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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/20341-h.zip b/20341-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..405d344 --- /dev/null +++ b/20341-h.zip diff --git a/20341-h/20341-h.htm b/20341-h/20341-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5f51830 --- /dev/null +++ b/20341-h/20341-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7143 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Grace Harlowe's Overland Riders in the Great North Woods, by Jessie Graham Flower, A.M. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + /*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ + <!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {text-align: center; clear: both;} + a {text-decoration: none;} + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + body {margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 10%;} + .pagenum {right: 1%; font-size: x-small; background-color: inherit; color: gray; + text-indent: 0em; text-align: right; position: absolute; + border: 1px solid silver; padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; + font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;} + .blockquot {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + hr.full {width:100%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + hr.major {width:75%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + hr.minor {width:30%; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + /* title block present in text */ + td.pr {padding-right: 10px; vertical-align: top;} + p.titleblock {margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-indent: 0; text-align: center;} + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + .caption {font-size: 80%;} + td.bq {font-size: 80%; text-align:justify;} + p.bq {margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 2em; margin-top: -0.2em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Grace Harlowe's Overland Riders in the +Great North Woods, by Jessie Graham Flower + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Grace Harlowe's Overland Riders in the Great North Woods + +Author: Jessie Graham Flower + +Release Date: January 11, 2007 [EBook #20341] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OVERLAND RIDERS *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 279px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="illus-001" id="illus-001"></a> +<img src="images/grace-fpc.jpg" alt=""You Ruffian!"--Frontispiece" title="" width="279" height="400" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"You Ruffian!"<br /><i>Frontispiece</i></span> +</div> + +<hr class="major" /> + +<table width="400" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="" border="1"><tr><td> +<p class="titleblock" style=" margin-top: 30px; font-size: 180%;">Grace Harlowe's Overland Riders</p> +<p class="titleblock" style=" font-size: 180%; margin-bottom: 30px;">in the Great North Woods</p> +<p class="titleblock" style=" font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 30px;">by</p> +<p class="titleblock" style=" font-size: 140%; margin-bottom: 80px;">Jessie Graham Flower, A. M.</p> +<p class="titleblock" style=" font-size: 100%; margin-bottom: 80px;"><i>Illustrated</i></p> +<p class="titleblock" style=" font-size: 120%;">THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY</p> +<p class="titleblock" style=" font-size: 120%;">Akron, Ohio —New York</p> +<p class="titleblock" style=" margin-bottom:30px;">Made in U. S. A.</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<hr class="major" /> + +<p class="center" style="margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 3em; font-size: smaller;">Copyright +MCMXXI<br /><i>By</i> THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY</p> + +<hr class="major" /> + +<h2 style="margin-top: 3em;">Contents</h2> + +<table border="0" width="500" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Chapter</span> I—<span class="smcap">On the Big Woods Trail</span></td> +<td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">11</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="bq"><p class="bq">The Overlanders, arriving at their destination, are told that their +guide is busy doing the family washing. Hippy and Hindenburg, the +bull pup, make a hit. Emma Dean wishes she had stayed at home. The +"untamed" bronco entertains the villagers.</p></td><td></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Chapter</span> II—<span class="smcap">The Voice of Nature</span></td> +<td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">18</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="bq"><p class="bq">"Why don't yer feed the critter some soothin' syrup?" jeers a +villager. Emma reads the message of the hermit thrush. On the way +to the "Big Woods." Trouble is threatened at Bisbee's Corners. The +Overlanders attacked by roistering lumberjacks.</p></td><td></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Chapter</span> III—<span class="smcap">The Charge of the Jacks</span></td> +<td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">31</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="bq"><p class="bq">"Out of this, lively!" shouts Tom Gray. The fight in the village +street. Hippy and Tom rescue an unfortunate Indian from the jacks. +Willy Horse follows and overtakes his rescuers. "You Big +Friend—Big Medicine!" The new guide creates a sensation.</p></td><td></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Chapter</span> IV—A <span class="smcap">Human Talking Machine</span></td> +<td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">42</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="bq"><p class="bq">Joe Shafto lays down the law to her charges. Tom Gray admits that +he is at fault. Emma announces that some of her ancestors were +birds. Hippy advises the guide to eat angel food. A wild beast in +the cabin of the forest woman.</p></td><td></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Chapter</span> V—<span class="smcap">Overlanders Get a Jolt</span></td> +<td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">53</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="bq"><p class="bq">"A bear! A bear under the table!" Grace Harlowe's companions thrown +into panic. Nora puts her foot in a platter of venison. The guide +explains that Henry, the bear, is a "watch dog." Hippy and the bear +meet in hand-to-hand conflict.</p></td><td></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Chapter</span> VI—<span class="smcap">Camping Under the Giant Pines</span></td> +<td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">63</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="bq"><p class="bq">"Sick 'im, Hindenburg!" gasps Hippy. The bull pup saves his master, and Henry +gets a beating. Tom shows how to read the forest "blazes." The +Overland Riders pitch their first camp in the great forest. Emma +gets a message from the air. The lull before the storm.</p></td><td></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Chapter</span> VII—<span class="smcap">Felled by a Mysterious Blow</span></td> +<td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">74</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="bq"><p class="bq">Tom and Grace hearken to warning sounds in the trees. "Quick! Get +the girls out!" A rush from an unknown peril. Hippy declares that +"Nature is an old fogy." Crashing reverberations are heard in the +forest. "Hippy's hurt!" cries Elfreda Briggs.</p></td><td></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Chapter</span> VIII—<span class="smcap">Their First Disaster</span></td> +<td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">80</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="bq"><p class="bq">Tom informs his companions that their camp has been wiped out. +Building a fire in the rain. Overland girls learn the secrets of +the forest. Joe Shafto boxes Hippy's ears. The pet bear is welcomed +with a club. A startling assertion.</p></td><td></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Chapter</span> IX—<span class="smcap">Lumberjacks Seek Revenge</span></td> +<td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">91</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="bq"><p class="bq">"The skidway was tampered with!" Overland tents are destroyed. Tom +gets a cold welcome. A warning of timber thieves. Lean-tos are +built for the night's camp. "How can we go to bed with one side of +the house out?" wonders Emma. Awakened by an explosion.</p></td><td></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Chapter</span> X—<span class="smcap">Mystery In The Fall Of A Tree</span></td> +<td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">115</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="bq"><p class="bq">Hippy is assisted down +the river bank by a flying tree limb. The camp of the Overlanders +again suffers disaster. "Hurry! We've set the woods on fire!" +Battling with a forest fire. Hippy wants to dream of food. A +disturbing outlook.</p></td><td></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Chapter</span> XI—<span class="smcap">The Threat Of Peg Tatem</span> </td> +<td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">115</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="bq"><p class="bq">Henry sleeps on high. The bear and the bull pup scent trouble. The +foreman of Section Forty-three goes trouble-hunting. Settlement is +demanded of the Overlanders for the burned trees. "Skip! Get out!" +orders Lieutenant Wingate. Peg starts a row.</p></td><td></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Chapter</span> XII—A <span class="smcap">Shot From The Forest</span></td> +<td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">121</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="bq"><p class="bq">Tom Gray attacked by the lumberman. The jacks take a hand. Hippy +uses a firebrand as a weapon. Overlanders badly punished. Shots +from the forest shatter Peg's wooden leg. Henry paws his way into +the fight. The Overlanders meet a fresh mystery.</p></td><td></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Chapter</span> XIII—A <span class="smcap">Blazed Warning</span></td> +<td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">132</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="bq"><p class="bq">Grace Harlowe's party seeks a change of scene. The bent arrow +points to danger. The end of a long night's journey through the +forest. The mournful wail of a timber wolf carries a meaning to +Emma Dean. "Put out that fire!" commands the forest ranger.</p></td><td></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Chapter</span> XIV—<span class="smcap">Their Day at Home</span></td> +<td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">143</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="bq"><p class="bq">The caller at the Overland camp grows threatening. Henry sounds a +warning growl. Ordered to leave the forest. Emma tells the ranger +how to get rid of wolves. "I reckon you haven't heard the last of +Peg Tatem."</p></td><td></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Chapter</span> XV—<span class="smcap">The Way of the Big Woods</span></td> +<td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">150</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="bq"><p class="bq">Newcomers arouse the apprehensions of the Overland Riders. "Put up +yer hands!" comes the stern command. Deputy sheriffs inform the +Overlanders that they are under arrest. Joe Shafto fires a warning +shot at their annoying callers.</p></td><td></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Chapter</span> XVI—<span class="smcap">Willy Horse Shows the Way</span></td> +<td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">157</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="bq"><p class="bq">Elfreda out-argues the officers of the law. Visitors politely +requested to remove themselves. Threats of revenge. Camp is made on +the banks of the Little Big Branch. Willy shows the way to the +Overlanders' permanent camp.</p></td><td></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Chapter</span> XVII—<span class="smcap">In The Indian Tepee</span></td> +<td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">173</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="bq"><p class="bq">Willy Horse arrives in a bark canoe. An Indian home is built for +the Overland girls. Grace paddles the birch canoe and gets a +ducking. Henry investigates the tepee and his nose suffers. A loud +halloo arouses the girls from their beauty sleep.</p></td><td></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Chapter</span> XVIII—<span class="smcap">The Trail of the Pirates</span></td> +<td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">182</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="bq"><p class="bq">The bull pup keeps bankers' hours. Tom and Hippy seek evidence of +timber-thieves and make discoveries. Hippy evolves a great idea. +Willy tells Lieutenant Wingate about Chief Iron Toe. Hippy and the +Indian go away on an important mission.</p></td><td></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Chapter</span> XIX—<span class="smcap">The Return of the Prodigal</span></td> +<td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">193</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="bq"><p class="bq">"Bears is better than husbands," declares Joe Shafto. Hippy +announces that he has bought a big timber tract. "Don't ask me a +question until my stomach begins to function." Willy Horse brings a +warning of spies near the camp.</p></td><td></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Chapter</span> XX—<span class="smcap">Peace or War?</span></td> +<td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">204</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="bq"><p class="bq">Chet Ainsworth arrives at the point +of a rifle. The peace of the Overland camp violently disturbed. +Hippy admits that he is crazy. Henry gives uninvited guests a +scare. "They do get that way sometimes." Overlanders gaze in +amazement.</p></td><td></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Chapter</span> XXI—<span class="smcap">A Wise Old Owl</span></td> +<td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">210</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="bq"><p class="bq">Joe sicks the bear on the guests. +The forest woman in a rage. "Stop him! He'll kill the man!" Willy +Horse sees things in the campfire. Emma finds a message for Hippy +in the hoot of the old owl.</p></td><td></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Chapter</span> XXII—<span class="smcap">When the Dam Went Out</span></td> +<td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">217</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="bq"><p class="bq">A surprise party for the +lumberjacks on Hippy's claim. The dance is interrupted by the +Indian's message. "Dam up river go out! Water come down!" announces +Willy Horse unemotionally. The jacks take alarm.</p></td><td></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Chapter</span> XXIII—<span class="smcap">The Riot of the Logs</span></td> +<td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">227</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="bq"><p class="bq">A desperate struggle. "I'm +slipping!" gasps Hippy. "Too late!" Tom and Hippy are hurled into +the river. Dynamite used on the pirates' dam. A hand-to-hand knife +battle on the spiles. Grace stays the Indian's hand.</p></td><td></td></tr> + +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Chapter</span> XXIV—<span class="smcap">Christmas in the Big Woods</span></td> +<td style="text-align: right;"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">238</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="bq"><p class="bq">A capture and a +confession. Peg Tatem in the toils. Timber pirates get prison +terms. The lumberjacks' big Christmas. "Sit down, you +rough-necks!" roars Hippy. Spike bares his soul. What the snow-bird +said.</p></td><td></td></tr> + +</table> + +<hr class="major" /> + +<h2>GRACE HARLOWE'S OVERLAND<br />RIDERS IN THE GREAT<br />NORTH WOODS</h2> + +<hr class="minor" /> + +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">11</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2><h3>ON THE BIG WOODS TRAIL</h3> +</div> + +<p>Hippy Wingate stepped from the train that had just pulled into the +little Red River Valley station and turned to observe Tom Gray and the +others of the Overland Riders detrain. In one hand Hippy carried a +suitcase, in the other a disconsolate-looking bull pup done up in a +shawl strap.</p> + +<p>"Be you Gray?"</p> + +<p>Hippy turned to look at the owner of the voice, not certain that the +question had been addressed to him. He found himself facing an +uncouth-looking youth who, despite the heat of an early September +afternoon, wore a heavy blanket Mackinaw coat, rubber shoes and thick +stockings tied at the knee. Khaki trousers, and a cap of the same +material as the coat, completed the typical lumberjack outfit, though +Tom Gray<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">12</a></span> was the only member of the Overland party who recognized it as +such. The youngster's hands were thrust firmly into the pockets of the +Mackinaw coat as he stood eyeing Hippy with a sullen expression on his +face.</p> + +<p>"Am I what?" demanded the Overland Rider, putting down the suitcase and +dropping the pup, much to the animal's relief.</p> + +<p>"I said, be you Gray?"</p> + +<p>"Not yet, old chap. I am threatened with a bald head early in my young +life, but I thank goodness I am not gray. Why? What's the joke?"</p> + +<p>The loungers on the station platform laughed, and the boy shifted +uneasily and leaned against a station pillar.</p> + +<p>"'Cause I was to meet er feller named Gray who was comin' in on this +train."</p> + +<p>"Oh! That's it, is it? I thought you meant is my hair gray," grinned +Hippy. "Oh, Tom! Here is your man. Here's your guide," cried Hippy, +shaking hands cordially with the young fellow.</p> + +<p>Detaching himself from the girls of the party of Overland Riders who +were assembling their luggage, Tom Gray stepped over to Lieutenant +Wingate.</p> + +<p>"Are you Joe Shafto?" questioned Tom, addressing the boy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">13</a></span></p> + +<p>"Naw, I ain't. Joe sent me over to meet you folks and tell you how to +git up to the place."</p> + +<p>"Why isn't Joe here to meet us?" demanded Grace Harlowe, joining the +group in time to hear the boy's explanation.</p> + +<p>"Joe's doin' the washin' to-day, and to-morrer is ironin' day. Joe sent +word sayin' as I was to meet you and tell you not to git up there before +late to-morrer afternoon."</p> + +<p>"Ho, ho! Doing the family washing, eh?" chortled Hippy. "Fine guide you +have selected, Tom Gray. Hey there!" Hippy made a spring for the bull +pup, who had fastened his teeth in the neck of a fox terrier, and picked +his dog up by the handle of the shawl strap. The fox terrier came up +with Hindenburg, by which name the bull was known, and it required the +united efforts of Tom and Hippy to extricate the fox terrier from +Hindenburg's tenacious grip.</p> + +<p>"It might be wise to hang onto your dog, Hippy," advised Tom. "You are +to show us the way to Shafto's, I presume?" questioned Tom Gray, +addressing the boy again.</p> + +<p>"Naw. I reckon you can find the way yourself. Can't spare the time. I +got a fall job in the woods over near the reservation. You take the main +road straight north from here till you git to Bisbee's Corners. Ask at +the general store there where Joe Shafto lives and they'll<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">14</a></span> steer you. +Joe said to tell you folks to get your supplies there, too. Bye." The +boy turned abruptly and walked away.