The Land of Lure: A Story of the Columbia River BasinSmith, Elliott
General
The Land of Lure: A Story of the Columbia River Basin
Smith, Elliott
Frontier and pioneer life -- Fiction; Northwest, Pacific -- Fiction
"These," he said, "have been my only resting place for many long weeks
during the harvest season just passed, and I rather enjoy the prospect
of another night tucked comfortably away in their folds."
Earl Stevens, who during this time had been busily unlacing and removing
his leather leggins and removing his outer garments, was now ready to
retire, and with the remark, "Any port in a storm," he rolled over to
the side next to the wall and crawled beneath the cover.
Dugan, after asking Norton if he could be of any assistance to him, in
preparing his bed, and upon Jacks assurance that he could manage it
alone, soon joined Stevens.
Jack Norton, after putting out the light and bidding his guests
good-night, was soon snoring contentedly. If they were not comfortable,
restless or his snoring disturbed them, Jack was unaware of the fact,
for he did not awake the following morning until the sun was well up.
When he arose and went to the one small window with which his house was
provided, and drawing back the piece of calico that Miss Anderson had
neatly hemmed and with which she had presented him as a part of his
furnishings, the room was filled with sunlight. His guests were sleeping
soundly and were not awakened until the noise made by filling the stove
with sagebrush aroused them.
Jack lighted the fire and asked them if they were ready to get up. Dugan
immediately arose and after dressing, followed Norton out to the bench,
where he was provided with a brimming basin of ice cold water with which
to bathe his face. Jack laughingly told him "The ice water was another
reminder of his trip to Alaska."
Stevens, who soon followed, was also provided with this primitive means
of performing his morning ablution, and seemed much refreshed after its
completion. Upon being asked as to how they had rested, both he and
Dugan replied, "Splendidly."
Norton realized that breakfast was probably awaiting their arrival at
the Gully home and not wishing to cause any additional delay, pointed
out Gully's house, and asked his guests if they would mind going there
alone as he had some chores to do, before he could come, but would
follow as quickly as possible.
There being no objections to this, Dugan and Stevens left in the
direction of Gully's. Jack Norton watched their departure for a few
moments. He had made up his mind from the first that he did not like
young Stevens but had decided that Dugan was a good sort, and was
anxious to have an opportunity to know him better, and to hear of his
experience while in Alaska. Going into the house, he straightened out
the interior and supplying himself with pencils and paper for his use
during the day, followed his guests to Gully's.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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