He was still playing when Anne warned her companions that a man had just stepped out of the cornfield and was coming into camp.
The Overlanders got up, wondering who their caller might be.
"Evenin', folks," greeted the stranger, who was of the same gaunt, razor-faced type that they had come in contact with on other occasions on this journey.
"Good evening," answered the Overland Riders pleasantly.
"We have just finished supper, but won't you sit down and have a snack ?" asked Grace.

"There is some meat and coffee left." "Reckon Ah will, thankee." The caller sat down, tucked his red handkerchief under his chin, hitched his revolver holster back a little further, leaned over and sniffed at his heaping plate of bear meat, then fell to with a will.

"He ate as if he had had nothing to eat for a fortnight," as Emma confided to Anne Nesbit.

Washington made a fresh pot of coffee for him.
"Reckon this 'ere's as fine a piece o' beef as Ah ever stowed," observed the guest, rolling his eyes up to the assembled Riders.
"It isn't beef.

It's--" began Emma, but quickly subsided as Anne pinched her warningly.
"It's what ?" demanded the caller.
"Codfish!" answered Emma lamely.
The stranger shrugged his shoulders and resumed his eating.
"Ahem!" said Hippy by way of clearing his throat.