They were left wide open in summer,
and in winter only served to shut out the worst of the driven snows and
most of the daylight.
The adjacent barn was of far greater extent, but of considerably less
degree. Still, it was sufficiently weather-proof, which was all that
could be reasonably hoped for by the toughened creatures, who found
shelter beneath its crazy roof. Higher up the slope stood a couple of
corrals of sorts. Their position was at the southern extremity of the
woodland crown, their placing probably inspired by the adjacency of the
material required for their construction.
Below the house stretched a sloping patch of growing wheat, perhaps
about thirty acres in extent. This was the real business of the
homestead, and, in spite of the crazy fencing of barbed wire about it,
it looked to be richly flourishing.
For all the general ineffectiveness of the place, however, it was not
without significance. For it gave that human touch which at once
breaks up the overpowering sensation which never fails to depress in
the silent heart of Nature's immensity.
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