At last, as the sun was setting in the west, they came out of the yellow pines into a big open meadow, through which Paulina Creek flowed on its way down the mountain, making the grass rich and green. Here Mr. Vreeland turned in. The horses were watered at the stream and then hobbled (hobbles are just leather bands like handcuffs put around their forelegs, so they can move around to feed, but cannot wander far away). On the edge of the meadow, near the brook but under the pines, camp was made, by the simple process of building a fire and spreading the blankets on level spots of dry ground. While Mr. Vreeland and Tom, the horse rustler, were cooking supper, the rest went to the creek for a bath. The water was icy cold, but, as Bennie said, it was softer to sit on than a saddle.
After supper they gathered around the fire for a while, in the cold mountain air of night, while Mr. Vreeland told bear stories. The four dogs lay sleeping close to them, one of them, old Ben, Mr. Vreeland’s pet, with a muzzle snuggled against his side.
But before long he ordered them to bed.
“I’ll get you up before the sun,” he said. “That’s the only time to start after bears. Their tracks are fresh then, and the dogs can follow ’em.”
In spite of their saddle soreness, and the bare ground they were sleeping on, the boys rolled up in their blankets, without undressing, and were soon fast asleep. There is nothing like riding a horse in the mountains to make you slumber!
“Golly, doesn’t seem as if I’d more’n dropped off,” said Bennie, sitting up and rubbing his eyes when he was awakened by the voice of Mr. Vreeland.
“I don’t care what becomes of ol’ bear. I’m goin’ sleep some more,” mumbled Dumplin’, drawing his blankets tighter about his neck and rolling over on the other side.
“Yes, you are!” yelled Spider and Bennie, grabbing the blankets and rolling him suddenly out of them.
It was still dark in the woods, with a dim, gray light over the open meadow. They could scarcely see the horses, which they heard feeding and thumping about on hobbled feet. Tom had the fire going, and soon there was the welcome smell of coffee. After the coffee, everybody felt more awake, the light increased, the trunks of the trees began to emerge from the gloom, and Tom and Mr. Vreeland rounded up the horses and began to saddle.
“Well, son,” said Mr. Vreeland to Bennie, “how about that gun today? You’re going to ride some pretty rough country, and she’ll get heavy.”