Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-05

T0T seemed to the tired boy that he had
1871 slept scarcely an hour when loud
kMAA voice reused him.
SdET&5I Come boys, turn out!
Is.ssszY 1t was the cook, and breakfast
was nearly ready.
Rob rose from the berth, where he had Slept
with only his hat, his blouse and his boots re-
moved, his mind in a bewildered state.
The men were talking and laughing bolster-
ously, some of them washing their hands and
faces at rude wooden sink, Others pulling on
their thick boots, and one and all in great
hurry.
Rocky Mountain sat upon a deacon seat,
smoking a cigar-a thing scarcely ever seen in
a lumber camp. He had exchanged his once
white shirt for "a wooden one, his tlght-httlng
trousers for a pair of coarse gray ones OF a
baggy cut, and looked like a much stouter and
different being altogether.
'Well, Rob-" he said, as the boy crept over
the deacon-seat, Chow do you feel this morn
ing? How did you sleepY
The woe-begone look of Rob was a sufficient
answer, and the man added hastily, before the
boy had time to speak:
6Never mind; few days will brace you up.
Get ready for breakfast as soon as you can.
Across the end of the camp furthest from
the door ran table, or rather two tables,
with a passageway between, with rough seats
before and behind them. Tin plates and TIN
clippers were upon the tables, and the men
took their places with much rude noise and
iostling which Jared upon the nerves OF Rob,
while the cook began to unearth the hidden
bean pot.
He dug the ashes carefully away from the
kettle, the bail of which had been left upright.
This he grasped with both hands, and with
considerable exertion of strength raised the
heavy kettle. Then he brushed the remaining
ashes from the cover, which he removed with
rich, steamy odor arose from the beans,
which had been thoroughly cooked or smooth
cred during the night. They were ladled out
into a tin pan and placed upon the table, and
hot bread. cooked in the ovens before the fire,
"i The men ate heartily and drank the strong
tea with never a fear of running either diges-
ton or complexiens.
| II was vet dark out of doors, but shortly
| gravish light appeared Then all was hustle.
The horses were taken from the log novels
and attached to the bobsleds, the men, with
axes over their shoulders and lot of bread
and boiled meat in meal-bags-for they were
Ito take their dinners away IRON the camp
filed off in the semi darkness.
The teams started away with jingling chains
and creaking sleds over the rough roads, and
Rob, heartsick and weary, trudged along be
side Rocky, a heavy axe upon his shoulder,
miserable feeling of wretchedness pervading
Mr., Mountains spirits were jubilant, for,
while the boy had tasted scarcely any food, he
had partaken heartily Of it. As they moved
along. he sang and whistled, initiating all sorts
If real and Imaginary birds and animals, and
gave vent to his feelings in a series of whoops
and wells that would have delighted the heart
of Piute Indian.
II was broad daylight when they reached
the scene of labor, two miles from the camp.
They pr hosed with T snd
block, and then the labors of the day com
menoed.
Men began chopping down the tall spruce
frees that stood amid the hardwood growth
the punches of thick, black growth being re-
served for cutting when the snow came deep.
CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE