They washed up the supper dishes and sat in front of the shack on a bench where they could see the clear sky. The sounds of the woodland wild life which had so excited Breene that night before were ignored by him now. The mere fact that there was a building close by was sufficient to make him disregard everything but his own weariness.
“How often do you go down for supplies?” asked Bill.
“I never go down more than once or twice after the season opens,” replied Mollie. “I have a country storekeeper down the trail a piece who brings my supplies up. I think that it is time to turn in, as you boys must be tired. I have nothing to offer you but a couple of blankets. You can roll up in them either on the office floor or out here in the open. Take your choice.”
“I think that I will take the open air,” said Bill.
“I will, too,” remarked Breene.
It was not light the next morning when Mollie woke the two airmen. They were dead tired and slept well. Mollie had breakfast ready when they arose.
“Why didn’t you call us sooner so that we could have helped with breakfast?” asked Bill.
“You needed the sleep and I didn’t,” said Mollie. “You have a long hike ahead of you, while I haven’t.”
“Follow that trail all the way down the mountain,” said Mollie as she started them out after breakfast. “About the time that you reach Boulder Creek, the trail will widen considerably. You will probably meet someone from the Forest Supervisor’s office along about noon. Good luck to you.”
“Thanks for helping us out,” called Bill and they started down the ridge.