Book 2, Tom Outland's Story, Chapter 2-3 Summary

Tom and John Rapp, the foreman, are setting up and cleaning out the cabin that will house Tom and Rodney during the winter while they watch over the cattle. They both won't be able to stay in the cabin at the same time for awhile because the cattle needed to stay to the north, and that Tom and Rodney would alternate shifts. Rapp warns them that cattle have run across the river to the mesa, and that no one has ever gone over to get them because it's too difficult to cross the river safely.

Tom mentions that he would like to try and climb the mesa, and Rapp warns him that he would be fired if he tried because he would injure himself and lose the herd. After Rapp left, Tom and...