"Don't mention that bunk again, Dale. I can smell the mustiness yet."
But, though the bed was soft, sleeping, with the rumble of the train in their ears, was not so easy, and Dale lay awake for a good hour, listening to the toot-toot of the locomotive, the grinding of car wheels, and the sharp clack-clack as they sped over some intersecting tracks. He wondered what he would do if there was a wreck, and how he could save himself if the car rolled completely over, or if it took fire from the dimly burning lights in the aisle. And then tired Nature at last claimed her own, and lying back to back with Owen, he dropped off and slept as soundly as anybody.
When the young lumbermen arose and went to the lavatory to wash up, they found nobody stirring but the porter and an old ranchman, who was sitting in the smoking section, puffing steadily at his corncob pipe.
"Couldn't sleep nohow," said the ranchman, between his puffs. "Aint used to it, an' it's wuss nor trying to sleep in the saddle on a broncho. Next time I travel, I'm going to stop off for my rest."
The train had stopped at Omaha late the evening before and was now approaching Denver. By the time the other passengers were up and dressed they ran into the outskirts of the city, and here another dining car was hooked on to the train, the other having been left behind the evening before. The train stopped for twenty minutes at Denver, and the young lumbermen got off and stretched their legs by a walk along the station platform.
"I'm sorry we can't stop and look this city over," remarked Owen. "Jack Giles, the lumberman, was out here once, and he liked it very much. Said the air was the finest he had ever breathed."
"The air certainly is pure," said Dale, taking in a deep breath.
Soon they were on the train again and rushing forward. The prairie levels became less frequent and the train had often to climb the steep grade of a mountain. The scenery became wilder and wilder, and the young lumbermen could scarcely take their eyes from it. They were offered books and newspapers to read, but declined both.
"We can read any time," said Owen. "But a fellow sees this seldom, if ever. I'm going to take it in for all it's worth," and he did, hardly taking time to eat his meals.
At Denver they were joined by an elderly man who told them, during the course of a conversation, that he was in the employ of the United States Government, being attached to the Bureau of Forestry. He became much interested in the young lumbermen when he found that they were from Maine, and asked numerous questions concerning the trees and timber in that State.