Page 169 - A Little Bush Maid

Here luck favoured them, for a visit to their former camping place showed
that tent poles and pegs were still there, and uninjured--which considerably

lessened the labour of pitching the tents. Tn a very short time the two tents
were standing, and a couple of stretchers rigged up with bags--Mr. Linton

had no opinion of the comfort of sleeping on beds of leaves. While her
father and Billy were at this work, Norah unpacked the cooking utensils
and provisions. Most of the latter were encased in calico bags, which could

be hung in the shade, secure from either ants or flies, the remainder, packed
in tins, being stowed away easily in the corner of one of the tents.

When the stretchers were ready Norah unpacked the bedding and made
their beds. Finally she hung the tooth-brushes to the ridge poles and said

contentedly, "Daddy, it’s just like home!"

"Glad you think so!" said Mr. Linton, casting an approving eye over the
comfortable-looking camp, and really there is something wonderfully
homelike about a well-pitched camp with a few arrangements for comfort.

"At any rate, T think we’ll manage very well for a few days, Norah. Now,
while Billy lays in a stock of firewood and fixes up a ’humpy’ for himself to

sleep in, suppose you and T go down and try to catch some fish for tea?"

"Plenty!" laughed Norah.

Tt soon became evident that Anglers’ Bend was going to maintain its name

as a place for fish. Scarcely was Norah’s line in the water before a big
blackfish was on the hook, and after that the fun was fast and furious, until
they had caught enough for two or three meals. The day was ideal for

fishing--grey and warm, with just enough breeze to ripple the water faintly.
Mr. Linton and Norah found it very peaceful, sitting together on the old log

that jutted across the stream, and the time passed quickly. Billy at length
appeared, and was given the fish to prepare, and then father and daughter
returned to camp. Mr. Linton lit the fire, and cutting two stout forked

stakes, which he drove into the ground, one on each side of the fire, he
hung a green ti-tree pole across, in readiness to hold the billy and

frying-pan. Billy presently came up with the fish, and soon a cheery sound
of sizzling smote the evening air. By the time that Norah had "the table