第2章
"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。