“If it isn’t Sam Crouch,” exclaimed Bill. “What are you doing down here? I thought that you were upon your clearing on the McKenzie.”
“I also have a shop down here,” replied Sam. “I am glad to see you again. How about a fishing trip? You can’t fly in this weather, and this rain will continue for several days. What do you say?”
“I am game,” said Bill. “How about you, Earl?”
“Nothing would suit me better,” said Earl.
“We couldn’t get away from here today, anyhow,” said Bill. “Let’s go into town and we will talk it over.”
They rode into town and Bill sent a wire telling where they had landed and that they were held up by bad weather. He ended it by saying that unless there was some urgent need for them back at Eugene, they would stay at Roseburg for a couple of days.
“The fires will be out by tomorrow,” said Bill. “They don’t need us now, and will not for a couple of days.”
“The lightning may start a few new ones,” said Earl. “However, no patrols can be made as long as it rains like this, and we will get back before they start in again. The weather man says that we are in for several days of rain.”
“Bring on your fish,” said Bill. “When do we start, Sam?”
“First thing in the morning,” replied Sam. “I will stop at the hotel for you. The salmon have started to run and we can get some salmon eggs for bait. We ought to have a wonderful trip. We will go up by the hatchery. I will see you in the morning. I have to go and round up some tackle.”