Chapter 11
THE FIRST STAGESFor a month Bud worked and forced himself to cheerfulness, and
tried to forget. Sometimes it was easy enough, but there were other
times when he must get away by himself and walk and walk, with his
rifle over his shoulder as a mild pretense that he was hunting
game. But if he brought any back camp it was because the game
walked up and waited to he shot; half the time Bud did not know
where he was going, much less whether there were deer within ten
rods or ten miles.
During those spells of heartsickness he would sit all the
evening and smoke and stare at some object which his mind failed to
register. Cash would sit and watch him furtively; but Bud was too
engrossed with his own misery to notice it. Then, quite
unexpectedly, reaction would come and lea
