OCR Text |
Show 58 Cap looked smug. "We're going to be mountain men, Mr. Raintree. We want to live free off the land-like you." This brought a grunt and a searching look from the old man. Slowly he massaged his bushy chin, studying them. "I'm not sure you fellows understand how it is, up here living alone. Don't you have any folks who're worried about you?" They hung their heads. "Aw, that's not really why we came," Josh admitted. He motioned to Chinook, who was behaving himself by lying with his head under Josh's chair. '"It's him, Chinook." Then he told of all the trouble the dog was in during the past week. "Some people want to put him in the dog pound, some want me to keep him on a chain, and one man even wants to shoot him. Y'see, we can't go back to Jericho, Mr. Raintree." Making a wry face, the old man shook his head. "I see. Yes, that is serious, isn't it?" He leaned back to study the dog. "Hmmm, but I don't see a sheep killer in those eyes. Some mischievousness, yes, but not much bad character, Mr. Chinook." As the sizzle of the fish began to be accompanied by smoke, the old man hurried to keep their lunch from burning. That done, he stood staring out the window over the meadow, lost in thought. The smells of the fish and potatoes frying made Josh's stomach growl. The cookies that morning had not filled him. Finally Mr. Raintree brought the noon meal. With biscuits and honey, and water from the stream to drink, the fish, fried potatoes, and vegetables tasted like a banquet to Josh, who had not eaten a real meal since the day before. |