Part 9 (1/2)

”But why do they eat such--such dry stuff? It's worse than patent breakfast food without cream,” said Joe.

”Salt,” the man replied. ”They'll eat anything a man or a horse has touched, to get it salty with perspiration--an axe handle, for instance.

I knew a lumber jack once who had a grudge against a feller, so he put salt on his cabin roof, and the porcs came in the night and ate the roof most off. There come a rain the next day, too.”

The boys laughed. They wanted to ask their visitor who he was, but didn't see quite how to bring it about. Finally Tom said, ”Won't--won't you have some breakfast?”

”Had mine,” the man answered. ”Might take a cup of coffee, though. Yours smells good.”

He sat down on the log which was serving the boys as a chair, first easing his belt holster, which held a 38-calibre automatic.

”He must be a Park Ranger,” Tom whispered to Joe. ”n.o.body else can carry arms in the Park, they say.”

Joe brought him a cup of coffee, and as he took it, he said, ”Well, boys, I hear you're goin' to look after the tepee camp. Thought I'd come down to inspect you. I'm the Ranger for this district. Mills is my name.

My cabin's just up the trail a piece toward Swift Current. Let me know if I can do anything for you.”

”Thank you, sir,” said Joe. ”Some time, if you--you'd----”

He hesitated, turning red at the boldness of his demand.

The Ranger waited in silence, only keeping a pale blue eye on his face, but a kindly eye.

”----if you'd show me how to throw a diamond hitch.”

”Is that all?” said the Ranger, with one of his silent laughs. ”I thought you were goin' to ask me for a thousand dollars. I can show you the diamond hitch 'most any time. I'm packing off to-day, about ten.

Come around and get a lesson. Ride a horse, either of you?”

”Well, we ride just a little--farm horses out to plowing, and things like that,” Spider replied.

”I have an extra horse. Maybe one of you'll come along with me some day when you both ain't needed in the camp. If you can always make coffee like this I'd like you along.”

”Joe's the cook,” Tom said. ”He can go any time. It's I who am running the camp. He's just loafing and getting well. He's been sick.”

”Well, Joe, you come out to my cabin at ten, and you can see me throw a hitch,” the Ranger said, getting up, ”and ride up the trail with me a spell, if you want.”

Joe's eyes grew big with excitement. ”I'll be there!” he cried.

The Ranger went back again, and the two scouts looked at each other.

”Say, he's some prince!” Joe exclaimed. ”But I don't like to be getting the first ride ahead of you. I wouldn't do it, only if I learn to ride, and tie a pack on, maybe I can get a job as cook.”

”Go to it, old scout,” Tom answered. ”That's what we came here for.”

After breakfast Tom went over to the chalets to report and to do some work around the camp, and before ten o'clock Joe was at the Ranger's log cabin.

Mills, the Ranger, had three horses out of the little stable behind, and was putting a saddle on the largest horse.

”Go get the other saddle from the stable, and let's see you put it on your horse,” he said.

Joe brought the saddle, a regular western saddle, with the high back and the horn in front, and did his best to get it on. The Ranger watched him a minute, and then showed him how to cinch it properly and tight.

”Don't be afraid to pull it hard,” he said. ”The old nag'll lose some of his belly before he gets home, and if you've not cinched it tight your saddle will slip.”