</p> + +<p>"Hold on! Not so fast, boy. How far is it to Joe's?" demanded Tom.</p> + +<p>"Nigh onto thirty mile," flung back the boy.</p> + +<p>"I wish I had stayed at home," wailed Emma Dean.</p> + +<p>"We have not yet begun, dear," reminded Elfreda Briggs, to which Anne +Nesbit and Nora Wingate agreed with emphatic nods.</p> + +<p>"Tom Gray, I fear you have made a mess of selecting a guide to pilot us +through the Big North Woods of Minnesota," declared Grace with a +doubtful shake of the head.</p> + +<p>"I can't help that. I engaged Shafto on the recommendation of the +postmaster of this very town. He wrote me that, according to his +information, no man in the state knows the woods so well as this fellow +Shafto does. At my request, the postmaster engaged him for us, so don't +blame me because Joe is doing the family washing instead of being here +to meet us," retorted Tom with a show of impatience.</p> + +<p>"Lay it to the postmaster and let it go at that," suggested Hippy +good-naturedly.</p> + +<p>"Tom, I am really amazed that you, a woodsman and a professional +forester, should require the services of a guide," teased Anne.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">15</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't. The guide is for you folks. Of course I know how to keep from +getting lost, but I shall not be with you all the time, so—"</p> + +<p>"Come, let's get busy," urged Hippy. "Nora, if you will kindly hold +Hindenburg, Tom and I will unload the ponies. Ready, Thomas?"</p> + +<p>Tom said he was. The palace horsecar attached to their train had already +been shunted to a siding, and the ponies of the Overland Riders were +found to have made the journey from the east without injury. Quite an +assemblage of villagers had gathered to witness the operation of +unloading the ponies, and they gazed with interest as each Overland girl +in turn stepped up to claim her mount as it was led slipping down the +gangway. Hippy Wingate's pony, a western bronco that he had acquired +that summer, was the last of the ponies in the car. "Ginger," as its +owner had named it because of its fiery temper, being unusually free +with his heels, had been separated from the other animals in the car by +bars, the bars now bearing marks made by his sharp hoofs.</p> + +<p>"Tom, please fetch out my educated horse," urged Hippy, winking wisely +at the crowd of spectators.</p> + +<p>"Why not fetch him out yourself? He isn't my horse," laughed Tom.</p> + +<p>"Oh, very well," said Lieutenant Wingate,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">16</a></span> stepping into the car, +removing the bars and reaching for the pony's headstall. That was the +beginning of what proved to be an exciting time for Lieutenant Wingate +and a most enjoyable entertainment for the villagers. The next act was +when Hippy was catapulted from the car door by the heels of the untamed +bronco and landed in the street. Fortunately for him, Lieutenant +Wingate, instead of jumping back when the pony began to kick, threw +himself towards the animal, a trick that handlers of ugly horses quickly +learn to do. He was thus, instead of being hit by the heels of the +bronco, neatly boosted through the open door of the car.</p> + +<p>The villagers howled with delight as the Overland Rider got up and +brushed the dirt from his uniform.</p> + +<p>"I have heard it said that incorrigible horses are sometimes made docile +by sprinkling a pinch of salt on their tails," observed Elfreda Briggs +to her companions.</p> + +<p>"Remonstrate with the beast, Hippy. He is educated," suggested Emma +Dean.</p> + +<p>"Hippy, my darlin', do be careful," begged Nora as her husband limped up +the gangway, jaws set, the light of battle in his eyes, his anger rising +with every step he took.</p> + +<p>Hippy clasped the pony's neck, the rat-tat-tat of the animal's heels +against the side of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">17</a></span> car being somewhat reminiscent of machine-gun +fire to the Overland girls.</p> + +<p>"He'll be killed!" wailed Nora.</p> + +<p>"Who? The pony?" asked Emma in an unruffled voice.</p> + +<p>"No! What do I care about the pony? It's my Hippy."</p> + +<p>A yell from the villagers brought others running to the scene, but no +one offered assistance. Hippy and the bronco were tussling on the +threshold of the car with Hippy's feet in the air most of the time.</p> + +<p>"Tickle him in the ribs," suggested a villager. "That'll make him laugh +and he'll fergit to kick."</p> + +<p>The villagers howled with delight.</p> + +<p>"Tickle him yourself," retorted Nora.</p> + +<p>"Jump!" urged Miss Briggs.</p> + +<p>"No! Hang on!" shouted Tom Gray. "If you let go he'll kill you! Urge him +down the gangway and I will grab him when he makes the rush."</p> + +<p>At that instant the pony leaped. Hippy lost his foothold on the edge of +the doorsill, and the pony, unable to bear the additional weight on its +neck, stumbled and went down on the gangway. The animal's hips struck +the railing, burst through it, and man and horse rolled off to the +ground, Ginger kicking and squealing, with Hippy Wingate clinging +desperately to his neck.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">18</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2><h3>THE VOICE OF NATURE</h3> +</div> + +<p>The bronco was on his feet instantly, with Hippy still clinging to the +animal's neck. All the villagers scattered as Ginger bolted across the +street.</p> + +<p>"Why don't <i>you</i> tickle his ribs?" cried Emma to the spectators.</p> + +<p>For a few moments it looked as if man and bronco would land in the +village postoffice by way of its large front window.</p> + +<p>"Whew!" grinned Hippy, mopping his brow after he had conquered and tied +the pony to the tie-rail in front of the postoffice.</p> + +<p>"I—I thought you said that Ginger was an educated horse," reminded +Emma.</p> + +<p>"He is. That is what is the matter with him. Like some persons, not far +removed from me at the present moment, he knows <i>too</i> much for the +general good of the community. What Ginger needs is a finishing school, +and he's going to start right in attending one this very day. You watch +my smoke."</p> + +<p>"Smoke!" chuckled Elfreda Briggs. "I don't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">19</a></span> mind it at all ordinarily, +but I do wish that, when you get excited, you wouldn't insist on burning +soft coal."</p> + +<p>"Say, Mister! Why don't yer feed the critter some soothin' syrup? They +got it in the store there," urged a spectator. "Good fer man er beast."</p> + +<p>Hippy grinned at the speaker, and the villagers roared.</p> + +<p>"Good idea, old top. We will pour a bottleful down your throat at the +same time. It is good for all animals, you know. Why don't you roar, you +folks? All right, if you won't, I'll roar." Hippy haw-hawed and the +villagers grinned.</p> + +<p>"Come, come. Please do something, Hippy," begged Grace laughingly.</p> + +<p>"Sure thing. What do you want me to do?"</p> + +<p>"If you and Tom will roll and tie the packs, you will be doing us a +service. I imagine we girls are a bit out of practice in lashing packs, +and, as we have quite a bit of equipment to carry, and a long ride ahead +of us to-day, we must have everything secure, and start as soon as +possible."</p> + +<p>"Want a guide, Mister?" questioned a young man dressed as a lumberjack, +lounging up to Lieutenant Wingate. "I kin take ye anywheres."</p> + +<p>"We have one," replied Hippy briefly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">20</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't see none. Who be he?"</p> + +<p>"Name's Hindenburg," said Hippy, pointing to the bull pup. "Greatest +little guide west of the Atlantic Ocean. I paid a thousand dollars for +his bark alone. The breeder threw in the rest of the dog because, when +you peel the bark off a tree, it dies."</p> + +<p>Emma Dean uttered a high, trilling laugh, and the other girls joined in +so heartily that, for a moment, or so, work came to a standstill. Hippy +then briskly attacked the packs, while Tom secured them to the backs of +the ponies.</p> + +<p>While this was being done Grace left the party to buy food sufficient to +last for at least a two-days' journey, and returned with her arms full +of bundles, the contents being transferred to the mess kits of her +companions.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to let the dog run?" questioned Anne.</p> + +<p>"I am not. He rides horseback," replied Hippy briefly. "I am a man of +resources."</p> + +<p>"Especially in leading educated ponies," murmured Emma.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Hippy had taken a canvas bag from his pack and hung it +over the pommel of his saddle.</p> + +<p>"Come, Little Hindenburg. We will now go bye-bye," cooed Hippy, lifting +the bull pup,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">21</a></span> depositing it in the open bag, and tying the dog's lead +string to the saddle.</p> + +<p>"Hippy darlin'!" cried Nora. "If Hindenburg jumps out he will hang +himself and choke to death."</p> + +<p>"Sure he will. That is why he isn't going to jump out."</p> + +<p>Hindenburg stood up in the bag and barked in apparent approval of +Hippy's assertion.</p> + +<p>"Listen!" exclaimed Emma, holding up a hand. "Bark again, Hindenburg."</p> + +<p>Hindenburg did so, Emma Dean giving close attention.</p> + +<p>"What is the big idea?" demanded Lieutenant Wingate.</p> + +<p>"I wished to listen to this voice from the canine world because it +carries a message to us," answered Miss Dean gravely.</p> + +<p>Hippy gave her a quick keen glance, but Ginger, taking sudden umbrage at +a dog barking at his side, demanded his rider's exclusive attention. By +the time Hippy had subdued the bronco, Emma's peculiar remark had passed +out of mind. Soon after that, with packs neatly lashed, each rider in +the saddle, the Overland Riders wheeled their ponies and jogged along +the village street on their way to the Great North Woods where Tom Gray, +as an expert forester, was to "cruise" or estimate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">22</a></span> the amount of timber +standing on the thousands of acres in the huge timber tract, the largest +tract of virgin timber east of the Rocky Mountains.</p> + +<p>The Overland Riders, who, for the previous three summers, following +their return from France where they had served in various capacities +during the war, in the Overton College Unit, had decided to accompany +Tom to the Big Woods, seeking such adventure as the northland might +afford.</p> + +<p>As they started away on the first leg of their journey, none was more +joyous than the bull pup, who barked at the villagers, barked at every +dog and cat within sight, and, after the village had been left behind, +entertained himself by barking at imaginary cats and dogs, Emma Dean +being his most interested listener. Emma's quietness attracted the +attention of her companions, and they wondered at the change in her, +for, on previous journeys, there was seldom a time when Emma did not +have a great deal to say.</p> + +<p>Not until after five o'clock that afternoon did the party halt to rest +the ponies and have luncheon, the latter consisting of hot tea and +biscuit, the Riders having planned to eat their supper at Bisbee's +Corners.</p> + +<p>Most of the girls were quite ready for a rest, but, this being their +first long ride of the season,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">23</a></span> they found, upon dismounting, that they +could hardly walk. Grace, being the least disturbed of the party, +volunteered to get the fire started and brew the tea, while Lieutenant +Wingate and Tom Gray watered the horses and staked them at the side of +the road for a nibble at the grass that grew there. Then all hands sat +down with their feet curled under them and held out their tin cups for a +drink of hot tea.</p> + +<p>Emma Dean poised her cup in the air, and, with a far-away look in her +eyes, listened intently to the solemn bell note of a hermit thrush.</p> + +<p>"What <i>is</i> on your mind to-day, Emma Dean?" laughed Anne Nesbit. "Is it +possible that you are in love or something?"</p> + +<p>"I am listening to the voices of nature," replied Emma solemnly, shaking +her head slowly and taking a sip of tea.</p> + +<p>"This is something new, isn't it?" twinkled Grace Harlowe.</p> + +<p>"Yes," agreed Elfreda. "Only a few hours ago you were listening to a +'message' from the throat of the bull pup, and now I suppose you are +turning your attention to that hermit thrush for the same reason."</p> + +<p>"I am listening to the voices of nature," returned Emma. "Listening for +the messages that, when once rightly interpreted, will open up the vast +realm of the unknown to us mortals. If<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">24</a></span> we would but listen we should +hear many mysteries explained and—"</p> + +<p>"Speak, Hindenburg!" interjected Hippy, giving the bull pup a push with +the toe of his boot and bringing a growl from the animal. "How long has +she been this way, girls?"</p> + +<p>"Make fun of me if you wish. I am used to it."</p> + +<p>"I agree with Emma that there is much in nature that we might do well to +consider, suggestions that it would be to our everlasting advantage to +adopt," spoke up Tom Gray. "So far, however, as being able to read the +notes of the birds or the growl of a bull pup—piffle!"</p> + +<p>"I agree with you," nodded Elfreda.</p> + +<p>"Emma, where do you get all that dope?" questioned Hippy. "I am +beginning to believe what I suspected last season, when you were riding +that 'con-centration' hobby, that your war service has unbalanced your +mind."</p> + +<p>"No, no! He is only joking, Emma," protested Nora.</p> + +<p>"It matters little to me what Hippy Wingate says or thinks. I belong to +the 'Voice of Nature Cult.'"</p> + +<p>"What's that? A breakfast food?" laughed Anne.</p> + +<p>"The 'Cult' is an organization of advanced thinkers, presided over by +Madam Gersdorff, an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">25</a></span> adept who can converse with the birds of the air, +the animals and—"</p> + +<p>"I wish she were here," declared Hippy with emphasis. "I should like to +have her tell that bronco what my opinion of him is and hear what he +says in reply," added Lieutenant Wingate, flipping a biscuit, which +Hindenburg deftly caught and gulped down at a single swallow.</p> + +<p>"Madam Gersdorff gave some remarkable demonstrations of her power in the +direction of interpreting the voices of nature last winter," resumed +Emma. "She is giving me a correspondence course at five dollars a +lesson, which I consider a remarkably low price. I wish I might induce +you girls to take the course, but I don't suppose any of you have the +nerve to do so in the face of Hippy Wingate's unkind criticisms. Let me +tell you something. A medium that I went to in Boston a few weeks ago +told me some remarkable things about myself. I had been telling her of +this 'Voice of Nature Cult.' 'How strange,' answered the medium. 'I see +birds all about you. A whole flock of them accompanied you into this +very room. See! They are hovering over you at this very moment.'"</p> + +<p>"I'll bet they were a flock of crows," murmured Hippy.</p> + +<p>"Did you see them, darlin'?" begged Nora in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">26</a></span> an awed tone that brought +smiles to the faces of her companions.</p> + +<p>"No. I was not sufficiently in tune with nature to see them, especially +in daylight."</p> + +<p>"Good-night!" muttered Hippy Wingate.</p> + +<p>"And what do you think the medium also said?" asked Emma.</p> + +<p>"Five dollars, please," laughed Grace.</p> + +<p>"She did not. All she would consent to take from me was a dollar, and +she said that, if I would come to her twice a week regularly, she would +promise that, in a few weeks, I could see the birds as well as she +could. But I didn't tell you—what the medium said of even greater +importance was that the explanation was that some of my ancestors, far +back in the dim shadows of the early hours of the world, were birds of +the air. Just think of it, girls! Birds! Flying through the air and—"</p> + +<p>"Darting yon and hither," finished Hippy.</p> + +<p>"<i>Alors!</i> Let's fly," cried Elfreda Briggs amid a shout of laughter from +the Overland Riders.</p> + +<p>"So say we all of us," answered Grace, springing up and beginning to +pack away her mess kit. "It will be long after dark before we reach +Bisbee's Corners."</p> + +<p>The girls were still laughing as they rode away, Emma Dean silently +resentful, her chin in the air, her face flushed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">27</a></span></p> + +<p>"Do you really think she is in earnest about that nature stuff?" +questioned Anne.</p> + +<p>"She thinks she is, but of course she isn't. Emma, like many others, +must have a hobby to ride. She, fortunately, is fickle in her hobbies, +and rides one but a short time before she tires of it and casts it +aside. What would we do on these journeys without her?" laughed Grace.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Our Emma is a joy and a delight," nodded Anne.</p> + +<p>After a brisk ride at a steady gallop, the Overlanders jogged into the +one street that Bisbee's Corners possessed shortly after nine o'clock +that evening, all thoroughly tired but happy, with Hindenburg sound +asleep in the saddle bag.</p> + +<p>The streets, they saw, were thronged with men, mostly lumberjacks, some +singing, others shouting, and here and there a pair of them engaged in +fist battles.</p> + +<p>"Must have been paid off," observed Tom Gray. "We are getting near the +Big Woods, folks."</p> + +<p>"I should say we are," replied Grace, taking in the scene with keen +interest. "I hear a fiddle. There must be a dance going on."</p> + +<p>"A dance? Oh, let's go," cried Emma.</p> + +<p>"Better listen to the voices of nature," answered Tom laughingly. "A +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">28</a></span>lumberjack dance is no place for a refined woman, or man either, for +that matter. Where to, Grace?"</p> + +<p>"The general store. I'll go in. The girls had better stay on their +horses, for I don't like the looks of things in Bisbee's."</p> + +<p>"Lumber-jacks are rough, but let them alone and they will let you +alone," said Lieutenant Wingate.</p> + +<p>Tom Gray said this might be true in theory, but that it was not always +true in fact.</p> + +<p>Pulling up before the general store, Grace dismounted and elbowed her +way through a crowd of men, smilingly demanding "gangway," which was +readily granted, though accompanied by quite personal remarks about her, +to which, of course, the Overland girl gave not the slightest heed.</p> + +<p>"Joe Shafto bought the supplies for you, Mrs. Gray," the owner of the +store informed her after Grace had introduced herself and stated her +mission. "Joe packed the stuff home on the mules and said you'd pay for +it when you come along. That alright?"</p> + +<p>"Perfectly so, and thank you ever so much. What is the excitement out +there?" with a nod towards the street.</p> + +<p>"Jacks comin' in for the early work in the woods. The foremen are hirin' +'em here and sendin' 'em on to the different camps. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">29</a></span> whole bunch is +just spoilin' for fight. Better not stir 'em up unless your crowd is +lookin' for trouble," advised the storekeeper.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no. Nothing like that," laughed Grace Harlowe, laying the money for +their supplies on the counter. "Nothing wrong outside, is there, Hippy?" +she asked quickly as the lieutenant came in rather hurriedly.</p> + +<p>"No. I'm after candy."</p> + +<p>"That is fine. Buying candy for Nora and the girls," glowed Grace. "My +husband seldom thinks to bring me candy, and—"</p> + +<p>"For Nora? No. I'm getting the candy for the bronco and the bull +pup—trying to buy my way into their good graces, as it were. Neither +one of them takes to the uproar in the street. The bronc' is threatening +to bolt, and Hindenburg has declared war on the lumberjack tribe +because one of them poked a stick in his ribs just now."</p> + +<p>Grace, after thanking the storekeeper for his courtesy, went out +laughing, but the instant she stepped into the street she intuitively +sensed a change in the spirit of the crowd there. The jacks had fallen +silent in comparison with their previous uproarious attitude—sullen and +threatening, it seemed to her.</p> + +<p>"What's wrong here, Elfreda?" she asked, stepping up beside Miss Briggs' +pony.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">30</a></span></p> + +<p>"A jack tried to pull Emma from her horse, probably out of mischief. Tom +jumped his pony over and knocked the fellow down with his fist. Three or +four others started for him. Tom rode one of them down and the others +ran into the crowd for protection. I think we are headed for trouble," +prophesied J. Elfreda.</p> + +<p>"Grace, where is Hippy?" called Tom Gray anxiously.</p> + +<p>"In the store buying candy for the pup."</p> + +<p>"Stand back, you fellows!" commanded Tom sternly as he discovered that +the jacks were crowding closer and closer to the little group of +horsewomen. "We don't mind sport so far as the men are concerned, but +you must let these young women alone. Hurry, Hippy!" he urged, as +Lieutenant Wingate appeared at the store door.</p> + +<p>"Overland!" called Grace, which was the rallying hail of the Overland +Riders, and by which signal Lieutenant Wingate knew that all was not +well with his companions.</p> + +<p>Hippy jumped from the store porch and strode to his pony.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" he questioned sharply, taking Ginger's rein from Nora and +vaulting into his saddle to the accompaniment of joyous barks from +Hindenburg.</p> + +<p>"Reckon these wild jacks are getting ready to rush us. Keep your eyes +peeled," warned Tom Gray.</p> + +<p>"Here they come! Look out!" called Grace.</p> + +<p>"Let go of my bridle, you ruffian!" they heard Anne Nesbit cry, and as +they looked they saw her bring down her riding crop across the face of a +lumberjack who had grasped her pony's bridle and was trying to separate +the animal from the others of the party.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">31</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2><h3>THE CHARGE OF THE JACKS</h3> +</div> + +<p>"Get out of this! Lively!" shouted Tom to the girls.</p> + +<p>"Keep together!" added Hippy.</p> + +<p>The two men forced their ponies between the girls and the lumberjacks, +the girls using their crops on their ponies and urging them on.</p> + +<p>The Overland girls cleared the scene in a few seconds, and halted a +short distance up the street to wait for Hippy and Tom, who were having +difficulty in extricating themselves from the mob. They did not succeed +in doing this until Hippy began to belabor Ginger over the rump, at the +same time pulling up on the reins. This<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">32</a></span> caused the animal to whirl and +buck and kick. Every volley from Ginger's lightning-like kicks put +several members of the mob out of the fight. Tom was using his crop, but +without much effect.</p> + +<p>A rough hand was laid on Hippy's leg, and a mighty tug nearly unhorsed +him. It probably would have done so had not Hindenburg at that juncture +taken a bite of the lumberjack's hand and caused the fellow to let go +without delay.</p> + +<p>The jacks by this time had begun to fight among themselves. Single and +group fights suddenly sprung up all over the street. The jacks, for the +moment, had lost their interest in the newcomers, and the two Overland +men, taking advantage of the opportunity, galloped down the street, +passing scattered groups of brawlers who were too busy with their own +affairs to heed them.</p> + +<p>The Overland men were almost clear of the mob when yells ahead of them +attracted their attention to a fresh disturbance. A man, who, as they +drew near, was seen to be an Indian standing at the side of the road, +taking no part in the disturbance, was the object of the uproar. A crowd +of half a dozen jacks had pounced on the Indian. He went down under the +rush. Hippy saw them grab the fellow and hurl him into the middle of the +street. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">33</a></span> Indian was on his feet in an instant, and, from the light +shed through the windows along the street, Hippy saw a knife flash in +the Indian's hand, saw the red man's arm shoot out, and a man fall, +uttering a howl.</p> + +<p>The jacks hesitated briefly, then uttering angry yells they hurled +themselves upon the Indian, bore him to the ground, and began to kick at +him with their heavy boots.</p> + +<p>Tom turned his pony and rode into the crowd at a gallop. Three +lumberjacks went down under his charge.</p> + +<p>"The cowards!" raged Hippy, also charging into the group and completing +what his companion had begun.</p> + +<p>"Run, you poor fish!" he yelled at the Indian, who had got to his feet +and stood dazedly gazing at his rescuers. "Run!"</p> + +<p>The Indian, suddenly recovering himself, darted between two buildings +and disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Good work!" chuckled Hippy, galloping up the street with Tom to join +the girls, who were waiting for them.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that was splendid!" cried Anne Nesbit as Tom and Hippy rejoined the +party of Overland girls.</p> + +<p>"It won't be splendid unless we step lively," answered Tom.</p> + +<p>"Keep going, girls, keep going," urged Hippy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">34</a></span></p> + +<p>"I hate to run away, but being a peace-loving person I run away whenever +a fight is suggested to me."</p> + +<p>"We know it," observed Emma.</p> + +<p>"Thanks! Which way do we go?" questioned Hippy.</p> + +<p>"Straight ahead and take the first right-hand turn about a mile from the +village to reach Joe Shafto's place, the storekeeper told me," Grace +informed them.</p> + +<p>The party galloped on until they reached the turn indicated by Grace +where they halted and consulted, deciding that the road to the right was +the one they should take. This road, according to Grace's information, +should lead them to Joe Shafto's place, ten or fifteen miles further on, +though it was not their purpose to go on to Joe's that night.</p> + +<p>The Overland Riders walked their horses after making the turn, there +being no need for haste, as no one believed that the lumberjacks would +follow, and further, the Overlanders were looking for a suitable camping +place for the night.</p> + +<p>"This appears to be a good place to make camp," finally called Tom Gray, +who was riding in the lead of the party. Tom pulled up and looked about +him, the others riding up to him and halting.</p> + +<p>"No good!" answered a strange voice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">35</a></span></p> + +<p>"What? Who said that?" demanded Hippy.</p> + +<p>A man stepped out from the shadow of the trees and stood confronting the +peering Overlanders.</p> + +<p>"It's Lo, the poor Indian!" cried Hippy. "Hello, Lo!"</p> + +<p>"So it is," agreed Tom. "How did you get here ahead of us?"</p> + +<p>"Come 'cross," answered the man, indicating with a gesture that he bad +taken a short cut through the woods, though how he knew where they were +going, unless he had heard their discussion at the point where they took +the right-hand road, the Overlanders could not imagine.</p> + +<p>"You say this is 'no good' as a camping place. What is the matter with +it?" demanded Tom Gray, regarding the Indian suspiciously.</p> + +<p>"No water. You come, me show."</p> + +<p>"Let him lead the way," suggested Elfreda.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Give the poor red man a chance," urged Hippy.</p> + +<p>The Indian, without asking further permission to lead them, turned and +trotted along ahead at a typical Indian lope, and at a rate of speed +that necessitated putting the ponies at a jog-trot in order to keep him +in view. The Indian proceeded on for fully half a mile, then, turning +sharply to the left, led them on until<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">36</a></span> he reached the bank of a stream, +to which he pointed as indicating their camping place.</p> + +<p>The site was hidden from the road by which they had arrived by trees and +a bluff, thus protecting the party from discovery by persons passing +along the road, which they readily understood the Indian had purposely +planned.</p> + +<p>"Fine! Fine!" glowed Tom.</p> + +<p>"We are much obliged to you, and thank you," added Anne.</p> + +<p>"What is your name?" asked Elfreda as the girls began to dismount.</p> + +<p>"Willy Horse."</p> + +<p>"Ho, ho, ho!" exclaimed Hippy Wingate. "That's a horse of another color. +Ladies and gentlemen, permit me to introduce to you Chief Willy Horse, +and believe me he is some horse to stand the punishment those +lumberjacks gave him and still be able to talk horse sense."</p> + +<p>The Overlanders acknowledged the introduction laughingly, and shook +hands with the Indian, at the same time giving him their names.</p> + +<p>"Where you go?" demanded the red man, addressing Tom Gray.</p> + +<p>"To the Pineries in the north."</p> + +<p>"Good! What do?"</p> + +<p>"Cruise them, Willy. Do you know what that is?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">37</a></span></p> + +<p>The Indian nodded.</p> + +<p>"Good! What you do?" he questioned, turning to Lieutenant Wingate.</p> + +<p>"Oh, most any old thing, Willy old hoss," answered Hippy jovially. "It +is mostly other persons who do the doing, in my case. They do me +instead."</p> + +<p>"Good! You Big Friend—big medicine. You help Willy Horse. Willy not +forget. Mebby kill lumberjacks one day, too."</p> + +<p>"Don't get naughty. They hang naughty Indians," reminded Hippy.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mister Pony—I mean Mister Horse—won't you sit down and have a +snack with us?" invited Emma Dean.</p> + +<p>"Of course he must," insisted Tom, pausing at his work of starting a +cook fire.</p> + +<p>The Indian shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Me go," he announced briefly.</p> + +<p>"Sorry. Hope we see you again," said Hippy.</p> + +<p>"Me see. You Big Friend. Bye," he said, halting before Lieutenant +Wingate. With that he trotted away.</p> + +<p>"What a queer character," exclaimed Nora Wingate. "He loves my Hippy, +because my Hippy is a brave man."</p> + +<p>"Who runs away to fight another day—not!" added Emma mockingly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">38</a></span></p> + +<p>"He must have run very fast to catch up with us," suggested Anne.</p> + +<p>"An Indian can outdistance a horse, as horses ordinarily travel," +answered Tom. "Then, too, he probably knew a shorter cut."</p> + +<p>"Did you notice how bruised and swollen his face was, and how +indifferent he appeared to be about it?" questioned Grace solicitously.</p> + +<p>"Probably not so indifferent as he seemed to be," laughed Hippy. "You +know an Indian forgets neither a kindness nor a wrong, and you see how +my magnetic personality led this particular Indian to love me."</p> + +<p>"All Indians do," observed Emma.</p> + +<p>"Let's make camp and eat," urged Anne. "I am nearly famished."</p> + +<p>Hippy most heartily approved of Anne's suggestion. Every member of the +outfit assisted in "rustling" the camp and the food. Ginger got a whole +handful of candy for his part in the routing of the lumberjacks, and +Hindenburg also helped himself liberally from the bag when Hippy put it +down on the ground.</p> + +<p>While eating their supper the Overlanders talked over their experiences +of the day and the evening. Miss Briggs declared that she would have +been keenly disappointed if something had not occurred to stir them up +at the outset of their journey.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">39</a></span></p> + +<p>"This getting into difficulties became a habit with this outfit on the +very day that it set sail for France and the great world war," she said.</p> + +<p>"I thank my stars that we are going into the woods where peace and the +voices of nature reign supreme," spoke up Emma.</p> + +<p>"Sometimes the voices of nature have a savage growl in them," reminded +Tom Gray laughingly. "Who is going to stand guard to-night?"</p> + +<p>"No one," answered Grace, nodding to Hippy.</p> + +<p>"Righto! The bull pup is the guard for this journey. I brought +Hindenburg along so that I might not lose sleep," answered Hippy, which +stirred the Overland girls to laughter. They had not forgotten that it +was a habit with Hippy Wingate to go to sleep when on guard and leave +the camp unprotected.</p> + +<p>All hands being tired and stiff after their long ride, they turned in as +soon as the supper dishes were washed and laid out to dry. Hindenburg +was tied to a tree on a long leash so that he might not stray away, and +the camp quickly settled down to slumber, a slumber that was +uninterrupted until some time after sun-up, when the bull pup awakened +them with his insistent barks. Hindenburg wanted his breakfast.</p> + +<p>They took their time in breakfasting, knowing that nothing was to be +gained by haste in view of the fact that Joe Shafto would be engaged in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">40</a></span> +ironing the family wash, and that they probably would not get started on +their journey to the Big North Woods before the following day.</p> + +<p>Stiffness of joints from the previous day's ride was soon forgotten in +the crisp morning air and the flame of color of the foliage, for they +were now entering a scattering growth of forest. As they progressed, +however, the trees were of larger and sturdier growth and the road +became merely a wagon trail leading to the northward.</p> + +<p>Luncheon was eaten by the roadside and the journey resumed immediately +afterwards. An hour later they came upon a clearing of about an acre, +with a small space occupied by a garden in which stood a log cabin of +comfortable dimensions.</p> + +<p>"Grace, is this the place?" called Tom Gray as they slowed down.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, but it seems to answer the description."</p> + +<p>"Anybody living up here would need to be a guide or he never would be +able to find his way home," declared Lieutenant Wingate.</p> + +<p>"Hoo—oo!" hailed Emma.</p> + +<p>After a few moments of waiting the Overlanders were gratified to see the +cabin door open and a woman step out, shading her eyes with a hand. She +was tall, thin and angular, the thinness of her face accentuated by a +pair of big horn-rimmed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">41</a></span> spectacles through which she glared at the +newcomers.</p> + +<p>"Who be ye?" demanded the woman in a rasping voice.</p> + +<p>"We are the Overland Riders, and we are looking for Joe Shafto's place," +answered Grace pleasantly.</p> + +<p>"I reckon ye ain't lookin' very hard," snapped back the woman.</p> + +<p>"Is this Joe's place?" interjected Tom Gray.</p> + +<p>"It be, I reckon."</p> + +<p>"Is Joe at home? I am Tom Gray. I arranged to have him act as our +guide."</p> + +<p>"I reckon he is."</p> + +<p>Tom dismounted and led his pony to the gate, irritated at the woman's +abrupt manner and speech, but this feeling was not shared by the others +of his party who were greatly amused at the brief dialogue.</p> + +<p>"I say, I am Tom Gray. May I see Joe?"</p> + +<p>"I reckon ye kin if ye've got eyes."</p> + +<p>"Then please ask him to step out. Or shall I go in?"</p> + +<p>"Yer lookin' at Joe Shafto. If ye don't like the looks of me look +t'other way!" she fairly flung at him.</p> + +<p>"You don't understand, Madam. We engaged Joe Shafto, a man, to guide us +through the North Woods and—"</p> + +<p>"I tell ye I'm the party, and I'm man enough for any bunch of +rough-necks in the timber," retorted the woman.</p> + +<p>"A woman guide! Good night!" muttered Hippy Wingate under his breath.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">42</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2><h3>A HUMAN TALKING MACHINE</h3> +</div> + +<p>"Of course, of course. I—I—well, I'll talk to my friends about it," +answered Tom lamely. He was flustrated and flushed, greatly to the +enjoyment of the Overland girls.</p> + +<p>"That's all right, Tom," soothed Grace. "I am positive that Miss +Shafto—"</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Shafto," corrected the woman. "Mrs. Joe Shafto. Git the handle +right."</p> + +<p>"I am positive that Mrs. Shafto will answer our purpose very nicely," +finished Grace.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes. I—I agree with you," mumbled Tom. "If you have time, or when +you do have time, we shall have to talk over our plans with you and—"</p> + +<p>"Ain't got no time for nothin' to-day. Had yer dinners?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">43</a></span></p> + +<p>"We had luncheon on the way," replied Grace.</p> + +<p>"Lucky for ye. I'll go work at the ironin'; then I've got to clean +house. Mebby then I'll talk to ye."</p> + +<p>Joe stamped back into the house, slamming the door behind her, and the +Overland Riders lost themselves in gales of laughter, galloping their +horses on beyond the house so that Joe might not hear. Tom followed +along slowly, considerably crestfallen.</p> + +<p>"Tom Gray, you surely have distinguished yourself," declared Anne +Nesbit.</p> + +<p>"My Hippy couldn't have done worse," added Nora.</p> + +<p>"It gives me a pain in my back just to look at her," averred Elfroda. +"Listening to her is worse."</p> + +<p>"I shan't listen at all. Thank goodness I have the voices of nature to +listen to," observed Emma.</p> + +<p>"Girls, I admit that I have made a mess of it. I suppose we can go on +without a guide, but really it is not wise for you girls, inexperienced +as you are in woodcraft, to venture into the Big Woods."</p> + +<p>"I do not agree with you folks," interjected Grace. "That woman is +sharp-tongued, but she is a sturdy and dependable character. It is my +opinion that we might have done a great deal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">44</a></span> worse in selecting a +guide. Let's go back to the house, make camp nearby, and wait until the +sturdy warrior is ready for us. She will be out again to talk to us soon +enough, if I am a judge of human nature."</p> + +<p>The Overlanders acted upon the suggestion and pitched their little tents +among the trees across the trail from Joe Shafto's home. While they were +thus engaged Joe came over and watched the operations, but without +uttering a word until the camp was made and a little cook fire started +for a cup of afternoon tea.</p> + +<p>"What's that for?" she demanded, pointing to the fire.</p> + +<p>"Afternoon tea now, and to cook our supper on later," answered Grace.</p> + +<p>"Yer all goin' to eat supper with me."</p> + +<p>The girls protested, but Joe, when once she had made an assertion, would +brook no opposition.