'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。
Afterhecametoschoolwhichwasanerrorofjudgmentattheverybeginning，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。