Part 19 (1/2)

The caain, when the tents had been placed and everythingto like this place almost as well as the one under the cascade,” re

So the first evening ca, and supper was the same hearty, enjoyable meal they had always found it The camp appetites worked overtime, the coffee tasted splendid, the elk steaks were just what each one had been hungering for, and as the cook supple platter of flapjacks the content do we stay here, Mr Mabie?” asked Bluff, never hesitating when in search of information

”Possibly a week or so Then back to the ranch, and a new line of experiences This terribly dry weather isup, and we shall be hard set to find pasture for the cattle soon, unless rain co”

”Do you have such a dry spell in summer often up here?” asked Frank

”Never saw the equal of this since I settled in the valley, inally came from, they have drouths even in May, at tiardens dried up, and even a forest fire in July, but never up here,” replied the stockreat deal to set the,” declared Frank ”One of the arette, and it seeic the way the fire flashed up He had to be quick to ju”

Mr Mabie frowned

”I won't ask you which ain to beanywhere in the woods Many a grand forest has been ruined by such carelessness,” he said

”How does that happen, sir?” inquired Bluff

”It is easy The careless hunter or trapper leaves his dying fire when he breaks camp Then up comes a sudden wind and sorass Fanned by the breeze, they beco flame in a minute, and the mischief is done Be careful, boys, please”

”We certainly will, sir,” replied Frank sincerely ”Not to speak of the daht in a forest fire

I've read of such things, but never hankered for a personal experience”

On the following day they started to look into the possibilities for big game around the new camp

”Reddy, here, says he knows of a bear den that we ought to visit sooing in the way of sport, for you h I hope that will not be the case To-day, however, ill take things a bit easy,”

reh the stockman did not speak any plainer, Frank knew just what hethe effects of our little excitement yesterday, Jerry, and that the soreness in our muscles will take our ambition away for to-day,” he said aside to his chum

”Tell her than Mr

Mabie thinks, let's you and I engineer a little hunt of our own?”

proposed the other quickly

Accordingly, they started out, going down the valley

”The ill do us good, anyhow,” declared Frank, ”even if we don't run across any big ga Mr Mabie about ion, though generally they hang out further east

I've alanted to get a moose, but was never able to be up in the woods where they are found, when the laas off How about you, Frank?