Mary immediately demanded of Joe a recital of his adventures that
morning. He complied without reluctance, and his hearers were
frequently convulsed with laughter as he proceeded, for he added many
embellishments not narrated by the author. Sneak bore their merriment
with stoical fortitude, and then laughed as heartily as themselves at
his own recent novel predicament.

La-u-na asked Sneak if he had been bitten by any of the poisonous
snakes. Sneak of course replied in the negative, but at the same time
desired to know the name of the plant that was used by the Indians
with universal success when wounded by the fangs of the rattlesnake.
The girl told him it was the _white plantain_ that grew in the
prairies.

"I'll go and get some right straight," said Joe, "because I don't know
what moment I may be bitten."

"Never mind it, Joe," said Glenn, rising. "We are now going to gather
wild raspberries on the cliff south of and we want you and Sneak to
assist us."

"Well--I like raspberries, and they must be ripe by this time, if the
chickens havn't picked them all before us."

"Dod--if the chickens have ett 'em can that make 'em _green_ agin?"
replied Sneak to Joe's Irishism.

"You'd better learn how to read before you turn critic," said Joe,
taking up the baskets that had been brought out of the house. He then
led the way, quarrelling all the time with Sneak, while Glenn, placing
Mary's arm in his, and William imitating the example, followed at a
distance behind.

When the party reached the raspberry thicket, they found truly that
the fowls were there before them, though quite an abundance of the
delicious berry still remained untouched. A few moments sufficed to
drive the feathered gatherers away, and then without delay they began
to fill their baskets.

Many were the hearty peals of joyous laughter that rang from the
innocent lovers while momentarily obscured by the green clustering
bushes. Ere long they were dispersed in various parts of the thicket,
and Glenn and Mary being separated from the rest, our hero seized the
opportunity to broach a tender subject.

"Mary," said he, and then most unaccountably paused.

"Well," said she turning her glorious dark blue eyes full upon him.

"I have something of moment to say to you, if you will listen
attentively--and I know not a more fitting time and place than this to
tell it. Here is a natural bower surrounded by sweet berries, and
shielded from the sun by the f