78 LUCY AMONG THE MOUNTAINS.

ing. They found that he had made fine prepara-
tions for the fire. He had cut down the old dead
tree, and chopped it up into short pieces; and
he had pushed these in, under the pile. He also
had some strips of birch bark, which he was going
to kindle with.

Lucy came up to the place with the lantern,
and set it down at Robert’s feet. Her mother
camé up, too, with a large bouquet of flowers in
one hand.

“That will make a good fire, Robert,” said
she; “only it seems to me that you have got the
wood in on the wrong side of the heap.’

“Why?” said Robert.

“ Because,” replied she, “it ought to be put at
the side towards the wind. Then the wind will
blow the heat and flame directly through the
heap, and set it all on fire. There is not much
wind, but there is enough to do some good.”

“We'll try this side first, now I’ve got it
ready,” said Robert.

So he tgok one of his pieces of birch bark, and,
opening the lantern door very carefully, he put it
in, and lighted it. Now, birch bark, when it is
buming, makes quite a smoke; and Robert put
down this burning piece near the place where he
had put his wood, in order te see which way