Raftmates

out an indistinct outline of the rock on which the raft was hung, and as the rain was still falling, he quickly regained the shelter of the "shanty," there to consider the situation.

ad no need to look at his watch to discover that it was b

ssary to put things into a pot and let them boil, or into an oven to bake. Of course they must be watched and taken from the stove when done, but that was about all there was to cooking. There was a sack of corn-meal in the "shanty," and a jug of map

thought; "but I can save what I can't eat no

gaze at a distant up-bound steamboat, and wondered why he had not noticed her when she passed the raft. Although the river seemed somewhat narro

removed half of the wet meal to another pan, filled it with water, and set both pans on the stove. Then he poured a stream of cold water into the coffee-pot, which by this time was almost red-hot. The effect was as distressing as it was unexpected. A cloud of scalding steam rush

his smarting face, he determined not to be daunted by this first mishap, but to try again. So he wiped the floor with a table-cloth, drew another bucket of water from the river, and resolved to proceed with the utmost

g sound from the stove and a smell of burning. Two yell

tion of the contents from each into a third pan. "How ever did th

ans. Before he was through with that mush, every available inch of space on the stove was covered with pans of it, the disgusted cook was liberally bedaubed with

and disgust were equally blended. Then, yielding to an impulse of anger, he picked up one of the messes and flung it, pan and all, out through the open door. He was stooping

rmly, but there is such a thing as too warm a reception. I'll allow you didn't se

on, young man! One a

ruck him full in the breast and now covered a large portion of his body, including his face,

king up the useful table-cloth that had already served him in one emergency, stepped forward with an offer of assistance. Th

ves and forks, you know. So, you see, I'm to be congratulated on getting off as well as I have. But where is the b

se just at present-excepting cook," he added, hastily, as he note

s cook

son there isn't any breakfast, nor likely to be any

he boy was really in distress, and not in a joking humor, he added, "But let me help you set things to rights, and then I'll see if I can't show you how to

iver-trader?

tell you all about it, and you shall tel

ame to a boil, half a cupful of ground coffee, tied loosely in a bit of clean muslin, was dropped into it, and allowed to boil for three minutes. A kind of biscuit made of flour, water, shortening, baking-powder, and salt, well mixed, and rolled thin, was quickly baked, first on one side and then on the other, in an iron skillet on top of the stove. At the same time a single cupful of co

ny subjects. At the same time he managed somehow to learn all about Winn and his family, the raft and how

could eat no more, Mr. Gilder als

likely to do at any time, the raft will probably break in pieces of its own weight. In that case you would lose both it and your wheat. The only plan I can suggest for saving the raft is to lighten it until it floats clear of the rock on which it is hung, by throwing the wheat overboard; or, if y