There was no yard; there were no fences.

Not the slightest effort had been made toward ornamentation.

It would be difficult to imagine a more lonely and cheerless abode.
Two men were seated on stools at the door, both in their shirt-sleeves, engaged in cleaning their rifles.

As the stranger rode up, one of the men rose and came forward to meet him.

He was dressed in very plain homespun attire, with a black fur cap upon his head.