to prepare our supper in his kitchen, and as it was late
and wood was scarce, we were glad to accept. He bustled about helping
us, adding such dainties as fresh milk, butter, and eggs to our menu.
He is a rather stout little man, with merry gray eyes and brown hair
beginning to gray. He wore a red shirt and blue overalls, and he wiped
his butcher's knife impartially on the legs of his overalls or his
towel,--just whichever was handiest as he hurried about cutting our
bacon and opening cans for us.

Mrs. O'Shaughnessy and he got on famously. After supper, while she and
Elizabeth washed the dishes, she asked him why he didn't get married
and have some one to look after him and his cabin.

"I don't have time," he answered. "I came West eighteen years ago to
make a start and a home for Jennie and me, but I can't find time to go
back and get her. In the summer I have to hustle to make the hay and
grain, and I have to stay and feed the stock all the rest of the
time."

"You write her once in a while, don't you?" asked Mrs. O'Shaughnessy.

"Yes," he said, "I wrote her two years ago come April; then I was so
busy I didn't go to town till I went for my year's supplies. I went to
the post office, and sure enough there was a letter for me,--been
waitin' for me for six months. You see the postmaster knows me and
never would send a letter back. I set down there right in the office
and answered it. I told her how it was, told her I was coming after
her soon as I could find time. You see, she refuses to come to me
'cause I am so far from the railroad, and she is afraid of Indians and
wild animals."

"Have you got your answer?" asked Elizabeth.

"No," he said, "I ain't had time yet to go, but I kind of wish
somebody would think to bring the mail. Not many people pass here,
only when the open season takes hunters to the mountains. When you
people come back will you stop and ask for the mail for me?"

We promised.

In the purple and amber light of a new day we were about, and soon
were on the road. By nightfall we had bidden the desert a glad
farewell, and had camped on a large stream among trees. How glad we
were to see so much water and such big cottonwoods! Mr. and Mrs.
Burney were within a day's drive of home, so they left us. This camp
is at Newfork, and our party has four new members: a doctor, a
moving-picture man, and two geological fellows. They have gone on, but
we will join them soon.

Just across the creek from u