</p> + +<p>"Six o'clock; no earlier, no later. To-morrow mornin' we start at four +o'clock. I've got all yer fodder, which-all I'll carry on June and July. +Them's my pack mules. Work singly or in pairs. Kin kick like all +possessed. No great scratch whether there's anythin' to kick at or not, +but they know better'n to kick me, though they ain't no love for Henry, +and he gives them heels plenty of room, 'cept one time when he forgot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">45</a></span> +hisself and got kicked clear out into the road, and nigh into kingdom +come, and I'll bet the pair of 'em that ye folks ain't got a hoss in the +outfit, not even that bronco with the glassy eye, that kin kick once to +June or July's twenty kicks, and, if you don't believe it, just heave a +tin can at one or t'other of 'em and see if ye can count the kicks, but +keep the road between ye and the kicks or I shan't be responsible for +what happens to ye, because I know them mules and I know what they can +do, and then agin—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, help!" wailed Emma.</p> + +<p>"The voice of nature," chuckled Hippy. "And to think we've got to listen +to it for weeks to come."</p> + +<p>"What's that ye say?" demanded Joe.</p> + +<p>"I—I think I was thinking out loud. I didn't mean to say anything. +Honest to goodness I didn't," apologized Hippy lamely.</p> + +<p>Joe fixed him with threatening eyes, then launched into another +monologue on mules, which wound up with some remarks on lumberjacks, +and a leaf from her family history.</p> + +<p>The Overland Riders learned that Joe's husband, who was a timber +cruiser, had been killed by lumberjacks, and that she was the sworn +enemy of every man who wore a Mackinaw coat and worked in the woods.</p> + +<p>"Since my man's death I've been livin' up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">46</a></span> here in the woods, guidin' +huntin' parties, makin' an honest livin' and layin' for the men who +killed my man. I'll find 'em yet. Now who be ye all? I hain't had no +interduction except as Mister Gray interduced himself to me, and—"</p> + +<p>"This is my wife, Grace Harlowe Gray," said Tom.</p> + +<p>The forest woman shook hands and glared into Grace's smiling eyes.</p> + +<p>"Glad to meet ye, Miss Gray. Ye look like one of them boudwarriors that +I seen pictures of in the high saciety papers."</p> + +<p>"Miss Emma Dean," announced Tom, pointing to Emma.</p> + +<p>"Glad to meet ye." Joe gave Emma a searching look. "Pert as a bird, +ain't ye?"</p> + +<p>"Some of my ancestors, I have reason to believe, were birds, and it is +quite possible that I have inherited some of their traits," answered +Emma airily.</p> + +<p>"Sparrows! No good. Don't git swelled up over some of yer folks wearin' +feathers. The kind ye belong to they shoot on sight. And now who be +<i>ye</i>?" demanded the woman, stepping up to the dignified J. Elfreda +Briggs.</p> + +<p>Elfreda introduced herself.</p> + +<p>"Glad to meet ye. Yer quite set up, but I guess ye might come down a peg +after ye git acquainted."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">47</a></span></p> + +<p>Nora Wingate and Anne Nesbit then introduced themselves, and Joe was +"glad to meet" them, but she forgot to address personal remarks to them, +for her eyes, glaring through the big spectacles, were fixed on Hippy +Wingate's grinning face. All this was "a powerful good joke to him," as +Emma confided to Grace in a loud whisper.</p> + +<p>Joe strode over to Hippy and peered down into his face as he sat playing +with Hindenburg.</p> + +<p>"I reckon some of yer ancestors must been monkeys, judgin' from that +monkey-grin on yer face. What's yer name?"</p> + +<p>Hippy told her, adding that he had been a flying ace in the world war, +which announcement he made pompously.</p> + +<p>"Glad to meet ye, Lieutenant; but look smart that ye don't try any of +yer flytricks on Joe Shafto. Six o'clock, folks. Remember!" was Joe's +parting word as she strode swiftly from their camp, screwing up her face +into a long-drawn wink as she passed Grace Harlowe. In that wink Grace +read what she had been searching for. Joe Shafto was human and a +humorist, crude, but with a keen mind and a love for banter that +promised much enjoyment for the Overland Riders.</p> + +<p>"I wonder who is the Henry that she mentioned?" reflected Grace out +loud.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">48</a></span></p> + +<p>"Perhaps Henry may be a tame goose. Think of 'June' and 'July' as names +for mules," chortled Hippy. "Oh, we're going to have a merry, merry time +this coming two months—especially Hindenburg and myself."</p> + +<p>Afternoon tea was an enjoyable occasion that day, at which the principal +topic was their new guide.</p> + +<p>At five minutes before six, after stamping out their little campfire, +the Overland party started for the log cabin. As they crossed the road +Hippy sniffed the air.</p> + +<p>"I smell food!" he cried.</p> + +<p>"Onions! Save me!" moaned Emma.</p> + +<p>"No. It is something far and away ahead of mere onions," answered Hippy. +"I don't know what it is, but were this not so formal an occasion, I +should break into a run for it."</p> + +<p>The door of the cabin stood open, so the party filed in unbidden. The +table was long enough for a lumberjack boarding house, constructed of +boards nailed together with cleats and placed on two boxes. Oilcloth +covered the boards and hung clear to the floor on either side. The ends +were open. There was a freshness and wholesomeness about the place that +attracted the girls at once.</p> + +<p>"Set down!" commanded Joe, entering with a heaping platter of meat.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">49</a></span></p> + +<p>"That is what I smelled!" exclaimed Hippy. "May I ask what that meat is, +Mrs. Shafto?"</p> + +<p>"Venison."</p> + +<p>"Eh? Don't wake me up," murmured Hippy.</p> + +<p>"Is the deer season on?" questioned Tom.</p> + +<p>"No. Not till November fifteenth. This is smoked venison, killed last +season. I put down a lot of it in caches where the water will keep it +cool."</p> + +<p>Another dish, a tinpanful of baked potatoes, came on with other smaller +dishes of vegetables; then the coffee was poured into the thick +serviceable cups that had already been placed by the plates, which, +together with two loaves of bread, comprised the meal. Appetites were at +concert pitch and it was with difficulty that Hippy Wingate restrained +himself until the girls were seated.</p> + +<p>"Miss Dean, set down at the end where I can watch ye that ye don't fly +away. Sorry ye have to set on a box, but there ain't chairs enough to go +around. I give the Lieutenant a chair 'cause a box ain't safe for him. +He's a big feeder and the box ain't strong. Dip in, folks. Get started. +Help yourselves. This ain't no saciety tea."</p> + +<p>The food was passed along and each Rider helped herself from platter and +pan, and every plate was heaped under the observant eyes that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">50</a></span> were +glaring through the big horn-rimmed spectacles to see that each person +helped herself to liberal portions.</p> + +<p>Exclamations were heard all around the table when the girls had tasted +of the smoked venison. Hippy, however, was too busy to talk or exclaim +unless he were forced to do so.</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant, did ye et like that when ye was chasin' the flyin' Dutchmen +in France?" demanded Joe.</p> + +<p>Hippy nodded.</p> + +<p>"It's a eternal wonder ye didn't fall down then."</p> + +<p>"I couldn't. I lived on angel food most of the time, and, after a while, +I could fly. See? You live on angel food long enough and you can fly, +too," promised Hippy gravely.</p> + +<p>"I reckon I would at that," answered the forest woman, pursing her lips, +the nearest thing to a smile that the Overland Riders had seen on her +stern, rugged face.</p> + +<p>The girls laughed merrily, and Nora turned a beaming face on her +husband.</p> + +<p>"Hippy, my darlin', you've met your match this time," she said.</p> + +<p>"I met you first, didn't I?" retorted Hippy, then returned to his +absorbing occupation and shortly afterwards passed his plate for another +helping.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">51</a></span></p> + +<p>"My land!" exclaimed Joe. "Ye do beat the bears for eatin'. Never seen +one that could stow it away the way ye do."</p> + +<p>"You should see him when he is hungry," advised Emma. "Why, when we were +riding in the Kentucky Mountains last year we—"</p> + +<p>"Well?" demanded the guide.</p> + +<p>Emma had abruptly ceased speaking as she felt something rubbing against +her foot. At first she thought it was Hindenburg who had slipped into +the house and crawled under the table to salvage the crumbs. Now +something surely was nosing at her knee.</p> + +<p>Emma Dean's face contracted ever so little when a cold something brushed +the back of the hand that hung at her side.</p> + +<p>"Hi—Hippy, where's the pup?" she questioned weakly.</p> + +<p>"Tied to a tree out yonder. Why?"</p> + +<p>Emma groped cautiously with the hand, first wishing to assure herself +that she was not imagining, before making an exhibition of herself. The +hand came in contact with what she recognized instantly, as a cold nose. +Light fingers crept gingerly along the nose and paused at a huge, furry +head, now well at her side. She gave a quick, startled glance down at +what lay under her hand, and her face went ghastly pale.</p> + +<p>Uttering a hysterical scream, Emma Dean toppled over backwards, crashing +to the cabin floor.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">52</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2><h3>OVERLANDERS GET A JOLT</h3> +</div> + +<p>As she went over, Emma Dean's feet hit the under side of the table. Her +plate of venison slid off to the floor, and Hippy Wingate's coffee +landed in his lap. The Overlanders sprang to their feet, but Joe Shafto +sat glaring from one to the other of them in amazement.</p> + +<p>"A bear! A bear! A bear under the table," screamed Emma and sank back in +a dead faint.</p> + +<p>It was then that the Overland Riders saw what had so frightened her, for +a black bear ambled out from under the table and began gulping down the +venison from Emma's overturned plate. To the eyes of the girls he +appeared to be a huge animal, and his growls, as he swallowed choice +morsels of venison, were far from reassuring.</p> + +<p>"Don't be skeert! It's only Henry," cried the forest woman. "Set down!"</p> + +<p>No one heeded her advice. Elfreda Briggs<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">53</a></span> was standing on a chair, Anne +Nesbit had run into the garden which she had reached by a short cut +through an open window. Tom and Hippy, having sprung back, were gazing +on the intruder in startled amazement, while Nora Wingate, standing on +the table with one foot in the platter of venison, was screaming.</p> + +<p>Grace, who had backed into a corner, was trying to subdue her own +individual panic sufficiently to reason out the situation. Joe Shafto's +words, when Grace finally absorbed them, brought enlightenment.</p> + +<p>"Will he bite, Mrs. Shafto?" she called.</p> + +<p>"Won't bite nothin' if ye don't bother him."</p> + +<p>Grace ran to Emma and bathed her face with water.</p> + +<p>"Get down!" commanded Lieutenant Wingate, holding up a hand to Nora. +"Don't you see you're spoiling a perfectly good lot of venison? I never +saw such a parcel of 'fraid cats in all my life."</p> + +<p>"Neither did I," grumbled Mrs. Shafto. "I didn't know Henry was down +there or I'd a shooed him out before ye set down."</p> + +<p>"I won't get down until that beast is out of the house," declared Nora. +"Whoever heard of such a thing. Don't!"</p> + +<p>Hippy pulled her down without ceremony and placed Nora in a chair.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">54</a></span></p> + +<p>"Behave yourself! You will see more bears, and then some, before you +finish this journey."</p> + +<p>Joe took a broom and shooed Henry out into the yard. A scream out there +followed almost instantly, for Henry had ambled around the house to make +the acquaintance of Anne Nesbit.</p> + +<p>"The beast is chasing me!" she panted, as she ran back into the house.</p> + +<p>No one gave heed to her, so she ran to Nora and the two consoled each +other. In the meantime, Grace had revived Emma.</p> + +<p>"Ha—as he gone?" she wailed weakly.</p> + +<p>"Yes. That is Mrs. Shafto's tame bear, you silly."</p> + +<p>"Merely a voice of nature that you heard, Emma," reminded Hippy. "By the +way, what message did Henry convey to you?"</p> + +<p>"Henry is the name of Mrs. Shafto's pet," explained Grace.</p> + +<p>"Fright!" moaned Emma in answer to Hippy's question.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Shafto, if you don't mind, I believe I will have another piece of +deer," said Hippy.</p> + +<p>"Yer wife stepped in it," replied Joe.</p> + +<p>"It's all in the family," observed Hippy, holding out his plate.</p> + +<p>One by one the Overlanders returned to the table, with the exception of +Emma, whose appetite had left her, but Hippy had the rest of the +venison<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">55</a></span> all to himself. The meal was finished off with apple pie, and +the girls said they had not eaten so much since their first meals at +home on their return from service in France.</p> + +<p>Following the meal, the Overland Riders discussed their proposed journey +with the forest woman, looked over the supplies she had bought and +pronounced themselves satisfied, not only with her purchases, but with +Joe Shafto herself. Nothing more was seen of Henry that evening. The +woman said he probably had gone into the woods to sleep or to forage for +food.</p> + +<p>"Where did you get the beast?" questioned Emma.</p> + +<p>"When he war a cub. I shot his mother and brought the cub home, and he's +one of the family. I kin make him mind just like a dog, and sick him on +like a dog. I'll call him in and show ye."</p> + +<p>"No, no," protested Emma and Nora in chorus.</p> + +<p>"I shall dream of bears all night, but don't you dare let him out while +I am here," begged Emma.</p> + +<p>"Henry's my watchdog. He sleeps on the front steps, and he'll chaw up +anything that comes in the yard after I git to bed, so keep out or +you'll git bit."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I shall keep out, never fear," answered Emma in a tone of voice +that brought a laugh from everyone at the table.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">56</a></span></p> + +<p>Before leaving Mrs. Shafto that night the Overland girls acquainted her +with such plans as they had made for their outing, Tom telling her of +the work that lay before him and expressing his wish to have the party +as near to his work as possible. "Good nights" finally were said, and +the guests departed for their little camp among the trees. A fire was +built to light up the tents while the girls were arranging their +blankets and preparing themselves for bed.</p> + +<p>"Hindenburg gets free range for the night," volunteered Hippy. So, with +the bull pup on watch, all hands turned in, for an early start was to be +made on the following morning. They were awakened by his barking at +daybreak.</p> + +<p>Joe Shafto was hallooing to them.</p> + +<p>"Git a hustle on ye," she called in answer to Tom Gray's answering hail.</p> + +<p>There was a scramble in the camp of the Overlanders, for they desired to +show their guide that they were no novices at breaking camp and getting +under way. Just as they were finishing their breakfasts Joe led over +June and July, and waited observantly while Tom and Hippy rolled their +belongings into packs which Mrs. Shafto lashed to the mules with her own +hands.</p> + +<p>"Ye see the twins don't like to have strangers monkeyin' around 'em," +she explained. "I'll<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">57</a></span> git goin' now and ye kin foller along. I've got to +git Henry first."</p> + +<p>"Eh? What's that?" demanded Hippy.</p> + +<p>"I don't go nowheres without my Henry."</p> + +<p>"You—you aren't going to take that beast with you, are you, Mrs. +Shafto?" cried Emma.</p> + +<p>"I sure be, and I reckon ye'll be mighty glad to have him along before +we git through with this here hop into the Big Woods."</p> + +<p>Emma groaned dismally.</p> + +<p>"Never mind," soothed Hippy. "You can practice your nature reading stunt +on him. Who knows but that you may learn the bear language, so that by +the time we finish our work up here you will be able to go out in the +forest and tell the bears your life history, and listen to them telling +you theirs. Of course they might eat you, but that would not matter."</p> + +<p>"Huh!" grunted Miss Dean, elevating her nose and turning her back on +him.</p> + +<p>"Mount!" ordered Hippy, after each girl had saddled her pony and stood +waiting for the start. They swung into their saddles with agility, and +jogged out into the road with Hindenburg racing ahead and darting back, +barking joyously. He was already feeling the call of the wild.</p> + +<p>"There's Joe," called Emma, as they rounded a bend in the road.</p> + +<p>"I do not see the bear," wondered Tom.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">58</a></span></p> + +<p>"Perhaps she decided to leave him at home to shift for himself. I hope +so."</p> + +<p>Grace said she hoped <i>not</i>, for the bear would make life interesting for +them.</p> + +<p>Joe was sitting on the back of one of her pack mules jogging along, +leading the second mule behind, but, though she must have heard the +Overlanders shout to her, she neither replied nor looked back. +Hindenburg, however, darted ahead and began barking at the mules, +dodging their heels successfully for several minutes, much to the +amusement of the party following. At last, however, he caught a glancing +blow from a mule foot that sent him rolling into the bushes. In a few +moments he was out again, circling mules and rider, barking his angry +protests, then dodging off the trail into the bushes where they heard +him barking with a different note in his voice.</p> + +<p>"There comes the bear!" cried Nora. "Look at him!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and there comes Hindenburg bucking the line," added Hippy.</p> + +<p>The bear, followed by the dog, burst into sight just at the moment that +Hindenburg nipped the bear's hind leg. Henry whirled, made a pass at the +pup, and missed him. The bear then charged Hindenburg with mouth wide +open, and the battle was on.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">59</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 277px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="illus-002" id="illus-002"></a> +<img src="images/grace-059.jpg" alt="The Bear Advanced, Sparring Like a Prize Fighter." title="" width="277" height="400" /><br /> +<span class="caption">The Bear Advanced, Sparring Like a Prize Fighter.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">61</a></span>"Call off yer dog," shouted Joe.</p> + +<p>"Call off your bear," answered Hippy Wingate.</p> + +<p>The guide tried to do so and failed. Hippy's efforts to draw Hindenburg +from the fray met with no better success.</p> + +<p>It was at this juncture that the bear scored first blood. With a well +placed blow of his paw he knocked the pup into the middle of the road, +and the lead mule, at whose heels Hindenburg had fallen, kicked him the +rest of the way into the bushes.</p> + +<p>"Sick 'im, Henry!" yelled Joe.</p> + +<p>"No you don't," shouted Hippy as the bear ambled across the road in +pursuit of the injured pup.</p> + +<p>"I'll learn that fresh pup to bite my bear," flung back the forest +woman.</p> + +<p>"And I'll kill that brute of a bear if he gets the pup," retorted Hippy, +galloping his pony to the point at which the two animals had +disappeared, and leaping from Ginger's back, regardless of the risk of +losing his mount.