wn. The
donkey engines had been roughly housed in; the machinery protected; all
things prepared against the heavy Sierra snows. Only the three
caretakers were left to inhabit a warm corner. Throughout the winter
these men would shovel away threatening weights of snow and see to the
damage done by storms. In order to keep busy they might make shakes, or
perhaps set themselves to trapping fur-bearing animals. They would use
_skis_ to get about.

For a month after coming down from the mountain, Bob stayed at Auntie
Belle's. There were a number of things to attend to on the lower levels,
such as anticipating repairs to flumes, roads and equipment,
systematizing the yard arrangements, and the like. Here Bob came to know
more of the countryside and its people.

He found this lower, but still mountainous, country threaded by roads;
rough roads, to be sure, but well enough graded. Along these roads were
the ranch houses and spacious corrals of the mountain people. Far and
wide through the wooded and brushy foothills roamed the cattle, seeking
the forage of the winter range that a summer's absence in the high
mountains had saved for them. Bob used often to "tie his horse to the
ground" and enter for a chat with these people. Harbouring some vague
notions of Southern "crackers," he was at first considerably surprised.
The houses were in general well built and clean, even though primitive,
and Bob had often occasion to notice excellent books and magazines.
There were always plenty of children of all sizes. The young women were
usually attractive and blooming. They insisted on hospitality; and Bob
had the greatest difficulty in persuading them that he stood in no
immediate need of nourishment. The men repaid cultivation. Their ideas
were often faulty because of insufficient basis of knowledge: but, when
untinged by prejudice, apt to be logical. Opinions were always positive,
and always existent. No phenomenon, social or physical, could come into
their ken without being mulled over and decided upon. In the field of
their observations were no dead facts. Not much given to reception of
contrary argument or idea they were always eager for new facts. Bob
found himself often held in good-humoured tolerance as a youngster when
he advanced his opinion; but listened to thirstily when he could detail
actual experience or knowledge. The head of the house held patriarchal
sway until the grown-up children were actually ready to leave the
pate