en a locomotive engine, or a steamship, or
a Gothic cathedral, or a Japanese cherry orchard in blossom; don't know
what it means ter walk along an English lane, past cottages covered
with roses. Thar's London an' Paris, thar's th' Atlantic Ocean an' the
lone coral islands of the Pacific. Thar's pictures an' books an'
theatres. Oh, thar's a whole world of interestin' things you've never
seen!"

"Makes me feel ter'ble ignorant," Rube regretted ruefully. "I dunno
nothin' o' what's beyond th' mountains that I see ev'ry mornin' from
Birkenshaw's Camp. Don't know nothin'; can't do nothin'. I'm just as
useless as I'm ignorant."

Kiddie put his arm affectionately round the boy's shoulders as they
moved together towards the campfire.

"Not useless, Rube; not ignorant," he said, speaking now in his
character of Lord St. Olave. "You know things that thousands of
well-educated English and American boys do not know; you can do things
which millions of clever boys are incapable of doing. I won't make you
blush by telling you just what I think of you. I'll only say you're
learning more and more every day, and that every day you're proving
yourself to be a better and a better scout."

He left Rube occupied with the cooking and went off to bring together
the animals that had been trapped.

"What d'yer say ter tryin' your hand at gettin' the pelts off en these
critters?" he asked, when he returned and had placed the animals side
by side. "It's best done while they're fresh."

"You're thinkin' of preservin' 'em, then?" questioned Rube.

"I'm thinkin' of mounting 'em," Kiddie answered, "but mainly for
practice. I took lessons when I was in London, from the people who
preserve animals for the British Museum, an' picked up a heap of
wrinkles. I want ter show you how it's done."

"How d'you reckon you're goin' ter get the skin off that rattlesnake?"
Rube was anxious to know.

"Well," said Kiddie, "'tain't just as easy an' simple as drawin' off
your glove; but it's on the same principle."

They were engaged during the afternoon with the work of securing the
skins and cleaning them. The carcases were cut up for use as bait for
the traps, the traps being plentifully baited and very carefully set
for the larger animals. Kiddie was again most particular in laying the
gin for the same animal that had visited it and perplexed him on the
previous night.

"Guess that'll sure get him, whatever he is," said Rube.

He looked