</p> + +<p>Hippy plunged into the bushes to the rescue of the bull pup. The dog's +yelps indicated that he was in further trouble, which Hippy discovered +to be the fact when he came in sight of the combatants. Henry was boxing +the unfortunate dog with both fore paws. Hindenburg, from whose mouth +and nose the blood was running, was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">62</a></span> staggering about weakly, but trying +his utmost to get a hold and hang on.</p> + +<p>"Let go, Henry, you brute!" commanded Hippy.</p> + +<p>Henry, however, instead of letting go, ambled at the dog with wide open +mouth, thoroughly angered and determined to finish with his teeth the +battle he had begun with his paws.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Wingate sprang into the fray and delivered a kick on the side +of the bear's head with all the strength he could throw into the blow.</p> + +<p>Henry rose in his might, rearing on hind legs, and advanced on Hippy, +snarling and showing his teeth, and sparring like a prize fighter.</p> + +<p>"That's your game, is it?" jeered the Overland Rider.</p> + +<p><i>Whack!</i></p> + +<p>Hippy planted a blow with his fist full on Henry's nose, the most tender +part of a bear's body. Henry reeled, backed away, followed by Lieutenant +Wingate who sparred skillfully, frequently planting other blows on the +tender nose of his adversary.</p> + +<p>Boxing with a bear was a new experience for him, but his success thus +far made Hippy careless, and in a particularly savage blow he threw his +body too far forward, missed the nose, and was obliged to spring towards +the animal to save himself from falling.</p> + +<p>Henry, despite his rage and aching nose, did not miss his opportunity. +Both powerful front legs closed about Hippy Wingate like a flash, and +the man and the bear went down together.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">63</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2><h3>CAMPING UNDER THE GIANT PINES</h3> +</div> + +<p>Tom Gray heard the two crash into the bushes, as he was on his way to +the scene followed by Joe Shafto and part of the Overland outfit.</p> + +<p>As he went down Hippy had the presence of mind to thrust both hands +under the bear's chin and press upward with all his strength, though, in +that tight embrace, it was difficult to do anything except gasp for +breath and wonder how long it would be before he heard the snap of his +ribs breaking in.</p> + +<p>With the bear's breath hot on his face, Lieutenant Wingate afterwards +remembered wondering why it was that Henry did not bite when the biting +was good. Never having bitten a human being and having no recollection, +in all probability, of any associates outside of human beings the bear +may not have been inclined to bite.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">64</a></span></p> + +<p>On the other hand, the bear's temper appeared to be rising, for his +growls were growing more menacing with the seconds.</p> + +<p>"Hindenburg! Sick 'im!" gasped Hippy.</p> + +<p>He heard the pup, weak from loss of blood, give a feeble yelp, then a +snarl, and in the next second Hindenburg had fastened his teeth in +Henry's neck.</p> + +<p>A heavy paw swept Hindenburg away and left him quivering and moaning. +The respite had been sufficient, however, to enable Lieutenant Wingate +to roll out of the clutches of the beast, but his freedom was brief. +Hippy had hardly sprung to his feet when the bear rose and snatched him +again.</p> + +<p>It was at this juncture that Tom and the guide arrived, just in time to +see Hippy Wingate deliver another blow squarely on Henry's all too +tender nose.</p> + +<p>"Henry!" yelled the woman. "Let go, Henry!"</p> + +<p>Henry plainly was in no mood to let go, and it was evident that it was +now his intention to bite and bite hard, for the snarling mouth was wide +open when Joe Shafto sprang to the rescue. Joe carried a hardwood club, +which she evidently carried as a handy weapon.</p> + +<p>"Now will ye mind me!" she shrieked, bringing the club down with a +mighty whack on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">65</a></span> bridge of Henry's head. "Take that, and that, and +that!" she added, delivering three more resounding whacks.</p> + +<p>Henry uttered a howl, released his hold on Hippy Wingate and rolled over +on his back, feet in the air, where he lay whining and plainly begging +for mercy like a child that was being punished.</p> + +<p>Hippy had quickly rolled out of the way and jumped up, his face bloody, +and his clothes showing rents where Henry's claws had raked them. Hippy +ran to Hindenburg whom he found whimpering and licking his wounds.</p> + +<p>"You poor fish! Why did you do it?" rebuked Lieutenant Wingate.</p> + +<p>"Git up!" commanded Joe Shafto, poking Henry in the ribs with her stick. +"Come with me and behave yerself, or I'll wallop ye till ye won't be +able to smell venison for a year of Sundays." The guide fastened on one +of Henry's ears and started for the trail, Henry ambling along meekly at +her side. "Lieutenant, keep that pup away from my Henry," ordered Joe.</p> + +<p>"Joe, keep that bear away from my pup," retorted Hippy, carrying +Hindenburg in his arms and gently depositing him in the saddle bag.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Hippy, what happened to you?" cried Emma.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">66</a></span></p> + +<p>"I've been communing with nature," he answered briefly.</p> + +<p>"Darlin', let me wipe the blood from your face," crooned Nora. "Did the +naughty bear scratch oo bootiful face?"</p> + +<p>The Overlanders shouted and Hippy, very red of face, sprang into his +saddle with such a jolt that Ginger gave him a lively minute of bucking +in which poor Hindenburg got a shaking up that made him whimper.</p> + +<p>The forest woman with her mules had already started and was now some +distance in the lead, with her pet bear shuffling along at the edge of +the road abreast of the leading mule.</p> + +<p>"Ye git nothin' to eat to-day, Henry. I didn't bring ye up to brawl and +to fit with yaller dogs, ye lazy lout," scolded Joe.</p> + +<p>When the party halted for its noon rest and luncheon, Henry sat morosely +at one side of their camping place, now and then licking his chops, +while Hindenburg, performing the same service for his wounds, occupied a +position on the opposite side of the camp. Neither animal appeared to be +aware of the other's existence.</p> + +<p>"Behold the forest," said Tom Gray later in the afternoon, halting his +pony on a rise of ground, and encompassing a wide range of country with +a sweep of his arm.</p> + +<p>It was an undulating sea of deep green, almost<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">67</a></span> as limitless as the sky +itself, that the Overland Riders gazed upon.</p> + +<p>"Them's the Big North Woods," Joe informed them. "We take a log trail +just beyond here, and to-night we'll be in the 'Pineys.'"</p> + +<p>"And to-morrow I shall be off and at work," announced Tom.</p> + +<p>They were soon picking their way along a shady fragrant trail, tall, +straight, noble pines about them seeming to be vieing with each other in +their efforts to reach the blue sky. The wind now bore a new fragrance, +and the air was heavily pungent with the odor of pine.</p> + +<p>"Emma, does your nature cult explain to you why the trees grow so tall +and so straight?" asked Tom, riding up beside Miss Dean.</p> + +<p>Emma shook her head.</p> + +<p>"Because they are fighting the battle of nature—fighting for existence, +for their very lives, just as all the world of humans is fighting its +battle. A tree must have light and air, or it dies. To get these it must +grow up, it must keep up with its competitors, the trees about it, and +forge ahead of them if possible, ever reaching up and up for sunlight +and air. Once let it fall behind and it is lost; it is overwhelmed by +the sturdier giants; it pales and pines and seems to lose its ambition. +The tree, knowing it has lost its grip, then seems to grow thin and +gaunt, and one day it goes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">68</a></span> crashing down, to rot and furnish +nourishment for the giants that overwhelmed it. The tree's life, like +ours, is a struggle for existence, with the survival of the fittest."</p> + +<p>"Were I a tree I think I should prefer to grow alone out in an open +field," decided Emma.</p> + +<p>"Not if you were a wise tree, you would not," laughed Tom. "Out there +you would be the plaything of the winds. Your body would be exposed to +the glaring sun, the full blast of every passing storm, and the bitter +cold of winter, which would, unless you were very hardy, have a tendency +to retard your growth and weaken your vigor. Trees, like humans, do not +enjoy a lonely life, but when they get together they immediately enter +into bitter competition. Isn't that quite human?"</p> + +<p>"Where are you heading, Mrs. Shafto?" interrupted Grace, as the guide +struck off, leaving the trail and entering the dense forest.</p> + +<p>"Goin' to find a campin' place while I kin see," she answered. Now and +then Joe would halt to examine an old blaze on a tree, occasionally +making a new blaze with her short-handled woodsman's axe on the opposite +side of the tree so that, upon returning along that trail, the new blaze +might be easily seen.</p> + +<p>"I fear that I was not born with a woodsman's sense," complained Anne.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">69</a></span></p> + +<p>"No one is. That is why a woodsman blazes trees," answered Tom. "I do +not know whether you people are familiar with 'blazes.' Grace knows +something about them."</p> + +<p>"The only 'blaze' I know anything about is the blaze I make when I try +to start a cook fire," laughed Hippy.</p> + +<p>"You will need more knowledge than that if you stray a hundred yards +from camp in the Pineries," replied Tom as they rode along. "A blaze is +made by a single downward stroke of the axe, the object being to expose +a good-sized spot of the whitish sapwood, which, set in the dark +framework of the bark, is a staring mark that is certain to attract +attention."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but suppose the traveler tries to find the trail a year or so +later?" questioned the practical Elfreda. "Hasn't it grown up so high +that he can't see it?"</p> + +<p>"No. A blaze always remains at its original height above the ground, +because a tree increases its height and girth only by building on top of +the previous growth. There is much of interest that I could tell you +along this line, but I will merely describe the various blazes and their +meanings, leaving the rest until some other time. It is well to remember +that a trail blazed in a forest is likely to have been made either by a +hunter, a lumberman, a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">70</a></span> timber-looker, or a surveyor. A hunter's line is +apt to be inconspicuous. So is a timber-looker's, because he is +searching for a bonanza and doesn't wish anyone else to discover it. A +surveyor's line is always absolutely straight, except where it meets an +insurmountable object, when it makes a right-angle turn to avoid the +object, then goes straight ahead again.</p> + +<p>"All trees that stand directly on the line of a survey have two notches +cut on each side of them and are called 'sight trees.' Bushes on or near +the line are bent by the woodsman at right angles to it.</p> + +<p>"When a blaze line turns abruptly so that a person following it might +otherwise overlook it, a long slash is made on that side of the tree +which faces the new direction. There are other forms of blazes, such as +marking section corners, boundaries and the like, which it is +unnecessary for you to know now, but with which it might be wise for you +to familiarize yourselves as you go along. This is the end of your first +lesson."</p> + +<p>"There's the fork of the river that we are goin' to camp on," called +Joe, riding down a steep bank, followed by the Overlanders, their ponies +slipping and sliding until they had reached the more level ground near +the stream.</p> + +<p>"We camp here," announced the forest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">71</a></span> woman. "If ye don't like it, pick +out yer own camp. The bear and I stay right here."</p> + +<p>Dismounting, Tom strode over to the tree under which Joe had announced +her intention of making camp, and, placing a hand on it, gazed up along +its length, then at the adjacent trees.</p> + +<p>"She's stood here for a hundred years or more, and I reckon no wind will +blow her down to-night. All right!" announced Tom.</p> + +<p>"Get busy, girls," called Grace.</p> + +<p>The Overlanders, dismounting, inhaled deeply of the air, heavily pungent +with the odor of the pine, then set to work with a vim to pitch their +camp. Tom, in the meantime, climbed the bank to look at a huge pile of +logs that lay on a skidway above their camping place.</p> + +<p>"Someone got left last spring," he said upon his return to his +companions. "Those logs were cut last winter, but the water in the river +last spring was evidently too low to float them down, so they must stay +where they are until next spring awaiting the freshets. The blocks will +then be knocked from under the skidway and those hundreds of thousands +of feet of timber will go thundering down into the river. You will +observe that they have cut a channel or 'travoy,' as it is called, +through which the logs will roll after leaving the skidway, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">72</a></span> pass on +to the stream. This 'travoy' is pretty well grown over with second +growth, but the logs will roll the growth down, and when they do you +would think that all the tremendous forces of nature had been let +loose."</p> + +<p>By this time the camp was nearly finished, and the tents of the +Overlanders looked like tiny doll houses under those giant pines, and in +this, the very heart of nature, in the silence and the grandeur of it +all, the girls felt a deep sense of something that they could not +define, which left them disinclined to laugh or chatter.</p> + +<p>Soon after dark the sky became overcast, the pines began dripping +moisture, and a gentle breeze was heard murmuring in the tops of the +trees.</p> + +<p>"Come, little nature child! What are the wild winds in the tree-tops +saying?" teased Hippy, breaking an awed silence of several minutes.</p> + +<p>"I—I don't rightly know," answered Emma, after listening intently to +the whisperings in the pines. "I—I think that the message they are +trying to convey to me—to us—is a warning of something to come, +something that is near at hand. I wish Madam Gersdorff were here. She +could read the warning and tell us what peril it is that is hovering +over us."</p> + +<p>Nora uttered a shrill peal of laughter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">73</a></span></p> + +<p>"Don't," begged Anne.</p> + +<p>"You've got a bad attack of the willies," groaned Hippy in a tone of +disgust that brought a half-hearted laugh from his companions, though, +had they been willing to admit it, they too felt something of the +depression that was reflected in Emma Dean's face and voice.</p> + +<p>Work on the camp finished, the Overland Riders put out the fire and +turned in, Henry rolling himself up into a furry ball, Hindenburg +snuggling down between Tom and Hippy. Only forest sounds, now faint and +far away, marred the solemn impressive stillness of the Big North Woods, +a stillness that was destined to be rudely interrupted ere the dawn of +another day.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">74</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2><h3>FELLED BY A MYSTERIOUS BLOW</h3> +</div> + +<p>When Grace awakened late in the night the feeling of oppression with +which she had gone to sleep still lay heavy upon her. The faint soughing +of a breeze in the tree tops, the light thuds of falling pine cones, +were the only sounds to be heard outside of the breathing of her +companions who were sleeping soundly.</p> + +<p>Suddenly her ears caught a distant roar, and a few drops of rain +pattered on the tent.</p> + +<p>"It is going to storm," murmured Grace. "I hope no dead limbs fall from +the trees on our camp." Pulling the blankets over her head to shut out +the sounds she tried to go to sleep, but sleep would not come, so Grace +uncovered her head and lay listening.</p> + +<p>The wind seemed to die down for a while, but it soon sprang up with +renewed strength, and was sweeping violently over the tops of the pines, +which were creaking and groaning under the strain. A distant crash told +of some forest giant that had gone down under the blast; then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">75</a></span> the rain +fell, a deluge of it, which finally beat through the little tents and +trickled down over the sleeping Overland girls.</p> + +<p>"Are you all right in there?" called Tom from the outside.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but we are getting wet. Is it going to last long?" asked Grace.</p> + +<p>"Not being able to get a view of the sky, I can't say positively. It +seems like only a shower to me."</p> + +<p>"Wait a moment. I'll join you."</p> + +<p>Grace hurriedly dressed and, throwing on her rubber coat, stepped out.</p> + +<p>"I don't just like the way some of these trees are acting," said Tom. +"Perhaps you haven't noticed how the ground is heaving."</p> + +<p>"Yes I have, but I did not know that it meant anything alarming."</p> + +<p>"It shows that the wind is throwing a great strain on the trees and that +there is too much play in the roots for the good of the trees—and +ourselves," he added. "I hope our supplies do not fall down under the +whipping they are getting."</p> + +<p>The provisions had been slung in sacks from a rope strung between two +trees, about ten feet above the ground, to keep them out of reach of +Henry and other prowling animals.</p> + +<p>"How long have you been up?" asked Grace.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">76</a></span></p> + +<p>"Half an hour or so. I went up to the ridge to the rear of the camp, +thinking that I had heard something unusual going on up there, but +hurried back when the rain started. What I heard must have been the +trees creaking."</p> + +<p>They listened to the storm for several minutes, Tom Gray trying to +interpret the sounds.</p> + +<p>"Awaken the girls!" he directed, acting upon a sudden resolution. "Get +them out as quickly as possible." Tom had heard a sound coming from the +ridge that stirred him into quick action. "Tell them to fetch the +blankets and our rifles. We mustn't lose any of those things."</p> + +<p>"Will you call Hippy and Joe?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes. Hurry!"</p> + +<p>"Turn out!" shouted Tom at the opening of Hippy's tent. "Be lively. +Blankets and weapons with you."</p> + +<p>"Wha—at, in this storm?" wailed Hippy.</p> + +<p>"Better get wet than get killed," retorted Tom, springing over to Joe +Shafto's tent. Joe answered his hail with a sharp demand to know what he +wanted.</p> + +<p>"Pile out as quickly as possible. We are likely to have trouble. And +call your bear off."</p> + +<p>Henry was sniffing at Tom's heels and growling ominously, but he obeyed +the incisive command of his master and retired to his position in front +of her tent.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">77</a></span></p> + +<p>The girls, he found, were already out of their tents, blankets over +their heads, all shivering in the chill rain, all too cold to speak +except Emma Dean.</p> + +<p>"I—I to-o-old you something was go-going to happen," she stammered. +"The v-v-v-voice of nature to-o-old me so."</p> + +<p>"N-n-n-nature is an old fogy," jeered Hippy mockingly. "Nothing has +happened and I don't know why we have been dragged out into this rotten +storm."