and in collecting some dry wood, while he
fastened the horse. Isaiah accordingly took the axe, and Marco was to
bring the bag of provisions.

Marco drew the horse out of the road, and brought his head up near to
the stem of a little tree, which was growing there. He then took out the
bag, and made his way through the bushes, in the direction in which
Forester and Isaiah had gone, down a little cow path, which descended to
the bank of the brook.

He found Forester and Isaiah very readily. Forester was seated upon a
flat stone near the water, and Isaiah was gathering dry sticks for a
fire. It was a warm and pleasant day, and they wanted a fire, not so
much for its warmth, as for the cheerful and pleasant aspect it gave to
the place. There was a gentle breeze blowing that day in the open
ground. This breeze was not felt among the trees, but it caused a gentle
draft of air, which carried all the smoke away from them, and made their
seat, on the great flat stone, very pleasant.

"Have you fastened the horse?" said Forester.

"Yes," replied Marco.

"You ought to fasten him pretty strong," said Isaiah, "for he's very apt
to get away."

"O, he won't get away," said Marco; "I fastened him to a good stout
tree."

[Illustration]

When the fire was burning well, Isaiah and Marco buried some potatoes,
which they had brought with them, in the embers under it. They also put
some apples down to roast on a flat stone, which they placed near the
fire.

"I wish we had some Carolina potatoes," said Marco.

"What kind of potatoes are they?" asked Isaiah.

"They are sweet. They would be excellent to roast in the woods."

"I never heard of a potato being sweet," said Isaiah.

"Yes," said Marco. "They have plenty of them in New York."

"Then why don't they call them New York potatoes?" asked Isaiah.

"Why, I believe they came from Carolina first," said Marco. "And now I
want a long stick for a toaster."

So Marco cut a long stick, and, after he had made the end sharp, he put
a slice of bread upon it, and placed it before the fire, and thus
toasted the bread. It is remarkable that the business of cooking the
food, which, in houses and cities, is considered a disagreeable
drudgery, which is to be kept as much as possible out of sight, is
always in the woods a very important part of the entertainment, in which
all the guests are pleased to take a share.

CHAPTER IX.

THE ENCAMPMENT.

Our party of travellers rema