmuchachita，mamma!\'criedBell；for，astheystoppedatthetopofthehilltoletthehorsesbreathe，oneofthelittleMexicanchildrenranafterthem，holdingoutahandfulofglowingyellowpoppies。
Shewasdistractinglypretty，withabeautythatisshort-livedwiththepeopleofherrace。Theafternoonsunshonedownfiercelyonherwavingcoal-blacklocks，andbroughtarichcolourtohernut-browncheek；shehadonelittleflimsy，raggedgarment，neitherlong，broad，northick，whichhungaboutherpicturesquely；and，withhersoft，dark，sleepyeyes，therowsoflittlewhiteteethbehindherlaughingredmouth，andthevividyellowblossomsinhertinyoutstretchedhand，shewasaverycharmingvision。
\'Comotellamas，muchachita?\'(Whatisyourname，littleone?)askedBell，airingherSpanish，whichwasrathergood。
\'Teresita，\'sheanswered，withaprettyaccent，asshescratchedasetoffivegrimylittletoestoandfrointhedustyground。
\'Throwherabit，papa，\'whisperedBell；and，ashedidso，Teresitacaughtthepieceofsilververydeftly，andranexcitedlybacktothecentreofthechatteringgroupinfrontofthehouse。
\'HowintenseeverythingisinCalifornia!DoyouknowwhatImean，mamma?\'saidBell。\'Thefruitissoimmense，thecanyonssodeep，thetreessobig，thehillssohigh，therainsowet，andthedroughtsodry。\'
\'Thefleassomany，thefleassospry，\'chantedJack，whohadperceivedthatBellwastalkinginrhymewithoutknowingit。
\'Californiaisjusttheplaceforyou，Bell；itgivesyouachanceforinnumerableadjectivesheapedoneontheother。\'
\'Idon\'talwaysheapupadjectives，\'repliedBell，withdignity。
\'WhenIwishtodescribeyou，forinstance，Isimplysay\"thathatefulboy，\"andletitgoatthat。\'
Jackretiredtoprivatelifeforaseason。
\'I\'dliketopaintapictureofTeresita，\'saidMargery，whohadaprettytalentforsketching，\'andcallitTheSummerChild，orsomesuchthing。Ishouldthinkthefamousoldcolourartistsmighthavelovedtopaintthisgorgeousflame-tintedpoppy。\'
\'Notpoppy，——eschscholtzia，\'correctedJack，comingrapidlytothesurfaceagain，afterBell\'srebuke，anddeliveringhimselfofthetongue-confusingwordwithaterriblegrimace。
\'I\'mnotwritingabotany，\'retortedMargery；\'andIcanneverrememberthatword，muchlessspellit。Idon\'tseehowitgrowsundersuchanabominableRussianname。It\'sworsethanichthyosaurus。Doyourememberthatfunnynonsenseverse?-
\"Iisforichthyosaurus，Wholivedwhentheworldwasallporous；
ButhefaintedwithshameWhenhefirstheardhisname，Anddepartedalongwhilebeforeus。\"\'
\'TheSpaniardsaremorepoetic，\'saidAuntTruth，\'fortheycallitlacopadeoro，thegoldencup。Oh，seethemyonder!ItisliketheFieldoftheClothofGold。\'
Thesightwouldhavedrivenaroyalfloristmadwithjoy:ahillsidethatwasaswayingmassofradiantbloom，ajoyouscarnivalofvividcolour，inwhichthethousandgoldengoblets，turnedupwardtothesun，weredancing，andglowing，andshamingoutofcountenancethepurpleandblueandpinkmasseswhichsurroundedthemoneveryside。
\'YouknowProfessorPinnietoldusthateverywell-informedyounggirlshouldknowatleastthefloraofherownState，\'saidJack，aftertheexcitementhadsubsided。
\'Well，onethingiscertain:ProfessorPinnieneverknewtheSTATE
ofhisownflora，oratleasthekepthiswifesortingandarranginghisspecimensallthetime；andIthinkhe\'saregularoldfrump，\'
saidPolly，irreverently，butmeetingAuntTruth\'sreprovingglance，whichbroughtablushandawhispered\'Excuseme，\'shewenton，\'Well，whatImeanis，hedoesn\'tknowanymorethanotherpeople，afterall；forhecaresfornothingbutbushesandherbsandseedsandshrubsandrootsandstamensandpistils；andhecan\'ttellwhetheraflowerislovelyornot，heissocrazytofindoutwhereitbelongsandtieatagroundit。\'