</p> + +<p>"Follow me and watch your step," directed Tom tersely. He led the way to +the river and along its bank to the tethering ground. "Lead your ponies +to a safer place, further up the stream," he ordered.</p> + +<p>This hurried departure from their camp was a good deal of a mystery to +the Overland Riders. They did not understand why, nor did Tom Gray tell +them.</p> + +<p>"Hippy, help me tie the horses," he said, after having gone several rods +further up stream. "One at a time with the ponies, folks, then go make +yourselves as comfortable as possible under the bluff of the bank. The +bushes there will offer you more protection from the wind and rain than +the trees would."</p> + +<p>Shortly thereafter Tom and Hippy joined their shivering companions, and +the party, with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">78</a></span> blankets stretched over their heads, huddled miserably +as they sat on the wet ground under the blanket roof, Hindenburg on +Hippy's lap, and Henry outside in the rain licking the water from his +dripping coat of fur.</p> + +<p>"How are you, J. Elfreda?" teased Grace.</p> + +<p>"Saturated and satiated," answered Miss Briggs briefly.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what the voices of nature are saying at the present moment?" +mused Hippy. "If they feel anything like I do, their remarks are more +forceful than elegant."</p> + +<p>"Even if you were to hear them you would be no wiser," observed Emma. +"Only persons with unusual minds can read the messages that nature +conveys."</p> + +<p>Someone under the blanket roof giggled, and Hippy articulated "Ahem!"</p> + +<p>"As I was about to say—What's that?" he exclaimed sharply.</p> + +<p>A boom, that reminded all who heard it of the explosion of a +high-powered shell at a distance, smote the ears of the Overland Riders. +Then a succession of resounding reports and terrific crashings shook the +earth.</p> + +<p>"Stay where you are!" shouted Tom Gray as, with single accord, the girls +sprang to their feet and started to run. They halted at sound of Tom's +voice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">79</a></span></p> + +<p>Something from the air struck the ground with a thud, and Hippy Wingate +toppled over against Elfreda Briggs and sank down, uttering a faint +moan.</p> + +<p>"Hippy's hurt! Something hit him. Quick, Tom! Show a light!" cried Miss +Briggs.</p> + +<p>Tom Gray flashed a ribbon of light from his pocket lamp and sprang to +his companion.</p> + +<p>"Hippy! Hippy!" he begged.</p> + +<p>Nora uttered an anguished wail, and in an instant her arms were about +Lieutenant Wingate's neck.</p> + +<p>"Let go and give him air," commanded Tom.</p> + +<p>Hippy lay as he had fallen, half on his side, one arm doubled under his +head. A red welt across his forehead showed where the blow that felled +him had fallen.</p> + +<p>The reverberating crashes that had shaken the earth were dying out and +now seemed much further away than at first.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">80</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2><h3>THEIR FIRST DISASTER</h3> +</div> + +<p>"Oh, what has happened?" begged Anne tremblingly.</p> + +<p>"The logs went out," answered Tom briefly.</p> + +<p>"Di—did a log hit Hippy?" questioned Emma.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what hit him. Fetch water," directed Tom, who was fanning +the unconscious Hippy with his hat.</p> + +<p>Joe Shafto had run down to the stream and, at this juncture, came up to +them with a hatful of water, which she handed to Tom. Grace took Tom's +hat from him and did the fanning while her husband was bathing Hippy's +face. The rain had become a misty drizzle and the wind had died out +entirely, but the trees were dripping moisture that soaked into the +clothing of the Overland Riders more effectively than had the downpour +of a few moments before.</p> + +<p>It was nearly half an hour before Lieutenant Wingate regained +consciousness, and it was some little time later before he could hold a +sitting position, for his head was swimming.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">81</a></span></p> + +<p>"Had we better not get him under his tent?" asked Grace.</p> + +<p>"If there is a tent left, yes. You folks will remain right here until I +return. I am going over to the camp," replied Tom.</p> + +<p>"Is there danger?" questioned Grace anxiously.</p> + +<p>"I think not. I shall not be gone more than a few minutes."</p> + +<p>Tom took his pocket lamp with him, leaving the Overlanders in the dark, +for their own lamps were in their packs in the tents. Tom, however, came +back inside of fifteen minutes.</p> + +<p>"How is the camp?" asked Elfreda.</p> + +<p>"There isn't any camp," answered Tom.</p> + +<p>"Wha—at?" gasped the Overlanders.</p> + +<p>"It hit me and went on into the river," groaned Hippy. "Voice of +nature," he added in a mutter, but no one laughed.</p> + +<p>"Our camp was pitched in the travoy way. The storm loosened the supports +of the skidway and let the logs down. Several hundred thousand feet of +them rolled over our camp and mashed it flat. A good part of the timber +went on into the river. The rest of it is scattered all the way along +the travoy."</p> + +<p>"What! All our provisions gone?" wailed Hippy.</p> + +<p>"No. They were strung up high enough to be out of the way," spoke up +Grace.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">82</a></span></p> + +<p>"You are wrong, Grace," differed Tom. "A log must have ended up and +broken the rope. At least the rope is broken and most of our supplies +appear to have been carried away. We are now back to first principles. +We must either go back for fresh supplies or live as the forest wanderer +lives, rustling for our grub as we go along. The first thing to be done +is to build a fire."</p> + +<p>"Fine! I should like to see you do that with everything soaking wet," +laughed Elfreda.</p> + +<p>"We shall see," replied Tom. "What we need first of all is light so we +may see what we are about."</p> + +<p>After searching about, Tom found an old uptilted log which he proposed +to use as a "backlog" for a fire. He next roamed about with his lamp, +hunting for a dead pine tree leaning to the south. He explained that the +wood and bark on the under side of such a tree would be reasonably dry +and would make excellent fuel. He found one that had been shivered by +lightning, and from the south side of this he chopped off bark and +chips. The girls carried these to the fallen uptilted tree.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, the guide had searched for and found several pine +knots. From these Tom whittled shavings from their less resinous ends, +leaving the shavings on the sticks. He set<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">83</a></span> these knots up like a tripod +under the fallen tree, small ends down and the shavings touching.</p> + +<p>"We will now strike a match and you shall see whether or not we know how +to build a fire under present conditions. Grace, how do you think you +would strike a match with nothing dry to strike it on?" he teased.</p> + +<p>"I do not believe I should strike it," answered Grace.</p> + +<p>"Hold your hat over me," he directed, getting down on his knees. Tom +placed the head of the match between his teeth and jerked the match +forward through the teeth, cupped the match in his hands until the flame +of the match ran up its stick, whereupon he applied it to the shavings.</p> + +<p>The pine knots flickered, then flamed up, snapping and shooting out +little streamers of reddish fire. Bark and splinters from the leaning +tree were placed about the knots, and in a few moments they had a +cheerful fire.</p> + +<p>"Cut two saplings and spread the blanket for a backing," said Tom, +nodding to the guide.</p> + +<p>Joe sharpened one end of each sapling and forced them into the ground +back of the log, and on the saplings she stretched one of the wet +blankets.</p> + +<p>"Girls, in all our campaigning we haven't learned much, have we?" +demanded Anne. "Had it not been for Tom we should have sat all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">84</a></span> night in +misery and wetness. I think we are going to learn something on this +journey."</p> + +<p>"It strikes me that we have already learned a few things," observed Miss +Briggs.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Wingate recovered rapidly, and when able he began searching +about to discover what had hit him but could find nothing.</p> + +<p>The clothing of the party under the influence of that red-hot fire soon +dried out, and the spirits of the Overland Riders rose in proportion. +Acting upon Elfreda's suggestion that they make an effort to salvage +their supplies, Tom and Hippy prepared pitchpine torches, and all hands +repaired to the scene of their late camping place.</p> + +<p>"Look! Oh, look!" cried Emma, as they came within sight of it. Not a +vestige of the camp was left. Logs lay about everywhere, some almost +standing on end. Young trees were broken off short, bushes laid flat as +if a tornado had swept over the scene, and here and there the trunks of +giant trees were scarred where the bark had been torn off by logs coming +in contact with them.</p> + +<p>"Think what might have happened to us had we not got out in time," +murmured Anne.</p> + +<p>"We should have been mashed flat," agreed Emma. "How terrible!"</p> + +<p>"That is what comes from listening to the voice of nature," chuckled +Hippy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">85</a></span></p> + +<p>"Here are some of our provisions," called Grace, who had been clambering +over the logs, peering under them and feeling about among the pine +cones. She uncovered a dozen or so cans of food, all dented, some mashed +out flat, and while she was doing this Elfreda discovered some badly +battered mess kits.</p> + +<p>Hippy salvaged a chunk of bacon on the river bank, and others found +widely scattered remnants of their supplies, including some that had +been swept into the river which had not floated away.</p> + +<p>"This will keep us going until we can replenish our larder," finally +announced Grace. "After daybreak we shall undoubtedly find more of our +belongings. The tents, however, seem to have been destroyed. I found a +few pieces of canvas, but that was all. I am glad we saved our +blankets."</p> + +<p>"By the way, Mrs. Shafto, where is Henry?" asked Nora.</p> + +<p>"Henry!" cried Joe.</p> + +<p>"If Henry is wise he will be found up a tree," chuckled Hippy.</p> + +<p>"Henry! Henre-e-e-e-e!" called the forest woman. "Oh, Henre-e-e-e-e-e! +Here, Hen, Hen, Hen, Hen! Come here, I tell ye! Hen, Hen, Hen, Hen, +Hen!"</p> + +<p>"Crow! Maybe that will fetch Hen," suggested Hippy, and the Overland +girls shouted.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">86</a></span></p> + +<p>"Don't ye make fun of me!" raged the forest woman, striding over to +Hippy and shaking a belligerent fist before his face. "I give ye notice +that Joe Shafto kin take care of herself and her bear, and she don't +need no advice from a greenhorn like yerself." Hippy backed away, the +woman following him and still shaking her fist, and the more the girls +laughed the angrier did Joe get.</p> + +<p>"That's all right, old dear. Don't get excited," begged Hippy, trying to +soothe the irate woman.</p> + +<p>"What? Old dear! Don't ye call me old dear. I ain't yer old dear nor yer +young dear. Ain't ye ashamed of yerself to speak to yer betters that +way, and 'specially to a woman of my years? I'll larn ye to be civil and +to mind yer own business!" Joe gave the embarrassed Hippy a sound box on +one ear, then on the other. "Take that, and that," she cried. "Next time +I'll use the club on ye!"</p> + +<p>Each blow jolted Hippy's head.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Shafto! Please, please! We can't have any such actions in this +outfit," rebuked Grace. "Lieutenant Wingate did not mean to offend you, +and you must learn to be a good fellow and take as well as give if you +are going to stay with this outfit. If you think you cannot, now is the +time to say so."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">87</a></span></p> + +<p>"Do ye want me to git out?" demanded Joe, glaring at Grace.</p> + +<p>"Indeed we do not. We wish you to remain, to be a good fellow, to share +in our pleasures and take the unpleasant features in the spirit of the +Overland Riders. Do you think you can do this?" Grace smiled as she said +it.</p> + +<p>"I reckon yer right, Miss Gray," decided the forest woman after a +moment's pondering and glaring through her spectacles at Grace.</p> + +<p>"Thank you. Nora, suppose you lead Hippy to one side—by the ear—and +read him a little lecture," suggested Grace.</p> + +<p>"I'll do that," agreed Nora Wingate. "Hippy, my darlin', you come with +me. I'll fetch a stout stick and I'll make you think of home and +mother."</p> + +<p>Even Joe Shafto laughed as Nora playfully led Hippy away by an ear. They +found them half an hour later sitting by the fire where Nora was still +lecturing her irrepressible spouse.</p> + +<p>"I've reformed, Mrs. Shafto," called Hippy as he saw them approaching. +"I was mistaken in thinking you were my dear. You aren't. Henry is your +dear."</p> + +<p>"I don't know whether he is or not. I'm afraid Henry loped away when the +logs came down. I'll track him when it gets light enough to see."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">88</a></span></p> + +<p>All was peace in the Overland camp again, and, while they were waiting +for daylight, Tom and Hippy hammered their mess kits back into shape +with an axe, greatly to the amusement of their companions. As the +graying skies finally brought out in relief the tops of the trees, +Elfreda, who had been gazing up at them, uttered a sudden exclamation.</p> + +<p>"What is that up there?" she exclaimed. "It looks like an animal."</p> + +<p>"It's my Henry!" shouted the guide. "Come down here, ye beast! Come +down, I say. Henry, do ye hear me?"</p> + +<p>Henry plainly did, but he took his time about obeying, and it was not +until the light became stronger that he made a move to descend. After +reaching the last of the lower limbs of the tree, Henry slid the rest of +the way down, dislodging the bark with his claws, a little shower of +bark sifting over Joe, who was waiting at the base of the tree to +welcome her pet. This she did in characteristic fashion when he reached +the ground, by giving him a few light taps with her ever-ready club.</p> + +<p>Henry slunk away and sat down by himself to brood over his troubles, +Hindenburg from a safe distance eyeing the bear, a dark ruff showing +along his pugnacious little back.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Shafto began the preparation of breakfast<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">89</a></span> immediately after +recovering her bear. While she was doing this, the light now being +strong enough to permit, Tom climbed the bank to examine the skidway +from which the logs had swept down over their camp. Tom remained up +there until the loud halloos of his companions informed him that +breakfast was ready. The forester returned to his camp slowly and +thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"Find anything up there?" questioned Hippy, giving him a quick glance of +inquiry.</p> + +<p>Tom nodded.</p> + +<p>"The tents?" asked Elfreda.</p> + +<p>"Naturally not up there," he replied, sitting down on a blanket and +taking the plate of bacon that Elfreda handed to him.</p> + +<p>"Out with it," laughed Grace. "It always is reflected in your face when +there is anything weighty on your mind."</p> + +<p>"Having something on one's mind is more than all of us can boast," +chortled Hippy. "I might mention names were it not that I am too polite +to do so," he added, grinning at Emma, who flushed.</p> + +<p>"At least I did not get my ears boxed," she retorted. "Mrs. Shafto +served you just right, though I think we all regret that, while about +it, she did not make a finished job of it."</p> + +<p>"That subject is closed," reminded Miss Briggs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">90</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hippy, don't you say another word," warned Nora Wingate, and, after the +laugh had subsided, they looked at Tom.</p> + +<p>"I went up to examine the skidway," he said. "What I found there fully +confirmed the vague suspicions that were already in my mind."</p> + +<p>"Eh?" interrupted Hippy, leaning forward expectantly.</p> + +<p>Elfreda nodded, as if Tom had confirmed her own conclusions.</p> + +<p>"It was not wholly the rain that dislodged the supports of the logs, +folks," resumed Tom.</p> + +<p>"No—ot rain?" exclaimed Hippy, blinking at his companion.</p> + +<p>"Not rain," repeated Tom. "Human hands loosened the supports that sent +the great pile of logs down on the camp of the Overlanders," he declared +impressively.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">91</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2><h3>LUMBER-JACKS SEEK REVENGE</h3> +</div> + +<p>"Same old game," grumbled Hippy.</p> + +<p>"What makes you think that the skidway was tampered with?" questioned +Anne, after the exclamations following Tom's startling assertion had +subsided.</p> + +<p>"Because the evidence is there. Even a novice could read the signs left +there. In spots, I found the imprints of rubber boots. I also found four +canthooks, used for rolling logs."</p> + +<p>Hippy suggested that these might have been left when the lumbermen +stopped work in the early spring, but Tom shook his head.</p> + +<p>"No. They were new, which indicates that they were brought to this place +within a few days—probably within the last few hours, for the hooks did +not have a single point of rust on them."</p> + +<p>"But, Tom! I cannot understand how moving that tremendous weight in bulk +was possible for a handful of men," wondered Grace.</p> + +<p>"Jacks can do anything they wish with logs," answered Tom Gray. "In this +instance they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">92</a></span> called on nature for assistance, and fickle nature lent +them a hand by sending them rain. The ground too, I discovered, had been +dug out under the lower side of the skidway and the supports knocked +out."</p> + +<p>"The varmints!" growled Joe Shafto, who had been an attentive listener +to Tom's story.</p> + +<p>"The jacks shifted some logs around to act as a track to give the logs +on the skidway a good start down the bank; they further cleared a +channel lower down so that the water might undermine the skidway still +more, then, when the trap was properly set, undoubtedly gave the top of +the pile a start with their hooks. I can't describe it so you people, +unfamiliar with logging operations, can get the picture clearly."</p> + +<p>"I think you do very well," answered Emma wisely. "Of course, Hippy +could improve upon it, but fortunately he is not telling the story."</p> + +<p>"Do you know of any early lumber operations near here, Mrs. Shafto?" +asked Tom.</p> + +<p>The guide said she did not, but that the woods were often full of +cutters late in the fall and in the early winter.</p> + +<p>"Section Forty-three was goin' to start cuttin' on the first of this +month I heard, but I don't know whuther they did or not," she said.</p> + +<p>Tom Gray consulted his forestry map and nodded.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">93</a></span></p> + +<p>"We will look in on them, so I believe I shall stay with you until the +day after to-morrow. In the meantime I shall have another look at the +skidway while you people are packing up," he said, rising.