Homcsteading 



On entering, we found ourselves in a large room, 

 on one side of which was a desk or counter, where 

 the clerk was registering our fellow-travellers, and 

 while waiting our turn, we noticed the counter 

 was continued on the other side of a partition, 

 where it forms the counter of the bar. 



On our side of the partition, in the centre of 

 the room, stood a large stove, around which were 

 seated two or three men in blue jean or brown 

 canvas overalls ; others were seated along the side 

 of the room in similar dress. They sat with 

 their felt hats on and their legs stretched out ; 

 one or two were bearded, but the rest were clean- 

 shaven, and the faces of all were bronzed with 

 exposure to the sun and wind. 



The clerk told us he was so full he could only give 

 us a bed in a room with several others, an apart- 

 ment such as is known colloquially as "the ram 

 pasture." After our long journey, more privacy 

 would have been acceptable, but it was a case of 

 " Hobson's choice." 



The bell for supper, as the third and last meal 

 of the day is called, now rang ; the dining-room 

 door was opened, and following the crowd in, 

 we found ourselves seated at a small square table 

 side by side with a tall, dark-haired man, who, 

 though coatless and coUarless, silently, but 

 courteously, handed us sugar and milk. We had 



3$ 



