The Dolores star., 1918-10-25

said again. "what arc you doing wan
dering around in the woods at nightf
Good Lord! Your teeth are chattering.
Sit down here and get warm. 1t is sort
of chilly"
Even in her fear born Of the night,
the circumstances, and partly of the
man, Hazel noticed that his speech was
of different order from that to which
she had been listening the past ten
days His ton was perfect.
He dropped no word endings. nor
slurred his syllables. And cast in SO
odd a mold Is the mind Of civilized
woman that the small matter Of little
refinement Of speech put Hazel Weir
explanation or protest on his part
would have done.
II got lost" she explained. growing
suddenly calm. II was out walking.
and lost my way"
"Ensy thing to do when you don't
know timber" Bill remarked "And in
consequence you haven't had any sup
per; you've been scared almost to
death-and probably all of Cariboo
Meadows Is out looking for you. Well,
you've had an adventure. That's worth
something. Better eat bite, and
you'll feel better"
He turned over the piece of meat on
the Goals while he spoke. Hazel saw
that 1t lay on two green sticks, like a
steak on gridiron. It was quite
simple, but she would never have
thought of that The meat exhaled
savory odors. Also, the warmth Of the
fire seemed good. But
I'D rather be honey she confessed.
"Surel I guess you would-natu-
rally. I'll see that you get there,
though it won't be easy. It's no snap
to travel these woods in the dark. You
couldn't have been so far from the
Meadows. How did II come you didn't
yell once in n while"
81 didn't think it was necessary"
Hazel admitted. until 1t began to get
dark. And then didn't like to-"
He dug some utensils out of his pack
layout-two plates. knife, fork and
spoons, and laid them by the fire. Op-
posite the meat pot Of water bubbled.
Roaring Bill produced a small tin
bucket, black with the smoke OF many
an open fire, and package. and make
coffee. Then he spread canvas sheet,
| and laid on that bread. butter, salt,
far of preserved fruit.
'How far is 1t to Carlboo Meadows7"
Hazel asked.
Bill looked up from his supper prep
| arations.
You've got me-" he returned care
lessly. Probably four or five miles.
I'm not positive; I've been running In
circles myself this afternoon"
Good heavensI" Hazel exclaimed.
But you know the wayr
Like n book-in the daytime" he
replied. But night In the timber is
another story, as you've just been find
ing out for yourself"
81 thought men accustomed to the
wilderness could always find their way
about, day or night" Hazel observed
tartly.
"They can-in stories." Bill an
swered dryly.
She had to be satisfied with his as
surance that he would see her to Carl
boo Meadows. And, accepting the stu
alton with what philosophy she could
command. Hazel proceeded to fall to
and soon discovered herself relishing
the food more than any meal she had
eaten for long time. Hunger is the
king Of appetizers, and food cooked in
the open has favor Of its own which
no aproned chef can duplicate. Roar
Ing Bill put half the piece of meat on
her plate. sliced bread for her, and set
the butter handy. Also, he poured her
cup Of coffee. He had small sack
of sugar, and his pack boxes yielded
condensed milk.
what sort of meat is that?" Hazel
asked after a few minutes of silence.
1t was fine-grained and of a rich fla
vor strange to her mouth. She liked
1t, but 1t was neither beef. pork nor
mutton, nor any meat she knew.
"Vcnison. Didn't you ever eat any
before" he smiled.
"Never tasted It," she answered.
isn't it nice? No, I've read of hunters
cooking venison over an open fire, hut
this Is my first taste. Indeed, I've
never seen a real camp fire before"
"Lord-what lot you've missed!"
There was real pity In his tone. 81
killed that deer today. Have some
more coffee"
He refilled her tin cup and devoted
himself to his food. Before long they
had satisfied their hunger. Bill laid
a few dry sticks on the fire. The flames
laid hold of them and shot up in bright,
wavering tongues. 1t seemed to Hazel
that she had stepped utterly out Of her
world. CariboO Meadows, the school
house. and her classes seemed remote.
She found herself wishing she were a
man, so that she could fare into the
wllds with horses and gun In this
capable man fashion, where routine
went by the board and the unexpected
lowered always close at hand. She
looked up suddenly, to find him regard