The Associate Hermits

t, the rippling waters of the lake, the white clouds in the blue sky, the great trunks of the trees, the rustling of the leaves, the songs of t

the camp, and sometimes on the shores of the lake itself. Margery sketched; her night in the studio had filled her with dreams of art, and she ha

o discipline her mind to habits of happiness in camp. This was not very difficult during the first part of this beautiful day, but towards the end of the afternoon she began to think less of the joys of a fr

a cup of tea,

seem rather odd to have afternoon tea in

act is I don't count on anything particular bein' done on the first day in camp, except when the party is regular hunters or fishermen. It's just as well for some of them to sit round on the first day and let things soak into them, provided it isn't rain, and the next day they will have a more natural feelin' about what they really want to do. Now I expect you will

d, "will you please sit down a mo

on a log near by, picking up a stick as he did so, and b

he, "if there are pan

ight," said he; "and not only panthers, but most likely a bear or two, and snakes rustlin'

as that," she replie

on't hear wild beasts the first night. But they never come no more. Them kind of wild beasts I call first-nighters, and they're about the worst kind we've got, because they rea

th can be keeping Mr. Archibald? When he started o

he fever, ma'am

s. Archibald, droppin

anybody; it only keeps the meals waitin'. You see, we are pretty nigh the first

ike it. I think it is cruel and

r time in the boat," suggested Mat

a boat except with a regular boatman. I suppose you have a larger boat than t

now I guess I'll go see about supper. This has been a lazy day

end pretty soon. The man and the young woman could stand it for a couple of weeks, but there's not

the least idea of going to sleep in the boat, dipped his oars in the water and rowed ashore, pulled the boat

etting me see you

I see just as if I were making a photograph. I suppose you think I ought to draw the boat just as it is, but I always put something of

ondola it would not have suited the scene. I think you have caught the spirit of the landscape very well; but if you don't object to a little criticism, I

asked Margery

part of the last winter, and when I wasn't out hunting I made a good many dra

were an artist I would not have asked

like me to put some ducks or any other kind of wild-fowl in the foreground I will be glad to do it for you. I have mad

and turned round towards the young man, who was follo

at, and as I couldn't afford to become a gentleman sportsman, I came here as a guide. I'm getting a lot of experience in this sort of life, an

ook about it?"

ikely,"

itizens, and I don't see why they can't eat at the table with us instead o

imed Mrs. Archibald. "Wha

aw would be the sight of the two guides sitting at the table with them, but she restraine

t," said she, "pray don't let us say anything about

s sure the tobacco was sufficiently ignited he took

to-day. I don't know what I shall do to-morrow; bu

t is you do," she answered. "But

h, which was not noticed by any o

t going to last very much longer, and we shall be obliged to

ke and saw a bird suddenly swoop down upon the water, breaking the smooth surface into

looked up the lake, and not far from the water's edge he saw Margery

ng into the cabin again, "look out

hen she saw the trio approaching them, she

se woods," she said; "but if a lot of people have come fr

husband, "we must

had been old friends. Mr. Archibald, not without some mental disquietude at this intrusion upon the woo

is right next to ours, and it is called Camp Roy. You see, some years ago there was a large camping party came here, an

r. Sadler did not tell us that ours was

t. They started before daybreak this morning, and brought a tent along with them, which they have pitched just back of that little peninsula; and they haven't any guide, because they want to attend to their own cooking and everything, and the man who brought the tent and

e thought it would be out of the way to invite the two young men to take breakfast

were now apparent some elements of resentment, had not subsided, but the state of his mind did not show itself in his demeanor

hired this camp I supposed we were to have it to ourselves; but if there are other camps j

thought anybody would be likely to take it just now, and so didn't think it worth while to speak of it. Of course it's jammed up against this one, a

ntion of making myself disagreeable by ordering people off my premises. But I would like to know if

mp between this and the lower end of the lake. There's a big one th

chibald to his wife a little later, "I should not m