Part 1 (2/2)
”Aint no cabin on this trail short of Hank Leeson's place, twenty et that far I reckon we can ht?” asked Darry with interest
”At the Star Hotel--if the sky is clear,” said Sah at what he considered his little joke
”You mean in the open, under the stars!” cried the boy; and, as the old scout nodded, he went on: ”That will be nice I've been wanting to caular trapper style ever since we left Riverton”
”So have I,” put in Joe Moore ”But I don't know as I care to caet soaked”
”If it rains we'll find some kind of shelter,” answered Benson ”But coht while it lasts,” and he urged his steed forward, and the two boys did the saap in the Rocky Mountains, where the so-called valley was broken up by tiny water-courses, walls of rock, and dense patches of forest and underbrush It was reen growing things Deep in the forest the song-birds sang gayly and the wild aniet at them in those vast fastnesses was next to impossible
The party of three had left the town of Riverton four days before They were bound for Fort Carson,--so nahter,--and Saes of importance to Colonel Fairfield, the commandant at the fort
Joe Moore and Darry Germain were cousins, and both were boys of sixteen, well built and well trained in outdoor athletic sports Joe caraduated froh school but a feeeks before
It hile Darry was spending a brief vacation with his cousin Joe that a plan for visiting the fort was forraduate and a captain at the fort, and he wrote on stating that he had received permission to have Joe visit him, and Darry could come too if he desired Colonel Fairfield was an old friend of both families, and promised to treat the lads well should they !” Joe had cried ”Of course you'll go, Darry We couldn't have a grander outing”
”I'll go if father and mother will let me,” had been Darry's answer, and he had at once written ho the affair Teeks later the boys were off, the parents of each cautioning the them the best of luck
The journey ard as far as the -town of Riverton had occurred without special incident They had been told to hire a guide at this point, and while looking for a man had fallen in with Sam Benson Benson knew Captain Willia with hiood hosses,” Benson had said, and had aided theether the necessary outfit
The start was ust, and all three of the party were in the best of spirits
The four days in thehad been rather hard, yet they had enjoyed every minute of the journey They had stopped once to do soht down a sht they had put up at the cabins of hunters and trappers, and before retiring had listened to thrilling tales of adventures ild beasts and with the Indians
But now Joe was anxious to get to the fort and see his brother, from whom he had been separated for nearly two years Darry was also anxious to reach the outpost, to meet not only his cousin William, but likewise Colonel Fairfield, as an old friend not easily forgotten Once at the fort the two boys felt that a vacation full of fun and pleasure would follow Never once did they dreaion, which was not as civilized as it was to becorowing hotter,” re a quarter of ahotter,” answered the old scout ”And that makes me more certain than ever that a storm's at hand”
”We'll have to take what comes,” said Joe ”But I did hope we'd reach the fort by to-morrow”
On they went, around a bend of the trail and over soh rocks, where the horses had to step with care, for fear of slipping into a gully on the left Then they reached a patch of ti trees Here it was both dark and cool, and Darry breathed a long sigh of relief
”How delicious!” heinto a cave
Benson, there must be lots of caves in these mountains,” he went on reflectively
”There are,” answered the old scout ”I've been in a score orcave,” caet the chance, lad,” said Benson; ”and get it soon”