292 SADDLE AND CAMP 



night unless you are quite familiar with the 



»i 



country 



"I've never been here before." 



"Then, sir, you could scarcely hope to find 

 the ranch in the darkness with any directions 

 I might give you." 



"Could I get accommodations for the night 

 for myself and pony with you or probably at 

 some ranch?" 



"No one here, sir, accommodates strangers 

 at night." 



At this juncture a gruff voice within shouted: 

 "He kin bunk with me." 



"One of my neighbors who is paying me a 

 call," said the clerical gentleman, "offers you 

 accommodations, sir, with him." 



A tall, powerfully built man joined us. He 

 was rough in appearance and a real frontier 

 type. 



"Yep," said he, "I'm bachin' over here. Glad 

 t' have you." 



As we walked over and I led Button to a lit- 

 tle log cabin not far away, I inquired, "Are 

 you one of the dominie's parishioners?" 



"What's them?" he asked. 



"Do you attend his church?" 



"Nope. Don't go to no church. I ain't much 

 on churches and religion." 





