The boys were lazy about rising the next morning, and when they got up they saw Hugh sitting by the fire smoking, and noticed that the brilliant sunlight which was cut off from the camp by the great mountain that rose to the east of them, was slowly creeping down the ice field across the valley. It was late.
“Why, Hugh,” said Jack, “I guess I was more tired than I thought. I slept right through, and I had no idea it was as late as this.”
“Yes,” said Hugh, “it’s pretty late. I’ve had breakfast cooked for two or three hours, and I reckon you’ll find everything pretty well dried up when you get to eating; but no matter about that, the grub is ready for you; are you ready for it?”
“I’ll be ready in about five minutes,” said Jack, as he hurried down to the little stream where they had scraped out a pool where the water had collected and which made a very good place for washing their hands and faces. Presently they were all at breakfast and enjoying their food, even if it was dried up.
After Hugh had washed the dishes, he said, “Now, boys, I’m going over to the other side of the creek there to look at the horses and see how they’re getting along, and I’ll be back in two or three hours. Anybody that wants to go with me can, and anybody that wants to stay here can stay.”
“I’ll go,” said Joe, “if you won’t make me climb over that ice.”
“No,” laughed Hugh, “I promise not to take you on to the ice, but I want to see how those horses are making out over there, and if there’s plenty of feed for them. They seemed to be well satisfied this morning.”
“I don’t believe I’ll go,” Jack said. “My eyes hurt me a little, and I think I’ll just sit here in camp, and then if I get tired of doing that I’ll take a little walk up the valley.”
CHAPTER XIX
A FOUR-FOOTED HUNTER
HUGH and Joe started off to look at the horses, while Jack stayed in camp and watched the mountains, and noticed how their shadows grew shorter and shorter as the sunlight crept toward the place where he was sitting.