"Darn a dirty shack!" he muttered, half apologetically, while he was taking the accumulation of ashes out of the hearth.
For the rest of that day he was exceedingly busy, and he did not attempt further explanations to himself.

He overhauled the bunk and spread the blankets out on the wild rose bushes to sun while he cleaned the floor.

Billy's way of cleaning the floor was characteristic of the man, and calculated to be effectual in the main without descending to petty details.

All superfluous objects that were small enough, he merely pushed as far as possible under the bunk.
Boxes and benches he piled on top; then he brought buckets of water and sloshed it upon the worst places, sweeping and spreading it with a broom.

When the water grew quite black, he opened the door, swept it outside and sloshed fresh water upon the grimy boards.