``I can get along without that light,
Buck,'' I said, and I must have been
rather haughty and abrupt, for a stifled
shriek came from under the bedclothes in
the corner and Buck disappeared swiftly.
Preparations for bed are simple in the
mountains--they were primitively simple
for me that night. Being in knickerbockers,
I merely took off my coat and
shoes. Presently somebody else stepped
into the room and the bed in the other
corner creaked. Silence for a while.
Then the door opened, and the head of the
old woman was thrust in.

``Mart!'' she said coaxingly; ``git up
thar now an' climb over inter bed with
that ar stranger.''

That was Mart at last, over in the
corner. Mart turned, grumbled, and, to my
great pleasure, swore that he wouldn't.
The old woman waited a moment.

``Mart,'' she said again with gentle
imperiousness, `` git up thar now, I tell ye
--you've got to sleep with that thar
stranger.''