Two of them were rifles, of which one was much longer than the other: the third piece was a double-barrelled shot gun.

Bullet-pouches and powder-horns hung from the muzzles of all three, their straps being suspended from the projecting ends of the rammers.
On the opposite or leeward side of the tent a fire was burning.

It had not been long kindled, and crackled as it blazed.

You could easily have told the strong red flame to be that of the shell-bark hickory--the best firewood--though dry sticks of some lighter wood had been used to kindle it.

On each side of the fire a forked stick was stuck into the ground, with the forks at the top; and on these rested a fresh cut sapling, placed horizontally to serve as a crane.