“How come?” Sandy asked.

“Mike’s going to have a real problem to solve. How to portage around Cutthroat Rapids without doing any work.”

“Another portage,” groaned Mike.

“I wouldn’t advise trying to go through them,” Sandy remarked with a smile.

Mike grinned back at him. “Right!” he nodded. “There speaks a man of experience. Joe,” he said, suddenly changing the subject, “you ever been in the mountains above Mormon Crossing?”

“Sure, a couple of times.”

“What sort of country is it?”

“A lot wilder than what we’ve gone through. In places it gets above the timber line.”

“Good hunting?”

“The best. I can show you a rock bluff where you’ll see mountain goats every morning.”