ns's clover field. "Looks like a small Bear."

"Woodchuck! That's our Woodchuck! That's the ole sinner that throwed
Paw off'n the mower. Where's my bone-arrer?" and Guy went for his
weapons.

The boys ran for the fence of the clover field, going more cautiously
as they came near. Still the old Woodchuck heard something and sat up
erect on his haunches. He was a monster, and out on the smooth clover
field he did look like a very small Bear. His chestnut breast was
curiously relieved by his unusually gray back and head.

"Paw says it's his sins as turned his head gray. He's a hoary headed
sinner, an' he ain't repented o' none o' them so far, but _I'm_
after him now."

"Hold on! Start even!" said Sam, seeing that Guy was prepared to
shoot.

So all drew together, standing in a row like an old picture of the
battle of Crecy. The arrows scattered about the Woodchuck. Most went
much too far, none went near because he was closer than they had
supposed, but he scuttled away into his hole, there, no doubt, to plan
a new trap for the man with the mower.

VII

Campercraft

"How'd you sleep, Sam?"

"Didn't sleep a durn bit."

"Neither did I. I was shivering all night. I got up an' put the spare
blanket on, but it didn't do any good."

"Wonder if there was a chills-and-fever fog or something?"

"How'd you find it, Sappy?"

"All right."

"Didn't smell any fog?"

"Nope."

The next night it was even worse. Guy slept placidly, if noisily, but
Sam and Yan tumbled about and shivered for hours. In the morning at
dawn Sam sat up.

"Well, I tell you this is no joke. Fun's fun, but if I am going to
have the shivers every night I'm going home while I'm able."

Yan said nothing. He was very glum. He felt much as Sam did, but was
less ready to give up the outing.

Their blues were nearly dispelled when the warm sun came up, but still
they dreaded the coming night.

"Wonder what it is," said Little Beaver.

"'Pears to me powerful like chills and fever and then again it don't.
Maybe we drink too much swamp water. I believe we're p'isoned with
Guy's cooking."

"More like getting scurvy from too much meat. Let's ask Caleb."

Caleb came around that afternoon or they would have gone after him.
He heard Yan's story in silence, then, "Have ye sunned your blankets
sense ye came?"

"No."

Caleb went into the teepee, felt the blankets, then grunted: "H-m!
Jest so. They're nigh soppin'. You turn in night after nig