</p> + +<p>"What shall we do without tents?" questioned Anne anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Do nicely. When we make camp this afternoon Mrs. Shafto and I will show +you. I do not think it advisable to head directly for Forty-three, but +to camp in the vicinity of that section, as I shall wish to speak with +the foreman of the gang there."</p> + +<p>"Reckon ye know what ye wants to do," nodded the guide.</p> + +<p>When Tom returned from the skidway he smiled and shook his head in +answer to the question in Grace's eyes.</p> + +<p>"Nothing further," he said briefly.</p> + +<p>"You should have been an Indian," laughed Grace.</p> + +<p>"Should have been? He is," averred Hippy.</p> + +<p>Not a shred of canvas large enough to cover a mess plate was found in +the ruins of their camp, and, as soon as they had assembled and packed +what was left of their equipment, the party went on without tents. After +luncheon that day they turned off from the lumber trail and struck out +into the densely timbered land, Joe following<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">94</a></span> her course by certain old +blazes on trees. Traveling there was much slower than it had been on the +open lumber trail, but the Overlanders made satisfactory time, and +covered nearly twenty miles before they halted to prepare their camp for +the night.</p> + +<p>It lacked three hours of nightfall then, so Tom Gray decided to go over +to Section Forty-three and have his talk with the foreman of that lumber +camp. It was an hour-and-a-half later when he returned, flushed and +angry.</p> + +<p>"Well?" questioned Grace.</p> + +<p>"I learned that a dozen jacks came in from Bisbee's Corners last night, +but when I asked that they be lined up to see if I could identify any of +them as belonging to the mob that attacked us at Bisbee's, the foreman +threatened to set the whole outfit of jacks on me. He said he was not +running a detective bureau and that he didn't give a rap what his jacks +did so long as they got out timber."</p> + +<p>"What's his name?" interrupted the guide.</p> + +<p>"Tatem, he said."</p> + +<p>"Feller with a wooden leg?" demanded Joe.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"That's Peg Tatem, the biggest ruffian of 'em all. He'd brain ye with a +peavey if you give him any back talk. I've always thought that Peg knew +the devils who killed my man. Oh, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">95</a></span> hope the time comes when I get a +chance to set Henry on him. Henry'd make toothpicks of that peg-leg. I +promise ye that. His outfit ain't any better'n Peg himself."</p> + +<p>"Who is the contractor?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"It's the Dusenbery outfit. Dusenbery is always timber-lookin', peekin' +about the Pinies to find a cuttin' that he kin steal, and he's stole a +lot of it, Cap'n Gray. Ye lookin' for timber thieves?"</p> + +<p>"That is a part of my job up here," answered Tom smilingly.</p> + +<p>"Git Dusenbery and ye'll have the biggest stealer of these Big North +Woods, but have yer gun handy when ye git him or he'll git ye first." +With this parting admonition, Joe took a currycomb and brush from her +kit bag and began grooming Henry's coat, which, from contact with brush +and thorns, and the wetting he had received the night before, looked as +if it needed it.</p> + +<p>"The burning question of the moment is, do we sleep on feathers or firs +to-night?" inquired Hippy.</p> + +<p>"We will get at that right away. Mrs. Shafto, please show Lieutenant +Wingate how to pick a backlog and let him get spruce boughs for two +lean-tos and wood for the night's fuel," directed Tom.</p> + +<p>While this was being done, Tom selected the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">96</a></span> camp site; then cut and set +four poles, the rear pair lower than the front, and across these he laid +ridge poles. When the spruce boughs were brought in they were placed on +top of the framework thus erected, and in a few moments the roof was on. +The ends of the lean-to were closed by hanging spruce boughs over them. +The roof boughs were all laid in the same direction, butts towards the +front, tops towards the rear.</p> + +<p>This accomplished, a little green house had appeared like magic, but it +was not yet complete. Spruce boughs were brought and spread over the +ground under the lean-tos to the depth of about a foot, all laid one +way, smooth and springy and so sweetly odorous that the air in the +little house seemed intoxicating.</p> + +<p>Emma Dean dove in headfirst.</p> + +<p>"Stop that! This house is not intended to be a rough-house," protested +Hippy, coming up at this juncture with an armful of boughs.</p> + +<p>"I can't help it. It is so perfectly stunning. Do you know what its name +is? Why, Green Gables, of course, and—"</p> + +<p>"What are the wild birds saying?" mocked Hippy.</p> + +<p>"They will be crooning a good-night lullaby the instant I lay my weary +person down," declared Elfreda Briggs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">97</a></span></p> + +<p>A second lean-to, much smaller than the first, was erected. Then +preparations for the campfire were begun. This was laid on sloping +ground a little lower down than the lean-tos. First, a log was placed +and stakes driven behind it to keep it from rolling down the slight +decline, its purpose being to supply the backlog of the fire, which, +when started, would be almost on a level with the lean-tos, and about +four feet from them. Evergreen boughs were cut and laid lengthwise in +front of the lean-tos, to be planted between the houses and the fire, in +case the fire might be too hot for the occupants.</p> + +<p>Hippy was now bringing in the night-wood and complaining bitterly about +having to do all the work.</p> + +<p>"Why not harness up that lazy bear and make him draw in the logs?" he +demanded.</p> + +<p>"If ye'll harness the pup and snake in a log with him, I'll make my +Henry snake two logs," retorted the forest woman.</p> + +<p>Hippy went back for another load of wood, his shoulders jogging up and +down with laughter.</p> + +<p>"This is all very fine, Tom, but what are we going to do after you have +left us?" wondered Anne.</p> + +<p>"Grace knows how to build a lean-to, and I am positive that Mrs. Shafto +does," answered Tom.</p> + +<p>Joe nodded.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">98</a></span></p> + +<p>"When you go into permanent camp you will require a different +construction to keep the rain out. Bark stripped from trees will answer +the purpose," Tom informed them.</p> + +<p>The small lean-to was for the guide, and another of about the same size +was later erected for Tom and Hippy, though further from the fire than +the little green houses for the girls and the guide.</p> + +<p>Night was upon them by the time they had finished, and Mrs. Shafto +already had built a small cook fire and was preparing supper. About the +time it was ready Tom put a match under the larger pile of wood, and a +cheerful blaze flamed up.</p> + +<p>"Try the house and see how warm it is, girls," suggested Grace.</p> + +<p>Exclamations of delight and gurgles of satisfaction followed their trial +of the lean-to.</p> + +<p>"Why, it is as warm as a steam-heated house," cried Nora.</p> + +<p>"That is because the rear side of the lean-to is closed and the front +open. The heat therefore remains in the lean-to. Even a low fire will +keep one warm in such a shelter in the coldest of winter nights," Grace +explained to her companions.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Tom and Hippy were discussing the attack of the previous +night, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">99</a></span> Tom Gray was cautioning Hippy to be on the lookout all the +time and see to it that the Overland girls were protected.</p> + +<p>"We are getting into rough country. I don't need to tell you that," said +Tom. "Law is quite a way removed from us, and it takes time to get the +law operating in the Big Woods country. By the time it does get working, +the guilty ones generally are out of reach. I wish we had got in touch +with Willy Horse and hired him to join the outfit."</p> + +<p>"Leave it to Henry and Hippy," laughed Lieutenant Wingate. "What those +two 'H's' can't do, he couldn't. Then again, we have Hindenburg. Do you +think that fellow Tatem had anything to do with what happened last +night?"</p> + +<p>Tom said he knew of no good reason why the foreman of Forty-three should +have wished to injure them.</p> + +<p>"The attack looks to me like a lumberjack's revenge but I can't account +for it. I have decided to leave you in the morning. Grace has a +duplicate of my forestry map, and will know where I am most of the time. +I'll look in on you from time to time, and about the first of the month +I shall make my headquarters on the Little Big Branch where you folks +are going to camp for a few weeks. Be careful of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">100</a></span> fire, and if you are +visited by a fire warden tell him who you are. One cannot be too +particular about saving the forests, and a little carelessness might +cause a fire loss of thousands of dollars before the blaze could be +stopped."</p> + +<p>"We want to go to bed," interrupted Emma. "How are we going to do so +with one side of the house out?"</p> + +<p>"Hang two blankets over the front, please, Hippy. Take them down after +the girls have turned in. I will look after the ponies; then you and I +will hit the pines," directed Tom, rising.</p> + +<p>The forest woman was hanging up the mess kits to dry when Tom and Hippy +went out to water and rub down the ponies. She beckoned them to wait.</p> + +<p>"I been thinkin' 'bout what ye said of Peg Tatem, Cap'n Gray, and I +don't like it," she said in a tone low enough to prevent being overheard +by the girls, who were preparing for bed. "Peg must have been mad 'bout +somethin' and I reckon it would be healthy for us to git out of here in +the mornin' and camp as far away from Forty-three as we kin. What do ye +say, Cap'n?"</p> + +<p>"Don't worry about Peg. We shall be out of this in the morning, anyway. +I have to leave you to-morrow, so take good care of the girls and don't +let Henry eat the bull pup."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">101</a></span></p> + +<p>"He had better not," growled Hippy.</p> + +<p>The two Overland men went to their lean-to laughing, Mrs. Shafto feeding +the night logs to the fire before seeking her own browse-bed, Henry +taking up his resting place a little distance from her in the shadows +and away from the fire. His fur coat was sufficient protection against +the evening chill, but Hindenburg's hair was short, and he was shivering +when he crawled in and nosed his way under Lieutenant Wingate's blanket.</p> + +<p>It did not seem to the Overlanders as if they had more than dropped to +sleep, though they had been asleep for hours, when they were startled by +a terrific explosion, an explosion that shook the earth and made the +forest trees above them tremble and a shower of pine cones rain down on +them in a perfect deluge.</p> + +<p>"Tree coming! Run!" shouted Tom Gray, at the same time firing his +revolver into the air to urge the Overlanders to greater haste.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">102</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2><h3>MYSTERY IN THE FALL OF A TREE</h3> +</div> + +<p>"Run to the river!" It was Hippy's voice, this time raised in warning. +He feared that the wide-spreading branches of the falling tree might hit +some of the party of Overlanders.</p> + +<p>A branch from a smaller tree, knocked down by the larger one in its +fall, gave Hippy a sidewipe and sent him flying down the bank.</p> + +<p>"Jump inter the river!" screamed the forest woman. "It ain't deep." Joe +led the way, shouting as she leaped for the water. Had there been light, +it would have been easy to see which way the tree was falling, but in +the darkness one could only guess from the sound the direction in which +the tree was falling. It landed with a mighty crash just as the Overland +Riders leaped into the river, and for a few seconds it sounded as if the +forest itself were going down. The girls listened to the crashings and +the reports in awesome silence.</p> + +<p>"All over!" announced Tom, in a tone of relief.</p> + +<p>"I—I don't see anything about a falling tree<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">103</a></span> that necessitates scaring +a person out of a year's growth," complained Emma.</p> + +<p>"You don't, eh? Then you have something to learn," answered Tom rather +shortly.</p> + +<p>"At least there is nothing to prevent our going back and getting to +sleep, is there?" questioned Nora.</p> + +<p>"There is!" said Tom.</p> + +<p>"Wha—what do you mean?" demanded Hippy, but Tom made no reply.</p> + +<p>Grace found herself wondering what had caused the tree to fall. There +was no wind, other than a gentle zephyr; the ground was dry and the tree +was not a dead tree, as she discovered when she found that its foliage +had blotted out the campfire. Either she had not heard the explosion as +the tree burst from the ground, or else she had forgotten that +circumstance altogether in the excitement of the moment.</p> + +<p>"All right. We can go back now," said Tom.</p> + +<p>"And to bed for mine," promised Elfreda.</p> + +<p>"If my eyes serve me right, you have no bed," answered Grace laughingly.</p> + +<p>"I don't understand," wondered Miss Briggs.</p> + +<p>"From its position, I should say that the fallen tree pretty well covers +our camp," replied Grace.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it fell on the lean-tos," Tom informed them.</p> + +<p>The Overland girls groaned.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">104</a></span></p> + +<p>"The voices of nature seem to be trying to tell us something. Perhaps +they are inviting us to get out," suggested Hippy whimsically. "What is +your interpretation of the tree's fall, you Nature-Cult Person?" he +questioned teasingly, nodding at Emma.</p> + +<p>"I think they are seeking to advise us to rid ourselves of one +Lieutenant Wingate if we expect to be permitted to proceed in peace," +answered Emma. "Why don't you go home?" teased the little Overland girl.</p> + +<p>"My wife won't let me. Of course you are not bound by any such +restrictions," reminded Hippy.</p> + +<p>Tom suddenly broke into a run. The others followed, calling to him to +know what was wrong, but the forester did not at first answer, as he +sped towards their camp, leaping logs and other obstructions in his +path.</p> + +<p>"Hurry!" he shouted, upon reaching the scene.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" called Hippy.</p> + +<p>"We have set the woods on fire!" answered Tom.</p> + +<p>What the party had supposed to be only the campfire blazing under the +tree that had fallen across it, in reality was a forest fire in the +making. In falling, the tree had scattered the burning embers of the +campfire, and set fire to the leaves and pine boughs that covered the +ground. By<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">105</a></span> the time Tom Gray reached the scene the fire was running up +the little saplings, tracing out their limbs until they resembled +decorated Christmas trees, and leaping from tree to tree.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it beautiful!" exclaimed Emma enthusiastically, as the spectacle +burst into view.</p> + +<p>"You won't think so before many hours have passed," answered Grace, who, +as well as her husband, fully understood what this blaze with so good a +start might mean.</p> + +<p>"Grab those spruce boughs near the lean-tos and follow me!" shouted Tom. +"Every one of you get to work. Stamp out what is left of the campfire, +Hippy, so that it doesn't spread towards the river and get away from us +along the bank. Stir yourselves!"</p> + +<p>Through the smoke, the flying sparks and the pungent, almost +overpowering odors, the Overland Riders ran with their arms full of +spruce boughs.</p> + +<p>"What are we to do?" cried Elfreda. "I feel as helpless as a child."</p> + +<p>After they had hurried around the outer edge of the fire, which was +rapidly reaching towards them in little wriggling, snake-like streams of +fire, Tom directed the girls to spread out, each taking several rods of +front to protect.</p> + +<p>"Beat it out as fast as you can. When you see a wriggler reaching for a +tree, beat it out with your spruce boughs," he ordered. "Don't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">106</a></span> try to +put out a tree on fire. You can't do it, and may set yourselves on fire. +Grace, you take the lower end of the line and keep the girls at work. I +will look after this end. Should assistance be needed at any one point, +shout and we will all concentrate on it. All of you be careful that you +don't get burned."</p> + +<p>The girls quickly took up the positions assigned to them, and began +beating and whipping the "golden serpents," as Nora characterized them. +In a few moments each member of the party was coughing and choking, +their arms were aching and tears were running from their eyes. In spite +of their efforts, however, the advancing fire drove them steadily back.</p> + +<p>The big trees soon began to char, and, within an hour, were glowing +pillars of fire, as one after another broke into flames that mounted +higher and higher. Had there been leisure to view it as a spectacle, the +sight would have been a magnificent one, but the Overlanders had other +things to occupy their attention. While in no way to blame for the fire, +they felt that this was their responsibility, theirs the duty to stop +it, and so they worked and fought, gasping for breath, now and then +retreating for fresh air.</p> + +<p>"Lie down every little while!" shouted Tom. "The air is better near the +ground. Pass the word along."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">107</a></span></p> + +<p>His orders were shouted from one to the other and so reached the extreme +end of the fighting front.</p> + +<p>What at first had seemed an easy task had grown to an almost +insurmountable one. Now they would check the fire at one point, only to +discover that it had leaped over the line at another. By the time they +had conquered the second one, the first blaze generally would be found +to have taken a new start.</p> + +<p>A canopy of fire and smoke covered the scene high overhead. Tom hoped +that a forest lookout might discover the blaze and send assistance to +them, though he knew that much territory might be burned over before +help could reach them.</p> + +<p>Leaving his own position for a survey of conditions, Tom ran along the +line of fire-fighters, giving an encouraging word here and there while +his experienced eyes sized up the situation.</p> + +<p>"How is it?" gasped Grace when he reached her end of the line.</p> + +<p>"Serious! We must fight as long as we have an ounce of strength or a +breath left in our bodies," he added, starting back towards his +position.</p> + +<p>"Keep it up! It's getting the best of you!" he shouted to each +Overlander in turn as he passed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">108</a></span></p> + +<p>"Can't we send to Forty-three for assistance?" called Hippy.</p> + +<p>"No. You or I would have to go. Neither of us can be spared."</p> + +<p>"We'll have to be spared if this keeps up much longer. Do you think the +horses are safe?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. They are on the river side of the fire. The breeze is carrying the +fire the other way," answered Tom.</p> + +<p>Three hours after the discovery of the fire found the Overland Riders +still fighting, to all appearances, just as stubbornly as when they +began. Their faces were almost unrecognizable, blackened as they were +with smoke and streaked with perspiration. In places, their clothing +showed black where it had been seared or scorched. Emma Dean had, for +the time being, forgotten to listen to the voices of nature, even though +they were sizzling and roaring at her from the far-flung tops of the +giant pines.