on it," said Boyd, "and Giant and me will
labor on our own house."

Will toiled all the day on the new stable, and he enjoyed the homely
work. Sometimes he filled in the deeper places in the floor with chunks
of dead wood and then heaped the leaves on top. When it was finished it
was all in such condition that the animals could occupy it without
danger, and he also set up a thick hedge of boughs about the entrance,
allowing only four or five feet for the doorway. Even if the snow should
be driving hard in that direction the animals would yet be protected.
Then he led them inside and barred them there for the night.

He was so much absorbed in his own task that he paid small heed to that
of the men, but he was enthusiastic when he took a little rest. They had
unpacked everything, and had put all the extra weapons and ammunition on
shelves in the stone. They had made three wooden stools and they had
smoothed a good place for cooking near the entrance, whence the smoke
could pass out. They had also cut great quantities of firewood which
they had stored along the sides of the cavern.

About nightfall the hunter shot an elk on the northern slope, and all
three worked far into the night at the task of cleaning and cutting up
the body, resolving to save every edible part for needs which might be
long. All of it was stored in the cavern or on the boughs of trees, and
leaving the horses to graze at their leisure on the grassy acres they
lay down on their blankets in the cavern and slept the sleep of the
little death, that is the sleep of exhaustion, without a dream or a
waking moment.

Will did not awake until the sun of dawn was shining in the cavern,
although it was at its best a somewhat obscure sun, and the dawn itself
was full of chill. When he went outside he found that heavy clouds were
floating above the mountains and masses of vapor hung low over the
valley, almost hiding the forest, which was thickest at the northern end
and the lake which cuddled against the western side.

"I look for a mighty storm, maybe a great snow," said Boyd. "All the
signs are here, but it may hang about for several days before coming,
and the more time is left before it hits the better for us. It was big
luck for us to find so deep a valley just when we did. Now, Will,
suppose you take the beasts out to pasture and by the time you get back
Giant and me will have breakfast ready."

Will found the horses and mules quite comfortable in the