“Oh, jolly!” he ejaculated. “I never tasted anything so good in my life. Or was so warm on a winter night—outdoors!”
“You bet you never tasted anything so good—nor were so warm outdoors. Why, man, you’ve missed the best fun in life, if this is your first experience. How does it happen?”
“I’ve never done anything but work, and my work never took me into the woods, that’s all. I’ve looked at them longingly many a time, but—there was always something else to do. What a place this is! Of all places on earth to come to to-night this seems the best. It’s an old favourite camping spot of yours?”
“One of many. This is nearest—I can run to it when I haven’t time to get farther. Even so—I don’t manage it very often.”
“I’m sure you don’t!” Black’s eyes, in the firelight, looked across into Red’s. The moment the cookery was done Red had replenished both fires, and the two men now sat on two facing logs between them. “Your time is fuller than that of any man I ever knew,” Black added.
“Lots of busy men in the world.”
“I know. But your hours are fuller than their full hours because of what you do—your profession.”
“I do only what I have to do. But you—I wonder if you know it, Black—you’re a spendthrift!”
“What?” The explosive tone spoke amazement.
Red nodded. “I’ve been wanting to tell you for some time. Do you know you probably weigh about fifteen pounds less than you did when you came here? Keep that up, and you’ll be down to rock bottom.”