Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/182

 you’ve simply got to learn it, my son. And we’d leave you so far behind you’d think you started out alone. Fortunately we are not in a hurry.”

“Is it possible, Bub?” cried Stanley, his eyes wide open.

“It is,” solemnly assured Bub. “When we start off just watch how Abner seems to take it easy but still gets over the ground, favoring himself at every step and never wasting a step. Don’t watch me, watch him. I’m more wasteful of my strength. Don’t you know that you often have to trot a few steps to get up with us?”

“Yes, that is so,” slowly admitted Stanley. “I’d not thought of it before, but I remember now you two were always just a bit ahead. I’ll watch Abner and profit by it.”

The object of the last remark now called them to join him, announcing it was time to return. “We’ll go back to camp.” Then to Stanley, “It’ll give ye a chance to pick up our back trail and see how easy it is to go down the mountain the way ye come up.”

Stanley smiled good naturedly and cheerfully replied, “No, Mr. Whitten, it will allow me a chance to learn something that is best learned by experience.”