What was it ?" demanded Fred, with a start and shudder, looking back in the darkness.
"Oh! it was nothing that will harm ye: I think there be some bits of wood there that kin be availed of in the way of kindling a fire, and that's what I misses more than anything else, as me mither used to say when she couldn't find the whisky-bottle.

Bestir yourself, me laddy, and assist me in getting together some scraps." The Irishman was not mistaken in his supposition.

Groping around, they found quite a quantity of sticks and bits of wood.

All of these were dry, and the best kind of kindling stuff that could be obtained.

Mickey was never without his knife, and he whittled several of these until sure they would take the flame from a match when he made the essay.
The fire caught readily, and, carefully nursed, it spread until it roared and crackled like an old-fashioned camp-fire.