“Dawson says that the lookout has reported a fire over on the north edge of our district. He does not think that I know enough about sheep to handle the job here alone and wants me to leave that to you and go look up that hanged fire.”
“Then I suppose I shall have to sit on that fence all day and count sheep while you take a little ride for your health,” Heth growled with well-feigned disgust.
“I wish you had my job,” Scott complained. “I’ve fought a good many fires, but I’ve never seen two thousand sheep in my life. Well, I’ll hustle all I can and I may get back in time to see some of it.”
Scott ran down to the corral again to finish saddling Jed and soon came clattering back to the cabin door. Heth was just coming out in a big hurry. All signs of dallying had disappeared. “Have you got that tally register?” he called.
Scott pulled it out of his pocket, Heth snatched it and started for his horse.
“How is the best way to get over there?” Scott called after him, “the Knobcone trail?”
“Yes,” Heth called back without stopping, “Knobcone and turn to the left.”
“If he’d been in half as much of a hurry a while ago,” Scott growled, “we would have been gone before that ’phone message came.”
He rode off doggedly along the ridge and turned off into the Knobcone trail. That was the only trail in the district of any length that he had not been over, but he had his map and did not anticipate any trouble in following it. Most of the trails had been well built, were in good condition and were plainly marked. The trail rose steadily and kept him from making as good time as he had hoped. Knobcone mountain towered high above him and three miles ahead when he came to an unmarked fork in the trail.
“Of course,” Scott thought, “the only unmarked fork on the forest because I am in a hurry and do not know this country.” He pulled out his map. No such fork appeared. He could see the trail he was on leading straight away up the steep slope to the peak and his first impulse was to follow it, for he was sure that he could see all the north country from there. But Heth had said to take the trail to the left. Possibly it circled the peak and would bring him out on the north side without the climb. In that case it would undoubtedly be quicker; and that decided him.