MacDonald mounted his horse and rode at a trot in the direction of the break in the mountain.
The sun had disappeared, but its reflection was still on the peaks; and after he had stripped and hobbled the horses Aldous took advantage of the last of day to scrutinize the plain and the mountain slopes through the telescope.

After that he found enough dry poles with which to set up the tepee, and about this he scattered the saddles and panniers, as MacDonald had suggested.

Then he cleared a space in the thick spruce, and brought to it what was required for their hidden camp.
It was almost dark when he completed the spruce and cedar lean-to for Joanne.

He knew that to-night they must build no fire, not even for tea; and when they had laid out the materials for their cold supper, which consisted of beans, canned beef and tongue, peach marmalade, bread bannock, and pickles and cheese, he went with Joanne for water to a small creek they had crossed a hundred yards away.

In both his hands, ready for instant action, he carried his rifle.