This was nothing new to us children.

It was the trouble sign of a camp in hostile country.

One wagon only was left out of the circle, so as to form a gate to the corral.

Later on, as we knew, ere the camp slept, the animals would be driven inside, and the gate-wagon would be chained like the others in place.

In the meanwhile, and for hours, the animals would be herded by men and boys to what scant grass they could find.
While the camp-making went on my father, with several others of the men, including the old man with the long, sunburnt hair, went away on foot in the direction of the mill.