"We found a dead man on the road last night. Nobody we knew."
He heard Norma and her husband catch their breaths quickly. Then the telephone rang and he was on his feet. Norm Boody was closer to the phone and answered it. The remainder of the group went on eating, but every ear was tuned to the conversation.
"Yes?"
He listened for a time, then said:
"I got a party of hunters who came in last night. They saw him on the road. We tried to call you but the wires were dead."
Then:
"Oh? So that was it. Okay, we'll keep an eye open. Haven't seen Bill, have you? He's coming in behind the plough? Good. We were worried about him."
"Telephone linemen came through this morning," he explained. "They picked up the body. That was Sheriff Walt Beardsly calling. He ain't blaming you boys. Says your tracks went right around the body. Says a bear must have mauled the guy. They found his gun in the ditch."
Earl Robinson said:
"Yea, that's what happened all right. Bill's okay, isn't he?"