in the valley, level and not too
thickly wooded, and while Tish and I set up the stove and lighted a fire
Aggie spread out the sleeping-bags and got supper ready. We had canned
salmon and potato salad. We ate ravenously and then, taking off our
shoes and our walking suits, and getting into our flannel kimonos and
putting up our crimps--for we were determined not to lapse into slovenly
personal habits--we were ready for the night.

Tish said there were all sorts of animals on Thunder Cloud, so we built
a large fire to keep them away. Tish said this was the customary thing,
being done in all the adventure books she had read.

Aggie had to be helped into her sleeping-bag, her fur coat having been
rather skimp. But, once in, she said it was heavenly, and she was asleep
almost immediately. Tish and I followed, and I found I had placed my bag
over a stone. I was, however, too tired to get up.

I lay and looked at the stars twinkling above the treetops, and I felt
sorry for people who had nothing better to look at than a wall-papered
ceiling. Tish, next to me, was yawning.

"If there are snakes," she observed drowsily, "they are not poisonous--I
should think. And, anyhow, no snake could strike through these heavy
bags."

She went to sleep at once, but I lay there thinking of snakes for some
time. Also I remembered that we'd forgotten to leave our weapons within
reach, although, as far as that goes, I should not have slept a wink
had Aggie had her Fourth-of-July celebration near at hand. Then I went
to sleep. The last thing I remember was wishing we had brought a dog.
Even a box of cigars would have been some protection--we could have
lighted one and stuck it in the crotch of a tree, as if a man was
mounting guard over the camp. This idea, of course, was not original. It
was done first by Mr. Sherlock Holmes, the detective.

It must have been toward dawn that I roused, with a feeling that some
one was looking down at me. The fire was very low and Aggie was sleeping
with her mouth open. I got up on my elbow and stared round. There was
nothing in sight, but through the trees I heard a rustling of leaves and
the crackling of brushwood. Whatever it was it had gone. I turned over
and before long went to sleep again.

At daylight I was roused by raindrops splashing on my face. I sat up
hastily. Aggie was sleeping with the flap of her bag over her head, and
Tish, under an umbrella, was sitting fully dressed on a log, poring ov