They then untied the prisoner's arms, bound his feet, and placing him in a sitting position, back against a tree, passed a rope around his waist and tied him to the tree.
"You forgot something," reminded Hippy as they started to walk away.
"Huh ?" demanded one of the mountaineers.
"You forgot to tie the tree down.

It might run away, you know." A grunt was the only reply he got.

The men then built a small fire and began preparing their breakfast.

Bacon and coffee was their meal, and Hippy Wingate, now without his blindfold, was forced to sit there and watch them eat.

It was the most unhappy hour that he remembered ever to have experienced.
After finishing their own breakfast they favored him with a cup of water, and, lighting their pipes, sat down to talk, much of which the listening ears of their captive overheard.
As nearly as Hippy could make it out a mountain feud was in the making, and the twenty-third of the month was the time set for the opening.