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usual。 Oh dear！ it's a weary world。 I'd just like to get Jack at a
disadvantage once！
＇Next paragraph crossed out＇
We climbed Pico Negro yesterday。 Bell； Geoff； Phil； and I had quite
an experience in losing the trail。 I will tell you about it。 Just
as …
（Goodness me！ what have I written？ Oh； Elsie； pray excuse those
HORIZONTAL EVIDENCES of my forgetfulness and disobedience。 I have
bumped my head against the table three times； as penance； and will
now try to turn my thoughts into right channels。 This letter is a
black…and…white evidence that _I_ have not a frivolous order of mind；
and have always been misunderstood from my birth up to this date。）
We have had beautiful weather sincebut no； of course Phil will tell
you about the weather； for that is scarcely an amusing topic。 I do
want to be as prudent as possible； for Uncle Doc is going to read all
the letters （not； of course； aloud） and see whether we have fulfilled
our specific obligations。
（I just asked Bell whether 'specific' had a 'c' or an's in the
middle； and she answered '〃c；〃 of course；' with such an air； you
should have heard her！ I had to remind her of the time she spelled
'Tophet' with an 'f' in the middle； then she subsided。）
（I just read this last paragraph to Madge； to see if she called it
gossip； as I was going to take it out if it belonged to her topic；
but she said No； she didn't call it gossip at allthat she should
call it slander！）
You don't know how we all long to see you； dear darling that you are。
We live in the hope of having you with us very soon； and meanwhile
the beautiful bedstead is almost finished； and a perfect success。 （I
wish to withdraw the last three quarters of that sentence； for
obvious reasons！！）
Dear； dear！ Geoffrey calls 'Time up；' and I've scarcely said
anything I should。 Never； never again will I submit to this method
of correspondence； it is absolutely petrifying to one's genius。 When
I am once forced to walk in a path； nothing but the whole out…of…
doors will satisfy me。
I'm very much afraid I haven't amused you； dear； …
But when I lie in the green kirkyard；
With the mould upon my breast；
Say not that 'She did well or ill；'
Only； 'She did her best。'
Now； do you think that will interfere with Bell； when it's only a
quotation？ Any way； it's so appropriate that Uncle Doc will never
have the heart to strike it out。 The trouble is that Geoff thinks
all the poetry in the universe is locked up in Bell's head； and if
she once allows it to escape； Felicia Hemans and the rest will be too
discouraged ever to try again！ （I can't remember whether F。 H。 is
alive or not； and am afraid to ask； but you will know that I don't
mean to be disrespectful。）
Laura； Anne； and Scott Burton were here for the play； and Laura is
coming down again to spend the week。 I can't abide her； and there
will probably be trouble in the camp。
The flame of my genius blazes high just now； but Geoff has spoken；
and it must be snuffed。 So good…bye！
Sizz…z…z！！ and I'm OUT！
POLLIOLIVER。
II。 FROM PHILIP TO ELSIE。
CAMP CHAPARRAL； July 8； 188…。
My dear Elsie；I believe I am to inform you concerning the daily
doings of our party； not on any account； however； permitting myself
to degenerate into 'gossip' or 'frivolous amusement。'
They evidently consider me a quiet； stupid fellow； who will fulfil
such a task with no special feeling of repression； and I dare say
they are quite right。
They call me the 'solid man' of the camp； which may not be very high
praise； to be sure； as Geoffrey carries his head in the clouds； and
Jack iswell； Jack is Jack！ So； as the light of a tallow dip is
valuable in the absence of sun and moon； I am raised to a fictitious
reputation。
We fellows have had very little play so far； for the furnishing of
the camp has proved an immense undertaking； although we have plenty
of the right sort of wood and excellent tools。
We think the work will pay； however； as Dr。 Paul has about decided to
stay until October； or until the first rain。 He writes two or three
hours a day； and thinks that he gets on with his book better here
than at home。 As for the rest of us； when we get fairly to rights we
shall have regular study hours and lose no time in preparing for the
examinations。
I suppose you know that you have a full bedroom set in process of
construction。 I say 'suppose you know；' because it is a profound
secret； and the girls could never have kept it to themselves as long
as this。
The lounging…chair is my allotted portion； and although it is a
