en one went to the shallows at the lower end of the
pool and began to beat the surface with a leafy branch, while the
other two crouched on the bowlders in midstream. Suddenly, one of
the boys plunged his head and arms into the water and emerged with a
beautiful speckled trout clutched tightly in both hands. He had seen
the fish swim beneath the rock where it was cornered and had caught
it before it could escape.

For an hour the two boys sat like kingfishers, absolutely motionless
except when they dived into the water. Of course, they often missed;
but when we were ready to go home they had eight beautiful trout,
several of them weighing as much as two pounds. The stream was full
of fish, and we would have given worlds for a rod and flies.

Lu baked a loaf of corn bread in his curious little oven made from a
Standard Oil tin, and we found a jar of honey in our stores. Brook
trout fried in deep bacon fat, regular "southern style" corn bread
and honey, apple pie, coffee, and cigarettes--the "hardships of
camping in the Orient!"

When we had been in camp a week we awoke one morning to find a heavy
cloud of smoke drifting up the valley. Evidently a tremendous fire
was raging, and Smith and I set out at once on a tour of
investigation. A mile down the valley we saw the whole mountain side
ablaze. It was a beautiful sight, I admit, but the destruction of
that magnificent forest appalled us. Fortunately, the wind was
blowing strongly from the east, and there was no danger that the
fire might sweep northward in the direction of our camp. As we
emerged into a tiny clearing, occupied by a single log hut, we saw
two Chinese sitting on their heels, placidly watching the roaring
furnace across the valley.

With a good deal of excitement we asked them how the fire possibly
could have originated.

"Oh," said one, "we started it ourselves." "In the name of the five
gods why did you do it?" Smith asked. "Well, you see," returned the
Chinese, "there was quite a lot of brush here in our clearing and we
had to get rid of it. To-day the wind was right, so we set it on
fire."

"But don't you see that you have burned up that whole mountain's
side, destroyed thousands of trees, and absolutely ruined this end
of the valley?"

"Oh, yes, but never mind; it can't be helped," the native answered.
Then I exploded. I frankly confess that I cursed that Chinese and
all his ancestors; which is the only proper way to curse in China. I
assured