Chapter III

OBED GRIMES BOBS UP

“Howdy, strangers!” said the other, as he slowly approached the spot where Max and his three chums still sat around the fire, feasting on their spread.  “I happened to see yer blaze, and guessed I’d drop in to see who yah might be.  ’Taint often anybody comes up this way, though to be sure thar was two gentlemen fishin’ hereabouts last summer.”

Somehow Max liked his manner of speech.  He also thought he could detect something like a love for humor in those sparkling eyes.

“Sit down, and have a bite with us, won’t you?” he remarked, making a suggestive movement with his hand, as though calling attention to the fact that there was still plenty of room on the log which he and Toby Jucklin had occupied in common.  “Sorry the trout’s given out, but we’ve got plenty of other grub, and be sure you’re welcome.”

The sturdy woods boy was looking them over.  Bandy-legs, suspicious as usual, rather took umbrage at this action.  He eyed the newcomer as though not yet quite willing to echo the warm invitation accorded him by Max.  But Steve was already getting an extra tin-cup for coffee; and fortunately there still remained an abundant supply of the amber fluid in the capacious pot.

Apparently the newcomer had determined that it would be prudent for him to comply with the invitation thus cordially given.  So he sat down and made himself at home.  Up there in the woods there exists a genuine hospitality that never hesitates to extend the right hand of fellowship to any straggler who chances to enter the camp.  There seems to be something in the healthy ozone of the wilderness that makes all men comrades for the time being.  The latchstring is always out in camp; and never does an appeal for help go disregarded.

Max proceeded to immediately introduce himself and his three chums by name.  He of course mentioned the fact that they came from a town named Carson, situated far away from that region; but then of course the woods boy could never have heard of such a place before.  Still, his eyebrows arched, and he seemed to once again observe his entertainers with fresh interest; but then when Max Hastings chose to exert himself to make a favorable impression every one fell under his spell.

And when Bandy-legs, Toby and Steve noticed that Max did not think fit to say a single word about the queer mission which had brought them to the mountains they too concluded that it would be just as well not to be too hasty about telling all their business to a stranger.  A little later on, perhaps, when they came to become better acquainted with the other, they might ply him with questions in order to find out if he chanced to know such a weakly looking fellow as Roland Chase.

Of course after that it was up to the other to tell them whom he was.  He did not have any hesitation, from which Steve concluded there could be no reason for keeping his identity a secret.