“Ugh,” grunted Deerfoot. He asked no more questions and merely shook his head in token that he did not understand.
The three friends were seated under a large oak tree. The time was mid-afternoon and they were enjoying the warm sunshine and the fine June weather. It was a lazy day and the three volunteers felt lazy themselves. They had done nothing for so long they had acquired the habit of being idle. At the same time the inaction was not entirely to their liking, as was evidenced by their conversation.
“I wish something would happen,” yawned Robert. “I must say I’m bored.”
As he finished speaking a man was seen approaching on horseback. This was not an unusual sight in itself, but when time hangs heavy on one’s hands almost anything is of interest. The three friends sat up and watched the horseman as he came near.
“Why, it’s John Mason!” exclaimed Joseph suddenly. “Where do you suppose he has been?”
“He’ll probably tell us in a couple of minutes,” said Robert, rising to his feet.
Mason rode straight to the tree where the three men were and quickly dismounted. He shook hands heartily all around and was accorded a most enthusiastic welcome. Innumerable questions were asked of him by the two brothers, but he made no attempt to answer them at that time. “You two boys are regular interrogation points,” he exclaimed laughingly. “Just give me a chance to catch my breath and I’ll try to reply to some of your questions.”
“Have you been in any more fights?” demanded Robert.
“I should say I had.”
“Tell us about it quick,” Robert insisted, but Joseph restrained him.