"
Dick looked seriously at Bud for a moment, hardly knowing whether or not
to doubt him, but Bud's face was as grave as a deacon's.
"I don't understand it, I'm sure," he said. "But where do they get the
shade to give to the men?"
"That's easy enough. It's always gathered on dark nights, generally late
in ther fall er in ther winter, so thet it'll be real cool."
"But where do they get it?"
"What--ther shade? Why, they just go out an' gather it off the ground in
thin shapes, kinder longer than broad. It can be rolled up just like a
blanket, an' carried behind ther saddle. It's gathered in ther cold
months. Ye've heard o' ther 'cool shade.' Well, that's why they gather
it late in the year. Summer shade is no good, because it's too warm."
"But what is it like?"
"Oh, it's black, an' I hear they strip it off close ter ther ground. We
don't get no shade like it in this part o' ther country. Ther only place
what hez it is ther West, whar it's needed most."
"But how about the Pecos?"
"Sho! I almost fergot it, didn't I, while teachin' yer something erbout
ther way they do things in Arizony an' her sister-in-law, Noo Mexico?
Now I'm off, shore.
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