Young Allen was extremely anxious to go, but the others were chosen on account of their experience with the work.

They found that Obed and the Panther had already done the most of it, and when it was all finished Fields and Carter started back with the three horses, heavily laden.

As the night promised to be mild, and the snow was gone, Ned, Obed and the Panther remained in the grove with the rest of their food supply.
They also wished to preserve the two buffalo robes, and they staked them out upon the ground, scraping them clean of flesh with their knives.
Then they lighted a fire and cooked as much of the tender meat as they wished.

By this time it was dark and they were quite ready to rest.

They put out the fire and raked up the beds of leaves on which they would spread their blankets.