complicated bit of work； I accepted it gladly； feeling sure that you
would use it oftener than any of the other pieces of furniture。 I
shall make it so deliciously easy that you will make me 'Knight of
the Chair；' and perhaps permit me to play a sort of devoted John
Brown to your Victoria。 You will need one dull and prosy squire to
arrange your pillows； so that you can laugh at Jack's jokes without
weariness； and doze quietly while Geoff and Uncle Doc are talking
medicine。
Of course the most exciting event of the week was the mysterious
disappearance and subsequent restoration of the Heir…Apparent； but I
feel sure somebody else will describe the event； because it is
uppermost in all our minds。
Bell； for instance； would dress it up in fine style。 She is no
historian； but in poetry and fiction none of us can touch her；
though； by the way； Polly's abilities in that direction are a good
deal underrated。 It's as good as a play to get her after Jack when
he is in one of his teasing moods。 They are like flint and steel；
and if Aunt Truth didn't separate them the sparks would fly。 With a
girl like Polly； you have either to lie awake nights； thinking how
you'll get the better of her； or else put on a demeanour of
gentleness and patience； which serves as a sort of lightning…rod
round which the fire of her fun will play all day and never strike。
Polly is a good deal of a girl。 She seems at first to have a pretty
sharp tongue； but I tell you she has a heart in which there is
swimming…room for everybody。 This may not be 'information' to you；
whom we look upon as our clairvoyant； but it would be news to most
people。
Uncle Doc； Bell； Geoff； Polly； Meg； and I started for the top of Pico
Negro the other morning。 Bell rode Villikins； and Polly took a mule；
because she thought the animal would be especially sure…footed。 He
was； in fact； he was so sure…footed that he didn't care to move at
all； and we had to take turns in beating him up to the top。 We boys
walked for exercise； which we got to our hearts' content。
It is only five or six miles from the old Mountain Mill （a picture of
which Jack will send you）； and the ascent is pretty stiff climbing；
though nothing terrific。 We lost the trail once； and floundered
about in the chaparral for half an hour； till Bell began to make a
poem on the occasion； when we became desperate； and dashed through a
thicket of brush； tearing ourselves to bits； but stumbling on the
trail at last。 The view from the top is simply superb。 The valleys
below are all yellow with grain…fields and green with vineyards； with
here and there the roofs of a straggling little settlement。 The
depression in the side of the mountain （you will observe it in the
picture） Polly says has evidently been 'bitten out' by a prehistoric
animal； and it turns out to be the loveliest little canyon
imaginable。
We have had one novel experiencethat of seeing a tarantula fight；
and not between two； but five； tarantulas。 We were about twenty
miles from camp； loping along a stretch of hot； dusty road。 Jack got
off to cinch his saddle； and so we all stopped a moment to let our
horses breathe。 As I was looking about； at nothing in particular； I
noticed a black ball in the deep dust at the side of the road。 It
suddenly rolled over on itself and I called to the boys to watch the
fun。 We got off； hitched our horses； and approached cautiously； for
I had seen a battle of the same kind before。 There they werefive
huge； hairy； dirty； black creatures； as large as the palm of Dicky's
hand； all locked in deadly combat。 They writhed and struggled and
embraced； their long； curling legs fastening on each other with a
sound that was actually like the cracking of bones。 It takes a
little courage to stand and watch such a proceeding； for you feel as
if the hideous fellows might turn and jump for you； but they were
doubtless absorbed in their own battle； and we wanted to see the
affair to the end； so we took the risk； if there was any。 At last
they showed signs of weariness； but we prodded them up with our
riding…whips； preferring that they should kill each other； rather
than do the thing ourselves。 Finally； four of them lay in the dust；
doubled up and harmless； slain； I suppose； by their own poison。 One；
the conquering hero； remained； and we dexterously scooped him into a
tomato…can that Jack had tied to his saddle for a drinking…cup；
covered him up with a handkerchief； and drew lots as to who should
carry him home to Dr。 Paul。
Knowing that the little beasts were gregarious； we hunted about for a
nest； which we might send to you