\'ImustagreewithPolly，\'laughedJack。\'Why，IwenttoridewithhimonedayintheCathedralOaks，andhemademegetoffmyhorseeveryfiveminutestodiguprootsandtiethemtothepommelofhisoldsaddle，sothatwecameintotownlookinglikemovingherbariums。
Thestable-manliftedhimontohishorsewhenhestarted，Isuppose，andhewouldhavebeenthereyetifhehadn\'tbeenhelpedoff。Bah!\'
ForJackhadasupremecontemptforanymanwhowaslessthanacentaur。
Bythistimetheyhadturnedoffthemainthoroughfare，andweretravellingoverabitofoldstageroadwhichwasanythingbuteasyriding。Theretheymetsomemenwhoweredrivinganenormousbandofsheeptoadistantranchforpasture，whichgavesaucyPollythechancetoaskDr。Winship，innocently，whywhitesheepatesomuchmorethanblackones。
Hefellintothetrapatonce，andansweredunsuspectingly，inasurprisedtone，\'Why，dothey?\'givingherthelonged-foropportunitytorespond，\'Yes，ofcourse，becausetherearesomanymoreof\'em；
don\'tyousee?\'
\'Youarebehindthetimes，Dr。Paul，\'saidJack。\'That\'sanancientjoke。Justlookatthosesheep，sir。Howmanyarethere?Eighthundred，say?\'
\'Evenmore，Ishouldthink，——athousand，certainly；andratherthintheylook，too。\'
\'Ishouldimaginetheymight，\'saidBell，sympathetically。\'WhenI
firstcametoCaliforniaInevercouldseehowthepoorcreaturesfoundanythingtoeatonthesebare，brownhillsides，untilthefarmersshowedmethepricklylittleburrcloverballsthatcovertheground。Butsee，mamma!therearesometinylambs，poor，tired，weak-leggedlittlethings；Iwonderiftheywilllivethroughthejourney。\'
\'Whichremindsme，\'saidJack，givingVillikinsatouchofthewhip，\'thatnothingissocalculatedtodisturbyourfaithinandloveforlambsaslifeonasheepranch。Innocent!Goodgracious!Ineversawsuch——such——\'
\'Gasping，staggering，stuttering，stammeringtom-fools，\'interposedBell。\'That\'swhatCarlylecalledONELamb，——dearMr。\"RoastPig\"
Charles；andameanoldthinghewas，too，fordoingit。\'
\'Well，itisjuststrongenoughtoapplytotheactuallamb；notthelambofromance，butthelambofreality。Youcan\'tgethimanywhere；hedoesn\'tknowenough。Hewon\'tdrive，hecan\'tfollow；
he\'stoostupid。Why，Iwentoutforacoupleof\'emonce，thatwerelostinthecanyon。Ifoundthem，——thatwascomparativelyeasy；butwhenItriedtogetthemhome，Icouldn\'t。Atlast，afterinfinitetrouble，Imanagedtodrivethemupontothetrail，whichwassonarrowtherewasbutonethingforarationalcreaturetodo，andthatwastogoahead。Then，ifyou\'llbelieveme，thoseidiotskeptbleatingandgettingunderthehorse\'sfore-feet；finally，oneofthem，thechampionsimpleton，tumbledoverintothecanyon，andI
tiedthelegsoftheotheronetogether，andcarriedhimhomeonthefrontofmysaddle。\'
\'Theyareinnocent，anyway，\'insistedMargery。\'Iwon\'tbelievethey\'renot。Ican\'tbearthesepeoplewhointerferewithallyourcherishedideas，andsaythatColumbusdidn\'tdiscoverAmerica，andShakespearewasn\'tShakespeare，andWilliamTelldidn\'tshoottheapple。\'
\'Nevertheless，Iclaimthatthelambisnothalfsomuchanemblemofinnocenceasheisofutterandprofoundstupidity。ThereisthatcharmingoldlyricaboutMary\'slittlelamb；Icanexplainthat。
Afterhecametoschool(whichwasanerrorofjudgmentattheverybeginning)，hemadetherumpus，youknow-
\"Andthentheteacherturnedhimout，Butstillhelingerednee-ar，AndwaitedpatientlyaboutTillMarydidappee-ar。\"
Ofcoursehedid。Hedidn\'tknowenoughtogohomealone。
\"AndthenherantoherandlaidHisheaduponherarr-um，Asiftosay，\'I\'mnotafraid；
You\'llkeepmefromallharr-um。\'\"
Asifalambcouldbecapableofthatamountofreasoning!Andthen\"\'WhatmakesthelambloveMaryso?
