We can spend the night here as well as anywhere." "What will Hank think, when he goes to camp to meet us ?" "I reckon he'll not be disappointed; besides, we can't be far from the place, and can look it up to-morrow." "I don't suppose it will hurt us to build a fire among these rocks and spend the night; but the air is pretty cool and we shall miss our blankets." "Old hunters like ourselves must become used to such things," complacently observed Jack, who began preparations at the same moment for carrying out his own proposal.

It was no trouble to find enough brush and wood to serve them, and they had brought such a goodly supply of matches from the ranch in their rubber safes that they soon had a vigorous fire going, over which they broiled their venison.
The meal of itself would not have been enjoyable at their home, for it was too "new," lacking a certain tenderness that forms one of its chief attractions.

Besides, it was unavoidably scorched in the preparation; but the mixed pepper and salt sprinkled over it improved the flavor.

But the great thing was their insatiate appetites, for it is a homely truth that there is no sauce like hunger.

So it came about that they not only made a nourishing meal, but had enough left to serve them in the morning.
It was fully dark when the repast was finished.