In a few moments Yuba Bill was engaged like Caliban in bearing logs for this Miranda; the expressman was grinding coffee on the veranda; to myself the arduous duty of slicing bacon was assigned; and the Judge lent each man his good-humored and voluble counsel.

And when Miggles, assisted by the Judge and our Hibernian "deck passenger," set the table with all the available crockery, we had become quite joyous, in spite of the rain that beat against windows, the wind that whirled down the chimney, the two ladies who whispered together in the corner, or the magpie who uttered a satirical and croaking commentary on their conversation from his perch above.

In the now bright, blazing fire we could see that the walls were papered with illustrated journals, arranged with feminine taste and discrimination.

The furniture was extemporized, and adapted from candle boxes and packing-cases, and covered with gay calico, or the skin of some animal.

The armchair of the helpless Jim was an ingenious variation of a flour barrel.