“Well, that’s great.”

Hashknife sat down on the steps and rolled a smoke.

“Is there much deer huntin’ around here in the fall?” he asked.

“Not very close,” said Dawn. “The boys go back about fifteen miles. They get quite a lot.”

“Plenty grouse, eh?”

“Quite a few; Peter kills lots of them.”

“It’s a lot of fun, if you’ve got a shotgun,” said Hashknife.

“Peter uses a twenty-two rifle,” said Dawn.

“Uh-huh.” Hashknife did not look at Sleepy. He had found out that the Conley family owned a .22.

They did not stay long. Mrs. Conley was sleeping, and Hashknife realized that Dawn wanted to be with her father.