now lighted it and began to smoke. Mr. Allen knew that there would be
no more stories that day, so, bidding good-bye to the old man, he
suggested to the boys that they make a start for the Park. After a last
drink from the cool, bubbling spring, they turned up the gulch, and were
soon lost from view.

"Well, I hope you'll find explorin' a plenty, young fellers," called Dad.
"Keep yer eye peeled fer pole-cats. They's powerful friendly to strangers
in these parts."

CHAPTER VII

A Wilderness Camp

As the little party climbed upward on the gulch trail, they were
discussing Dad and what they knew of his life. Each boy telling little
stories and incidents that he had heard concerning the old man. Willis
lagged behind, and did not seem to be particularly interested in the
conversation.

"Well, old man, what are you so glum about?" inquired Ham. "One would
think you had been to a funeral instead of chatting with the most
humorous of old mountaineers. You aren't getting weak in the knees
already, are you?"

Mr. Allen came to the rescue.

"No, Ham, he's just like me--busy thinking of the really admirable
qualities of the old man. You would have to hunt a long, long time these
days before you would find another such old timer as Dad. He has lived a
rough life all his days. He has been knocked about from pillar to post
for ninety long years. Just think of the store of experience that is
gathered into that one life--frontiersman, cattle man, freighter,
prospector, business man, soldier, and philosopher. Through all his
disappointments, hardships, and discouragements he has still remained a
decided optimist, always happy and cheerful, and is a veritable sage when
it comes to good, common horse-sense. I'd rather take Dad's opinion of a
man than any one's I know of in this world. It wouldn't be in polished
English, but it would be shrewd and just."

From up the valley there came several long, heavy thuds. They soon
reached the point where the valley widened out and the underbrush
disappeared to give place to a splendid growth of tall, clean Douglas
spruce. Somewhere back in the timber a woodsman was chopping.

As the trail wound in and out among the great tree trunks, the party soon
came to a little clearing on which was pitched a small tent. Close beside
it a little spring trickled out of a fissure in the rocks. At the far
side of the tent, with his back to the approaching group, worked a man.
He was engaged in ch