d call a right merry song, but I never felt
better in my life than I did when I was singin' it. Here you are,
breakfast all ready! We'll eat, drink an' away. I'm anxious to see
our mountains ag'in."

The boat soon reached a point where lower banks ran for some time, and,
from the center of the stream, they saw the noble country outspread
before them, a vast mass of shimmering green. The rain had ceased
entirely, but the whole earth was sweet and clean from its great bath.
Leaves and grass had taken on a deeper tint, and the crisp air was keen
with blooming odors.

Although they soon had a considerable current to fight, they made good
headway against it. Harry's practice with the oar was giving his
muscles the same quality like steel wire which those of Jarvis and Ike
had. So they went on for that day and others and drew near to the
hills. The eyes of Jarvis kindled when he saw the first line of dark
green slopes massing themselves against the eastern horizon.

"The Bluegrass is mighty fine, an' so is the Pennyroyal," he said,
"an' I ain't got nothin' ag'in em. I admit their claims before they
make 'em, but my true love, it's the mountains an' my mountain home.
Mebbe some night, Harry, when we tie up to the bank, we'll see a deer
comin' down to drink. What do you say to that?"

Harry's eyes kindled, too.

"I say that I want the first shot."

Jarvis laughed.

"True sperrit," he said. "Nobody will set up a claim ag'inst you,
less it's that lunkhead, Ike, my nephew. Are you willin' to let him
have it, Ike?"

Ike grinned and nodded.

The Kentucky narrowed and the current grew yet stronger. But changing
oftener at the oars they still made good headway. The ranges, dark
green on the lower slopes, but blue on the higher ridges beyond them,
slowly came nearer. Late in the afternoon they entered the hills,
and when night came they had left the lowlands several miles behind.
They tied up to a great beech growing almost at the water's edge,
and made their camp on the ground. Harry's deer did not come that night,
but it did on the following one. Then Jarvis and he after supper went
about a mile up the stream, stalking the best drinking places, and they
saw a fine buck come gingerly to the river. Harry was lucky enough to
bring him down with the first shot, an achievement that filled him with
pride, and Jarvis soon skinned and dressed the animal, adding him to
their larder.

"I don't shoot deer, 'cept w