ner,butnobusinesslikemethod.Thetentwasrolledintoanawkwardbuhreetimesaslargeasitshouldhavebeeindisheswerepackedawayunwashed.Mercedestinuallyflutteredinthewayofhermenaupanunbrokenchatteringofremonstrandadvice.Wheaclothes-sathefrontofthesled,shesuggesteditshouldgoonthebadwhentheyhaditputonthebadcovereditoverleofthebundles,shediscoveredoverlookedarticleswhichcouldabidenowhereelsebutinthatverysadtheyunloadedagain.

    Threemenfromaneighbtentcameoutandlookedon,grinningandwinkingatoher.

    "Youveghtsmartloadasitis,"saidohem;"anditsnotmeshouldtellyouyourbusiness,butIwouldnttotethattentalongifIwasyou."

    "Undreamedof!"criedMercedes,throwingupherhandsindaintydismay."HoweverintheworldcouldImahoutatent?"

    "Itsspringtime,andyouwoanymorecoldweather,"themanreplied.

    Sheshookherheaddecidedly,andCharlesandHalputthelastoddsandendsontopthemountainousload.

    "Thinkitllride?"ohemenasked.

    "Whyshouldntit?"Charlesdemahershortly.

    "Oh,thatsallright,thatsallright,"themanhastenedmeeklytosay."Iwasjustaw,thatisall.Itseemedamitetop-heavy."

    Charlesturnedhisbaddrewthelashingsdownaswellashecould,whichwasnotintheleastwell.

    "Andofcoursethedogshikealongalldaywiththattraptionbehindthem,"affirmedasedofthemen.

    "Certainly,"saidHal,withfreezingpoliteakingholdofthegee-polewithonehandandswinginghiswhipfromtheother."Mush!"Heshouted."M