Bed rolls lay scattered under the trees, saddles had been thrown
over fallen trunks, bags of provisions hung from saplings, cooking
utensils flanked the smouldering remains of a fire which was, however,
surrounded by a scraped circle of earth after the careful fashion of the
mountains. Bob's eye, by now practised in the refinements of such
matters, ran over the various accoutrements thus spread abroad. He
estimated the number of their owners at about a score. The bedroll of
the cowman, the "turkey" of the lumber jack, the quilts of the
mountaineer, were all in evidence; as well as bedding plainly makeshift
in character, belonging to those who must have come from a distance. A
half-dozen horses dozed in an improvised fence-corner corral. As many
more were tied to trees. Saddles, buckboards, two-wheeled carts, and
even one top buggy represented the means of transportation.
Bob rode on through the gate to headquarters.. This he found deserted,
except for Amy Thorne. She was engaged in wiping the breakfast dishes,
and she excitedly waved a towel at the young man as he rode up.
"A godsend!" she cried.
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