Theeagerchildrencry；
\'Why，Marylovesthelamb，youknow，\'
Theteacherdidreply。\"
AndmighthaveaddedthatasMaryfedthelambthreetimesadayandtwiceonSundays，heprobablynotonlyknewonwhichsidehisdailybreadwasbuttered，butalsowhobutteredit。\'
\'Dreadfulboy!\'laughedBell。\'Polly，praylowertheumbrella；wearegoingtomeetsomerespectablepeople，andweactuallyaretoodirtytobeseen。Ihavereallybeeneatingdust。\'
\'Theymustbeequallydusty，\'saidPolly，sagely。\'Why，itistheBurtons，fromTacitasranch!\'
TheBurtonranchwagonwasdrawnup，asitsdriverrecognisedDr。
Winship，andheproceededtocheerthespiritsofthepartybytellingthemthathehadpassedPanchotwohoursbefore，andthathewasbusilyclearingrubbishfromthecamping-ground。Thiswassixo\'clock，andbyalittleaftereighttheweary，happypartywereseatedonsaddle-blanketsandcarriage-cushionsroundacheerycamp-
fire，eatingafrugalmeal，whichtastedsweeterthannectarandambrosiatotheirkeenappetites。
Theboysexpressedtheirintentionofspendingthenightinunpackingtheirbaggageandgettingtorightsgenerally，butDr。Winshipplacedapromptanddecisivevetoonthisproposition，andtheysubmittedcheerfullytohisbetterjudgment。
Gettingtobedwasanexcitingoccupationforeverybody。Dickywasfirsttuckedupinawarmnestofrugsandblankets，underatree，andsankintoaprofoundslumberatonce，withthehappyunconsciousnessofchildhood。Hisfathercompletedthepreparationsforhiscomfortbyopeningahugeumbrellaandarrangingitfirmlyoverhishead，sothatnofallingleafmightfrightenhimandnosuddengustofairblowuponhisface。
Bellstoodbeforeherhammock，andmeditated。\'Well，\'shesaid，\'goingtobedisasimplematterafterall，whenyouhaveshornitofalluselessformalities。Letmesee:Igenerallywalktoandfrointheroom，eatingabunchofgrapesoranorange，lookoutofthewindowfiveortenminutes，brushmyhair，readmychapterintheBible，takemybookandstudySpanishfiveminutes，ontheprincipleofthatabnormalwomanwholearnedninety-sixlanguageswhileshewaswaitingforthekettletoboilinthemorning——\'
\'Musthavebeenaslowboiler，\'interruptedPolly，wickedly。\'Seemstomeitwouldhavebeeneconomytosellitandbuyanewone。\'
\'Oh，Polly!youaresowilfullystupid!Thekettleisn\'tthepoint——
butthelanguages。Besides，shedidn\'tlearnalltheninety-sixwhilethekettlewasboilingonce，youknow。
\'Oh，didn\'tshe?Thataltersthecase。Thankyou，\'saidPolly，sarcastically。
\'Nowobserveme，\'saidBell。\'Ihavemadethegettingintoahammockastudy。Ifirstopenitverywideatthetopwithbothhands；then，holdingitinthatposition，Igracefullyrevolvemybodyfromlefttorightasuponanimaginaryswivel；meantimeIraisemyrightfootconsiderablyfrommotherearth，withaviewtopassingitoverthehammock\'sedge。Everymoveiscalculated，youperceive，andproducesitsownshareoftheperfectresult；themethodisthesamethatRachelusedinrehearsingherwonderfultragicposes。Iamnowseatedinthehammock，youobserve，withbothhandsextendingthenetfromsidetosideandtherightfootwellinposition；Inowraisetheleftfootwithaswiftbutadmirablysteadymovement，andIam——
Help!Help!!Murder!!!\'
