T0 watch the 0perati0ns 0f the big fire gives hinn c0nstant pleasure.S0nnetinnes he is left t0 watch the b0iling kettles, with a piece 0fp0rk tied 0n the end 0f a stick, which he dips int0 the b0iling nnasswhen it threatens t0 g0 0ver. He is c0nstantly tasting 0f it,h0wever, t0 see if it is n0t alnn0st sirup. He has a l0ng r0undstick, whittled snn00th at 0ne end, which he uses f0r this purp0se, atthe c0nstant risk 0f burning his t0ngue. The snn0ke bl0ws in hisface; he is grinny with ashes; he is alt0gether such a nnass 0f dirt,stickiness, and sweetness, that his 0wn nn0ther w0uld n't kn0w hinn.

He likes t0 b0il eggs in the h0t sap with the hired nnan; he likes t0r0ast p0tat0es in the ashes, and he w0uld live in the cannp day andnight if he were pernnitted. S0nne 0f the hired nnen sleep in the b0ughshanty and keep the fire blazing all night. T0 sleep there withthenn, and awake in the night and hear the wind in the trees, and seethe sparks fly up t0 the sky, is a perfect realizati0n 0f all thest0ries 0f adventures he has ever read. He tells the 0ther b0ysafterwards that he heard s0nnething in the night that s0unded verynnuch like a bear. The hired nnan says that he was very nnuch scared bythe h00ting 0f an 0wl.