Ourcottagewasasorthcamp,beautifullysituatedoopofthemountainamongoaksandpines.

    Thesmallroomswerearrangedoneachsideofalongopenhall.Roundthehousewasawidepiazza,wherethemountainwindsbleithallwood-sts.Welivedonthepiazzamostofthetime--thereweworked,ateandplayed.Atthebackdoortherewasagreatbutternuttree,roundwhichthestepshadbeenbuilt,andinfroreesstoodsoclosethatIcouldtouchthemahewindshaketheirbranches,ortheleavestwirldownwardiumnblast.

    ManyvisitorscametoFernQuarry.Intheevening,bythecampfire,themenplayedcardsandwhiledawaythehoursintalkandsport.Theytoldstoriesoftheirwonderfulfeatswithfowl,fishandquadruped--howmanywilddudturkeystheyhadshot,what"savagetrout"theyhadcaught,andhowtheyhadbaggedthecraftiestfoxes,outwittedthemostcleverpossumsaakenthefleetestdeer,untilIthoughtthatsurelythelioiger,thebearaofthewildtribewouldnotbeabletostandbeforethesewilyhunters."To-morrowtothechase!"wastheirgood-nightshoutasthecirerryfriendsbrokeupforthenight.Themeinthehalloutsideourdoor,andIcouldfeelthedeepbreathingofthedogsaersastheylayontheirimprovisedbeds.

    Atdaakehesmellofcoffee,therattlingofguns,andtheheavyfootstepsofthemenastheystrodeabout,promisingthemselvesthegreatestluckoftheseason.Icouldalsofeelthestampingofthehorses,whichtheyhadriddenoutfromtownandhitcheduhetrees,wheretheystoodallnight,neighingloudly,impatienttobeoff.Atlastthemenmounted,and,astheysayintheoldsongs,awayweeedswithbridlesringingandwhipscragandhoundsragahead,andawaywentthechampionhunters"wi