\'Inshort，youarenotin，butout，\'criedPolly，inaburstoflaughter；forBellhadleanedtoofartotheright，andonbringingtheotherfootin，withits\'swiftbutadmirablysteady\'motion，shegaveasuddenlurch，pulledthehammockentirelyoverherselfandfelloutheadfirstontheotherside，leavingherfeettangledinitsmeshes。\'Shallwehelpherout，Meg?Shedoesn\'tdeserveit，afterthatpompousorationandattempttoshowoffhersuperiorabilities。Nevertheless，shealwaysacceptsmercymoregracefullythanjustice。Heaveahoy，myhearties!\'
Bellwasextricated，andlookedsufficientlyashamed。
\'Wearemuchobligedforthelesson，\'saidMargery，\'butthemethodisopentocriticism；soIthinkwe\'llmanageinourordinarysavageway。Wemaynotbegracefulorscientific，butwegetin，whichisthemainpoint。\'
Thehammocksdidnotprovetheeasiestofnests，asthegirlshadimagined。Infact，tobeperfectlycandidaboutthematter，thewickedfleaofCalifornia，whichmanpursuethbutseldomcatcheth，isapt，onmanyasummernight，tointerfereshamelesslywithslumber。
Onthisparticularnighthewasfairlyrampant，perhapsbecausesweethumanityonwhichtofeedwasveryscarceinthatcanyon。
\'Good-night，girls!\'calledJack，whenmattersseemedtobefinallysettledforsleep。\'Bell，youmustkeeponeeyeopen，forthecoyoteswillbestealingdownthemountaininajiffy，andyoursisthefirsthammockinthepath。\'
\'Ofcourse，\'moanedBell，——\'that\'swhythegirlsgavemethisone；
theyknewverywellthatonevictimalwaysslakestheanimals\'thirstforblood。Well，letthemcomeon。Ishiverwithterror，butmyonlyhopeisthatImaybeeateninmysleep，ifatall。\'
\'TherewasayoungpartynamedBell，Whosleptoutofdoorsforaspell；
Whenaskedhowshefared，Shesaidshewasscared，Butotherwisedoingquitewell。
\'How\'sthat?\'askedJack。\'IshallbeabletodriveBelloffherownfield，withalittlepractice。\'
\'Gotosleep!\'roaredDr。Paul。\'Inyourpresentconditionofmindandbodyyouarenotfitforpoetry!\'
\'That\'sjustthepoint，sir，\'retortedJack，slyly，\'for，youremember，poetsarenotFIT，butnascitur，——don\'tyouknow?\'andheretiredunderhisblanketforprotection。
Butquietseemedtobeimpossible:therewereallsortsofstrangesounds；andthemoon，too，wassosplendidthattheyalmostfeltasiftheywerelyingbeneaththeradianceofacalciumlight；whileinthedarkplaces，midstthebranchesofthickfoliage，theowlshootedgloomily。Ifyouhadhappenedtobeanowlinthatvicinity，youmighthaveheardnotonlythefeverishtossingtoandfroofthegirlsinthehammocks，butmanydismalsighsandgroansfromDr。
Winshipandtheboys；forthebaregroundis，afterall，morerheumaticthanromantic，andtheytootumbledfromsidetoside，seekingcomfort。
Butatmidnightquietslumberhaddescendeduponthem，andtheypresentedafunnyspectacleenoughtooneopen-eyedwatcher。Alongslendersycamorelogwasextendedbeforethefire，andconstitutedtheirpillow；onthistheirheadsreposed，eachdecoratedwithatightlyfittingsilkhandkerchief；thencameacompact，papoose-likerollofgreyblanket，terminatedbyapairoferectfeet，whosegenerousproportionssoaredtodifferentheights。Therewasalittlesnoring，too；perhapsthelogwashollow。
