“You see it’s only when a dam or something like that is built away back that we can ring in a little of this work. We graft on the engineering enterprise and get some cement. Wherever you find construction work going on in the woods or mountains, you’ll find some tree doctoring going on; sort of by-product.”
“It gives you a good chance,” said Tom. “I suppose you go ahead of the men and mark the trees?”
“Yes, and half the time they don’t get around to the trees I mark.”
“You come from Buffalo?” Brent asked.
“Buffalo and all over. I chalked, I guess, five hundred trees up in that region. Ever been in the Great Lakes section?”
“No,” said Tom. “I saw a Buffalo imprint in your hat that you left⸺”
“Yes, I don’t wear one half the time; just let my hair grow long. A hat’s a blame nuisance climbing trees. I was wondering if you fellows could put me up here for a few days?”
“We sure could,” said Tom. “The place don’t belong to us; we’re just camping here.”
“Gulch, they call it—or Gully or something or other?”
“Rattlesnake Gulch,” said Tom. “Some name, huh?”