woodsy creatures to be scratched out of holes or chased up trees, or
to be nosed and chewed at. There were stray and half-wild pigs that
had tails to be bitten, and what could be more exhilarating than
making a drove of grunting pigs canter like a hailstorm away into
deep woods! And in the towns and villages all resident dogs came to
call on Boswell and Johnson. At every tavern Boswell picked a fight
and Johnson fought it out; sometimes retiring with his tail to the
earth and a sad expression of being outnumbered, but oftener a victor
to have his wounds dressed and bandaged by Boswell's tongue. There
was plenty to eat at taverns and camps, and good hunting in the
woods; but who could tell what hungry milestone might stand at the
end of this day's journey?

Grandma Padgett herself was beginning to feel anxious on this
subject. She drove faster in order to overtake Zene and consult with
him, but before his attention could be attracted, both carriage and
wagon reached a broad belt of shine stretching across the 'pike, and
making trees in the meadow opposite stand out as distinct individuals.

This illumination came from many camp-fires extending so far into
the woods that the last one showed like a spark. A great collection
of moving wagons were ranged in line along the extent of these fires,
and tents pitched under the dripping foliage revealed children
playing within their snug cover, or women spreading the evening meal.
Kettles were hung above the fires, and skillets hissed on the coals.
The horses, tied to their feed-boxes, were stamping and grinding
their feed in content, and the gray lifted up his voice to neigh at
the whole collection as Grandma Padgett stopped just behind Zene. All
the camp dogs leaped up the 'pike together, and Boswell and Johnson
met them in a neutral way while showing the teeth of defence. To Boswell