lly. Jeff was cook, and Jack helped them both. Jeff
found him most useful. He collected fir cones and bits of pinon or
birch-bark to start the fires with, and kept them going with sticks; he
filled the camp-kettle from the spring, while Jeff fried the beefsteak
or sausage-meat; and even Lem looked less sullen when he found how much
quicker he got his meals than before Jack came.

Always after they had eaten their food Jack washed up the things in a
bucket, and put them tidily by in their places in the waggon, while the
men lounged by the fire and smoked. Jack soon got used to the life,
although it seemed very strange to him to find himself every night
farther away from Longview, and getting nearer and nearer to the grand
mountains which they could just see stretching along in a huge range
miles ahead of them.

Jeff liked Jack better every day, and asked him a great deal about his
people. One day he questioned him about his mother, and being a
subject dear to the boy's heart, he launched forth into a glowing
description of her, which quickly showed the rough miner what a good
influence she had exercised over her little son.

'Well,' said he slowly, 'I understand you now, my lad. Your mother was
one worth having. But you say she taught you prayers an' hymns. I
don't care about prayers, but I'm powerful fond o' singin'. Could you
give us one o' your mother's hymns now?'

They were gathered round the fire after supper, but Lem seemed half
asleep as Jack and Jeff talked. In answer to the latter's questions,
the boy said:

'Aye, of course I can. I'll sing you the one as father liked best, for
he used to sing it when he was freightin' an' campin' out as we're
doin' now.'

'Give it us, my lad,' said Jeff, as he refilled his pipe, and prepared
to listen.

Jack had a sweet young voice, and, possessing a good ear for music, he
had quickly picked up the tunes of his favourite hymns from his
parents, who both sang well.

Delighted to please his new friend, he struck up 'For ever with the
Lord,' repeating the last half of the first verse as a chorus after all
the verses. Fresh and clear his voice rang out, and when he came to
the last two lines--

'Yet nightly pitch my moving tent
A day's march nearer home'--

he seemed to throw his whole energy into the words.

[Illustration: 'JACK STRUCK UP, "FOR EVER WITH THE LORD."']

The hymn struck home to rough Jeff, and when it was ended he said:

'That's the