He straightened up and stared at Bud
unblinkingly for a few seconds.
"Howdy, howdy," he greeted him then with tentative
friendliness, and went on with his work. "You lost?" he added
carefully. A man walking down out of the barren hills, and
carrying absolutely nothing in the way of camp outfit, was enough
to whet the curiosity of any one who knew that country. At the
same time curiosity that became too apparent might be extremely
unwelcome. So many things may drive a man into the hills--but
few of them would bear discussion with strangers.
"Yes. I am, and I ain't." Bud came up and stood with his hands
in his coat pockets, and watched the old fellow start his fire.
"Yeah--how about some supper? If you am, and you ain't as
hungry as you look--"
"I'll tell the world I am, and then some. I ain't had a square
meal since yesterday morning, and I grabbed that at a quick-lunch
joint. I'm open to supper engagements, brother."
"All right. There's a side of bacon in that kyack over there.
Get it out and slice some off, and we'll have supper before you
know it. We will," he added pessimistically, "if this dang brush
will burn."
Bud found the bacon and cut according to his appetite. His host
got out a blackened coffeepot and half filled it with water from
a dented bucket, and balanced it on one side of the struggling
fire.
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