"The evenings are so cool at this altitude that a fire will soon seem
grateful," he remarked, lighting the fragrant boughs of spruce and
hemlock which filled the fireplace and drawing chairs before the
crackling, dancing flames.
Duke, who had accompanied them, stretched himself in the firelight with
a low growl of satisfaction, at which both men smiled.
It was the first time Darrell had ever seen his friend in the rôle of
host, but Mr. Britton proved himself a royal entertainer. His
experiences of mountain life had been varied and thrilling, and the
cabin contained many relics and trophies of his prowess as huntsman and
trapper. As the evening wore on Mr. Britton opened a small store-room
built in the rock, and took therefrom a tempting repast of venison and
wild fowl which his forethought had ordered placed there for the
occasion. To Darrell, sitting by the fragrant fire and listening to
tales of adventure, the time passed only too swiftly, and he was sorry
when the entrance of the man with his luggage recalled them to the
lateness of the hour.
"There is a genuine hermit for you," Mr. Britton remarked, as the man
took his departure after agreeing to come to the cabin once a day to do
whatever might be needed.
"Who is he?" Darrell asked.
"No one knows. He goes by the name of 'Peter,' but nothing is known of
his real name or history. He has lived in these mountains for thirty
years and has not visited a city or town of any size in that time. He is
a trapper, but acts as guide during the summers. He is very popular with
tourist and hunting parties that come to the mountains, but nothing will
induce him to leave his haunts except as he occasionally goes to some
small station for supplies."
"Where does he live?"
"In a cabin about half-way down the trail. He is a good cook, a faithful
man every way, but you will find him very reticent. He is one of the
many in this country whose past is buried out of sight."
Mr. Britton then led the way to two smaller rooms,--a kitchen,
equipped with a small stove, table, and cooking utensils, and a
sleeping-apartment, its two bunks piled with soft blankets and
wolf-skins.
As Darrell proceeded to disrobe his attention was suddenly attracted by
an object in one corner of the room which he was unable to distinguish
clearly in the dim light. Upon going over to examine it more closely,
what was his astonishment to see a large crucifix of exquisite design
and workmanship. As he turned towards Mr. Britton the latter smiled to
see the bewilderment depicted on his face.
"You did not expect to find such a souvenir of old Rome in a mountain
cabin, did you?" he asked.