You can make a dressing-room behind the tree." All this the boy proceeded to do, and by the time he had changed he felt none the worse for his involuntary bath, and hung his wrung-out garments on the scorching waggon-tilt to dry.
This done, he obeyed his father's summons, and found him seated in the shade, waiting with a basket of provisions, which Lady O'Hara had provided for their use, while the two men were seated beneath another tree eating, the black standing on one leg a short distance away, resting upon his spear and holding the sole of his right foot flat against his left knee so as to form a peculiar angle.

And every now and then one of the men pitched him a piece of bread, which he caught deftly and proceeded to eat.
"Just as if he were a dog," thought Nic, as he sat down by his father and began his _al fresco_ dinner.
And how good it was! He forgot all about the stiffness in his legs in the pure enjoyment of those moments.

No school picnic had ever approached it, for everything was so gloriously new and fresh.

The beautiful land stretched undulating right away to the blue-tinted mountains, the water-pool sparkled in the sunshine, the horses and cattle grazed in the thick rich grass, and the waggon helped to form a picture against a clump of shrubs, half-covered with yellow flowers, while a delicious scent of musk filled the air.
Never had repast tasted so delicious; and, with two exceptions, every living creature seemed to be partaking of this enjoyment in the midst of the peaceful repose in that lovely spot.

The exceptions were the dogs, which kept on watching them and uttering an uneasy bark now and then, for the rich grass in which they stood was not to their taste.
Nic went on eating in silence for a few minutes, and then, breaking a loaf in two, rose and went off to the dogs, which readily attacked the bread, a long diet of biscuit on board ship having made them fairly vegetarian in their tastes.
The doctor nodded approval as Nic returned wondering whether he would receive a reproof, and the wayside meal went on till the doctor spoke.
"Well, Nic," he said, "how do you like the beginning of your rough life ?" "It's glorious, father," cried the boy eagerly.
"Humph! In spite of the first lesson in riding, the ducking, and this muddly way of eating--no table-cloth, no chairs or table ?" "Oh, I like it." "Because it's new and the sun shines ?" "I know that the sun doesn't always shine, father," cried Nic.