Burning Ground by D.A. Galloway

Author:D.A. Galloway [D. A. Galloway]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Continuous MILE
Published: 2021-06-23T00:00:00+00:00

“. . . they especially love huckleberries and seeds from whitebark pinecones. These plants provide high-energy food sources. If you are hiking in an area where either of these plants or trees is prevalent, be alert.”

He surveyed the crowns of the stout trees and noticed clusters of dark-purple seed cones affixed to many of the limbs. A flock of black-and-white woodpecker crows was noisily harvesting seeds from the cones, flying to and from the trees to bury their treasures in small ground caches. Although this was potential bear country based on the availability of a prime food source, a grizzly would not venture into an area with lots of humans.

“That be jo-fired hard work!” Sibley hollered after Goodfellow pulled the odometer wagon next to a tree.

“I be tuckered out,” Byrch agreed, as he removed his hat and wiped his brow, and nodded. He was too tired to speak. Peale and Graham tethered their mounts to the wagon and retrieved their canteens.

“Much obliged, fellas,” Goodfellow said to his helpers after tying his mule. “This here wagon ’kin be a son of a bitch when goin’ up ’n’ down a rocky slope.”

Ferdinand Hayden trudged over to the two-wheeled cart.

“That was quite a climb,” he commented while reading the dial on a circular brass instrument. “According to my aneroid barometer, we are at eighty-four hundred feet. I’ll need to correct for temperature changes later to get a more precise measurement.”

The expedition leader replaced the cover on the aneroid and questioned Peale: “What’s the story on Davidson?”

“He fell while pushing the odometer wagon and suffered a nasty cut on his arm,” Peale responded as he pointed his chin in the wounded man’s direction.

Graham lowered his canteen and held up his injured right forearm to show the bandage. Dark-red blood had soaked the dressing in a pattern consistent with a slashing type of wound.

“I’ll be okay,” he said reassuringly, anticipating Hayden’s concern.

“I agree. I’ll give it a few more wraps before we set out again. We will need to change the dressing at camp tonight, but the cut isn’t exceptionally deep,” Peale confirmed.

Hayden nodded. “We’ll take our midday meal here. You can see part of the lakeshore below, but it will take most of the afternoon to reach it. The timber looks dense. Alec and Private Byrch will assist Goodfellow, since Davidson is injured. If they need relief, let me know. I will take the lead for the afternoon and try to find a path with less deadfall.”

Graham regretted he couldn’t assist Goodfellow with the odometer wagon but realized lifting or pushing with a wounded arm was not a good idea. Hayden’s last statement was puzzling. He wondered why the survey director decided to lead the pack train to the lake when Makawee was the only experienced guide in the group.

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