e always contrives to get
the first shot. I knew that I should make a hunter of the boy. He might
go out by himself now, and do just as well as I do."

The next morning Malachi went out into the woods, taking with him the
coppers and all the trays on the sledge: during that day he was busy
boring the trees and fitting the reed-pipes to the holes. Strawberry and
John accompanied him, and by sunset their work was complete.

The next morning when they went out, only Malachi and John took their
axes with them, for John could use his very well for so young a lad.
They first went to the tree which Martin had discovered; he had given a
description where to find it. They cut it down, but did not attempt to
take the honey till the night, when they lighted a fire, and drove away
the bees by throwing leaves upon it, and making a great smoke; they then
opened the tree, and gained about two pails full of honey, which they
brought in just as the family were about to go to bed. When they went
out the next morning, they found a bear very busy at the remains of the
comb, but the animal made off before they could get a shot at him.

Every morning the Strawberry collected all the sap which had run out of
the trees, and poured it into the coppers which had been fixed up by
Malachi, ready for a fire to be lighted under them. They continued their
search, and found three more hives of bees, which they marked and
allowed to remain till later in the season, when they could take them
at their leisure. In a fortnight, they had collected sufficient liquor
from the trees to fill both the coppers to the brim, besides several
pails. The fires were therefore lighted under the coppers, and due
notice given to Mrs. Campbell and the girls, that the next day they must
go out into the woods and see the operation; as the liquor would, toward
the afternoon, be turned into coolers, which were some of the large
washing-tubs then in use, and which had been thoroughly cleansed for the
purpose.

As this was to be a holiday in the woods, they prepared a cold dinner in
a large basket, and gave it in charge of Henry. Mr. Campbell joined the
party, and they all set off to the spot, which was about two miles
distant. On their arrival, they examined the trees and the trays into
which the juice first ran, the boilers in which the liquor was now
simmering over the fire, and asked questions of Malachi, so that they
might, if necessary, be able to make the sugar themsel