It was very crooked, too, and rough, but in a short time the deep snow
would cover up the latter defect, and the jingle of bells would echo
among the trees. Now it was the talk and laughter of the boys which
alone disturbed the peaceful silence.
After having walked a little over half an hour, they came to a place,
somewhat open, and here they found club-moss in abundance lining the
ground. To their left, the rippling of the brook could be heard
flowing on its way to the river. Ahead of them stood the thick forest
of pine, fir, and spruce. It was a cool November day, and when the
boys started from home their warm mittens had felt good. But the brisk
tramp had set their blood in rapid circulation, and with bare hands
they now gathered the moss and stuffed it into bags which they had
brought with them. They worked with a hearty good-will, vying with one
another, each striving to have his bag full first.
Their task was almost finished, when Gyp's savage barking up among the
thick trees arrested their attention.
"Let's go and see what he's got," Rod suggested.
"Oh, it's only a squirrel he's treed," the captain contemptuously
replied, straightening himself up for an instant from his bent
position.
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