THE CONTENT OF QUIET DAYS 



Thursday, October the first. 



William and Art, under the guidance of Jay and Earl 

 Counter, the new guide and packer who came into camp on 

 Monday night, being bent on a try for elk, the camp was early 

 astir, in spite of heavy fog and a feel of approaching rain in the 

 air. 



At breakfast, Art to the artist spoke thusly: "I want to 

 apologize to you for reaching across you. I've done it several 

 times before, and expect to do it again several times more, so I 

 want this apology to stand for all the time we are in camp." 

 This comprehensive forestalling of camp life abruptness created 

 a general laugh. 



Rain came during the forenoon and a heavy fog after the 

 departure of the hunters. Jay and William came back about 

 1 :30 reporting nothing. A good day for a blazing fire and indoor 

 diversion. Fred's hounds were yawning their heads off. Art 

 and Counter returned upon noon. Counter reporting having 

 seen the fore end of a bull and the after end of a cow elk. 



A sunny afternoon, and William and Jay down the valley 

 prospecting for elk, and Fred to set a couple of bear traps, some 

 distance from camp. 



Baldy was more splendid than ever in late afternoon, with 

 its northeastern side in the shadow, a great flash of sun on its 

 southern shoulder, cloud shadows lying violet upon its lower 

 forests, the valley below golden in the haze of Indian summer 

 barred with the long cast shadows of sentinel pines. A camp 

 robber (Colorado magpie) with plumage flashing iridescent blue 

 and violet in the sun, was desperately interested in the artist's 

 sketch and on the branch of a convenient tree behind him crit- 

 icised his painting with the utmost freedom. 



On sundown, the artist, desirous of riding down the valley, 

 looking for the black Indian pony he had so far been riding, 

 put a halter on, took the hobbles from, brought into camp and 

 saddled up a horse of corresponding color, ridden by Fred, no- 

 toriously difficult to mount. Under the artist's gentling and 



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