</p> + +<p>At the end of the fourth hour, a great tree came crashing down with a +ripping, rending roar. Another followed it soon after, and at intervals +still other trees lost their foothold and surrendered to their +implacable enemy, <i>fire</i>!</p> + +<p>It was an awesome sight and the air was full of thrilling sounds. There +was not one of that party of fire fighters that did not feel the awe. +Henry disappeared, and his mistress had no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">109</a></span> thought for him. She had +been through other forest fires, and, though she worked desperately, she +did so without emotion so far as external appearances indicated. +Hindenburg, on the contrary, was very much in evidence, running up and +down the line, barking at each individual fire fighter and sneezing as +he breathed in the pungent smoke.</p> + +<p>The graying dawn found the Overlanders still beating at the flames that +still kept them on the retreat, driving them deeper and deeper into the +forest.</p> + +<p>About this time Tom Gray made his second survey. What he found raised +his hopes and his spirits.</p> + +<p>"We've flanked it!" he cried. "That old cutting to the left has saved us +on that side."</p> + +<p>"Thank Heaven!" answered Grace in a choking voice. "Te—ell the others!"</p> + +<p>"We aren't through yet," reminded Tom, hurrying back to give the others +the encouraging news and to urge them to continue their efforts.</p> + +<p>Shouts, choking, gasping shouts, greeted the announcement. Then how they +did work, the girls with handkerchiefs stuffed in their mouths, and +Hippy Wingate with a piece of his khaki shirt gripped between his teeth +and partly covering his nostrils as an aid in keeping the smoke out of +his lungs. The throats of all were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">110</a></span> parched and aching for water, but +there was none to be had near at hand, and no time to go to the river +for it.</p> + +<p>At nine o'clock in the morning the forest fire was conquered, after +having burned over several acres of timber. Here and there little blazes +were fanned into life by the morning breeze, but alert eyes discovered, +and ready hands quickly whipped them out.</p> + +<p>"Done! But it will have to be watched. You girls go back to camp and +make some coffee. I don't believe that much of our belongings have been +destroyed," said Tom.</p> + +<p>Instead of starting for camp, the girls sank down in their tracks, and +dropped instantly into a sleep of exhaustion. Neither man made an effort +to arouse them.</p> + +<p>"I wish I might do that too. What do you say if we take just one little +cat-nap, Tom?" urged Hippy.</p> + +<p>"Can't be done. The fire might start again."</p> + +<p>"Oh, hang the fire!" growled Lieutenant Wingate.</p> + +<p>"It might 'hang' you; in other words, we should be in danger of being +burned, for we surely would sleep all day, once we permitted ourselves +to drop off!"</p> + +<p>"All right. Carry on! If I could have a nip of sleep I know I should +dream of food, which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">111</a></span> would fix me up all right. How long are we going +to let them sleep?" asked Hippy, pointing to the sleeping Overland +girls.</p> + +<p>"Until we make certain that the fire isn't going to break out afresh. We +will then shake the girls up and go back to camp. It doesn't look as +though I should get away to-day, does it?" grinned Tom.</p> + +<p>"We can sit down, can't we?"</p> + +<p>"Not yet! Not for another two hours."</p> + +<p>The men separated and began a steady patrol of the fire-line, dragging +themselves along wearily until the two hours had lengthened into three. +Hippy then declared himself and announced his intention of going +straight back to camp for something to eat and a sleep.</p> + +<p>Tom, after a final look about, agreed. It took some little time to get +the girls sufficiently awake to enable them to stand on their feet, but +finally the men had marshalled them all and the journey to camp began.</p> + +<p>It was blackened and cheerless acres of bare and fallen trees that their +swollen eyes gazed upon on the way back to camp. Thousands of feet of +virgin timber had been burned. Tom Gray, whose love of the forest was +almost a passion with him, gazed on the wreckage sadly.</p> + +<p>"Let this be a lesson to all of you. Always be careful with your +campfires," he warned.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">112</a></span></p> + +<p>The girls were too tired to eat when they reached camp. All they desired +was sleep and rest. Hippy's crying need was food, and that was what he +proposed to get first, but Tom would not hear to either of them sitting +down until the horses had been looked after and watered.</p> + +<p>While they were doing that, the forest woman made coffee and fried +bacon, which was ready for Tom and Hippy upon their return. The Overland +girls had found their blankets, and, rolled tightly in them, lay sound +asleep on the bare ground.</p> + +<p>"Poor kids! Aren't you proud of each and every one of them, Hippy?" +glowed Tom.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I suppose so. That is, I presume I should be if I weren't +famished."</p> + +<p>Henry came ambling in at this juncture and, sitting down, began washing +his face with his paws, giving not the slightest heed to the tirade that +Joe Shafto was hurling at him.</p> + +<p>"Ye git no breakfast to-day," raged the forest woman.</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't be so hard-hearted," begged Hippy. "Give the poor fish a rind +of bacon at least. You don't know what it means to have an appetite."</p> + +<p>Hippy's urgings bore fruit, and Henry got his breakfast, as did Tom and +Hippy, and their appetites fully equalled that of the bear.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">113</a></span></p> + +<p>"Come along, Hippy," urged Tom after they had finished breakfast.</p> + +<p>"Wha—at? Where?"</p> + +<p>"Let's have a look at the tree that so mysteriously fell on our camp."</p> + +<p>"Have a heart! Have a heart, Tom! I want to lie down and sleep."</p> + +<p>"So do I, but I cannot until I have learned why that tree came down as +it did, and what caused the report just before it fell. Come! The sooner +we start, the quicker we shall be in dreamland."</p> + +<p>Hippy followed his companion begrudgingly.</p> + +<p>"Look at that, will you?" demanded Captain Gray, pointing to the ground +about the hole which had so recently held the roots of the great tree +that had fallen on the lean-tos. The ground had been torn up for some +yards from the true base of the tree, and dirt and pieces of roots +hurled in all directions.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Wingate was instantly galvanized into alertness. The scene +reminded him of France where he had seen so many similar holes, the +result of the explosion of shells. He was down on his knees in a second, +crawling about in the hole, feeling and smelling the ground.</p> + +<p>"Smell this, Tom," he said, handing up to his companion a bit of +cardboard. "What does it suggest to you?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">114</a></span></p> + +<p>"Powder, I should say," answered Tom.</p> + +<p>"Exactly. It is my opinion that our tree was dynamited. That's what +caused the explosion!" cried Hippy. "I wonder I didn't recognize it at +the time. Now what do you make of that?"</p> + +<p>"I suspected as much, old man. I knew when I heard it that there had +been an explosion, and I suspected the reason," answered Tom gravely. "I +am glad the girls are not awake. This is serious, and the end is not +yet!"</p> + +<p>Tom Gray's prophecy came true before the end of that already eventful +day.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">115</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2><h3>THE THREAT OF PEG TATEM</h3> +</div> + +<p>The shadows were heavy in the Big Woods when the two men awakened from +their afternoon's sleep, into which they had sunk while discussing their +discovery. Joe Shafto was getting supper, and it was the odor of her +cooking that aroused Lieutenant Wingate to full wakefulness. Hippy +routed out the rest of the camp without delay.</p> + +<p>They discovered Henry asleep high up in one of the virgin pines, +Hindenburg having found warmth and a less perilous position on the +blankets of the Overland girls.</p> + +<p>"I seen ye folks over by the hole in the ground yonder," the forest +woman confided to Tom as he greeted her and asked how she felt. "I took +a look for myself this evenin'. Fine kettle of stew, hey?"</p> + +<p>"Meaning what?" questioned Tom smilingly.</p> + +<p>"I reckon some varmint give that air tree a kick over, eh? Who do ye +reckon the varmint was who did that, Cap'n Gray?" demanded Joe, glaring +at him through her spectacles.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">116</a></span></p> + +<p>Tom shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, Joe. I wish I did," he replied. "Please say nothing about +it to the girls. I shall tell Mrs. Gray, of course. Being in charge of +the party she should be told of our suspicions."</p> + +<p>"Sure. What do ye reckon on doin' to-night?"</p> + +<p>"Make a new camp and watch it. Where was that bear of yours while all +that uproar was in progress?" demanded Tom.</p> + +<p>"Same place the Lieutenant's pup was at—sleepin'!" returned Joe dryly.</p> + +<p>Tom turned away laughing. He and Hippy rustled boughs for new lean-tos, +chopped wood for the night campfire, and began making a new camp a few +rods from the one that had been destroyed by the falling tree and the +forest fire. The girls volunteered to assist in the work, but Hippy +declared that they looked as if they needed sleep more than work.</p> + +<p>The work on the lean-tos had not been finished when the Overlanders were +summoned to supper. There was little conversation until they had dulled +the sharp edges of their appetites; then their drooping spirits revived +and they began bantering each other.</p> + +<p>Henry had come down to be on hand when the food was distributed and got +many morsels during the meal.</p> + +<p>The bear suddenly bristled, swayed his head<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">117</a></span> from side to side, and +began to growl. At almost the same instant Hippy Wingate's bull pup was +galvanized into life. He began to utter deep growls and resentful +coughs.</p> + +<p>"Some varmint hangin' around, I reckon," nodded the forest woman in +answer to a look of inquiry from Grace. "Be still, Henerey!"</p> + +<p>"I hear something coming," declared Tom.</p> + +<p>Hippy fastened a hand on Hindenburg's collar, and Joe threatened the +bear with a club until he slunk away and disappeared, then, to their +amazement, Peg Tatem stamped into camp, followed by a group of +lumberjacks.</p> + +<p>The Overland Riders gazed questioningly at his scowling face. Tom Gray +was the only member of the outfit who knew him, but they instantly +recognized the foreman of Section Forty-three, from the descriptions of +him given by Tom and Joe Shafto, who now stood glaring angrily at him +through her big horn glasses.</p> + +<p>Tom greeted the newcomer cordially.</p> + +<p>"Won't you sit down and have a snack with us?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Don't want nothin' t' eat with the likes of ye, thankee," growled Peg.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's all right, old top," observed Hippy cheerfully. "We aren't +particularly eager to have a rough-neck sit down to mess with us."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">118</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hold yer tongue, ye cheap dude!" snarled Peg, shaking the heavy stick, +that he carried as a cane, at Lieutenant Wingate.</p> + +<p>"Don't get rough," grinned Hippy. "What do you want here anyway?"</p> + +<p>The lumberjacks, who had accompanied the foreman, halted a few paces to +the rear of their superior, and neither their appearance nor their +expressions were reassuring.</p> + +<p>"What is it you wish?" demanded Tom.</p> + +<p>"What ye got to say about this?" snorted Peg, taking in the burned area +with a sweep of his stick.</p> + +<p>"As a forester, I am very sorry that this has happened, though it was +through no fault of ours," answered Tom.</p> + +<p>"Ye lie!" exploded the foreman.</p> + +<p>"Tatem, you will please drop that sort of talk here. Remember there are +ladies present. Besides, I don't take that word from anyone. I said, the +fire occurred through no fault of ours. A tree fell on our campfire and +scattered the embers, and, before we realized it, the forest was on +fire. We worked all night and all the forenoon trying to head the fire +off, which we finally succeeded in doing. Had we not done our part, this +whole section would long since have been entirely burned off. Why are +you taking it upon yourself to come here and interfere with us?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">119</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why? Ye bloomin' idiot! I'm talkin' because ye've burned off a few +hundred thousand feet of timber from our section. That's why, and yer +goin' to pay for every stick of it. Do ye git me?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, perfectly, perfectly," interjected Hippy.</p> + +<p>"Your section, did you say?" demanded Tom.</p> + +<p>"That's what I said," leered Peg.</p> + +<p>"You are mistaken. This is not your section. It is possible that you may +have intended to crowd your boundaries and steal a few thousand feet of +state timber, but so far as its belonging to you or to the people you +represent, I know better."</p> + +<p>"Ye—ye say I'm a thief?" demanded Peg, the words seeming to stick in +his throat.</p> + +<p>"No. You may intend to be one, but I have not said that you are. You may +be for all that I know. If you have nothing more sensible to say than to +accuse us of burning your property, move on! Before you go, however, I +wish to say that I believe that, if the truth were to come out, you know +more about what caused that fire, and how it was caused, than anyone +else. You know what I mean, Peg Tatem."</p> + +<p>Only Hippy understood to what Tom Gray referred. That Peg Tatem did, +Lieutenant Wingate had not the least doubt, for the foreman's face +flushed a violent red under his tan, and his eyes narrowed, as he +gripped his club-like cane.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">120</a></span></p> + +<p>"Get out of here, you and your jacks!" commanded Tom savagely.</p> + +<p>"Yes, skip, vamoose, articulate your joints. In other words, shoo!" +jeered Hippy. "If I ever see you around our camp again I'll slap your +wrist. What!"</p> + +<p>Peg Tatem, throwing his weight on the clumsy piece of wood that did duty +as a leg, made an almost unbelievable leap towards Tom Gray and brought +his club-cane down with all the powerful strength that the man +possessed.</p> + +<p>"I'll kill ye fer that!" raged the foreman of Forty-three as his club +descended.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">121</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2><h3>A SHOT FROM THE FOREST</h3> +</div> + +<p>Tom leaped back and the stick hit the ground instead of the mark that it +was intended to reach.</p> + +<p>Before the foreman could recover himself, Tom Gray was upon him, and a +blow from the Overlander Rider's fist sent Peg Tatem reeling, but before +Tom could follow up his advantage, the lumberman collected himself and +began leaping around Tom, now striking with the club, then kicking out +with the wooden leg. It was impossible to get close enough to the fellow +to give him the knock-out blow that Captain Gray was hoping to land on +his adversary.</p> + +<p>Thus far neither side had made a move to interfere with the combatants, +but a movement on the part of the lumberjacks, a gradual edging up, +warned Hippy that his opportunity to get into the scrimmage was near at +hand.</p> + +<p>"Prepare to defend yourselves, girls," he said in a tone that carried to +their ears only. "If the worst comes, shoot! Tom and I may get<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">122</a></span> knocked +out, for these fellows are tougher than the trees they cut."</p> + +<p>"Don't worry, Hippy. We will take care of ourselves," said Grace calmly. +"Trust us to defend ourselves."</p> + +<p>"With what?" questioned Elfreda.</p> + +<p>"There are plenty of good stout sticks on the ground. If you see that +these jacks mean to attack us, each of you grab a club and let them have +it on their heads. See! Joe is holding her club behind her."</p> + +<p>The forest woman was waiting grimly for an opportunity to crack a +lumberjack's head. That opportunity came sooner than she expected. Two +jacks, having crept around behind the lean-tos, suddenly lifted the rear +supports and turned the structures over into the fire.</p> + +<p>"Beat it, ye varmint!" screamed the woman, making a rush for the men. +One of them struck her, but fortunately for Joe it was a glancing blow, +and merely turned her around facing away from them. Joe kept on turning +until she was again facing the jeering lumbermen.</p> + +<p>"Take that, ye varmint!" The forest woman's club descended on a +lumberjack's head. "And ye, too!" she shrieked, hitting the other man +across the bridge of his nose.</p> + +<p>"Come on! Come on, and I'll wallop the whole pack of ye!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">123</a></span></p> + +<p>"Steady, Joe," warned Grace Harlowe. "Don't lose your head."</p> + +<p>Tom and Peg were still at it, the foreman growing more and more +ferocious as the moments passed and knowing that he had the Overlander +at a disadvantage, for Tom was fighting with his fists only, while Peg +was using his stick and his wooden leg, and it were difficult for any +person, no matter how skillful a boxer he might be, to get under those +two dangerous guards. Once Tom succeeded in doing so. His blow knocked +the foreman down, but Peg rolled away and was on his feet again with +remarkable quickness, and went at his adversary determined to brain him.</p> + +<p>"Ready, girls!" called Hippy.</p> + +<p>"They are going to rush us," warned Grace. "When I say 'Clubs!' you +girls grab sticks, keep together, and stand your ground. Don't run at +them."</p> + +<p>Each Overland girl carried an automatic revolver, and there were rifles +within easy reach, but it was not their intention to use either, unless +the necessity to do so became imperative. The rifles had been brought on +this journey largely because the party hoped to do some hunting in the +North Woods. The revolvers were, as on previous journeys into the wilder +sections of their native country, a part of their regular equipment and +for use in great emergencies only.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">124</a></span></p> + +<p>The lumberjacks with one accord rushed at the Overland Riders, uttering +yells and jeers. They carried no weapons in their hands, but, as Grace +knew to be their practice, each jack wore a lumberman's knife.</p> + +<p>"Clubs!"</p> + +<p>At the signal, each Overland girl snatched up a stick and stood her +ground with set lips and a face from which most of the color had fled, +realizing fully the seriousness of the situation.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Wingate waited until the lumberjacks were almost upon him, +waited lounging indolently, his face wearing a grin.</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't hurry, children," he admonished. "Save your wind for the +flight to the rear." Suddenly, Hippy bent forward and when he rose his +hand held a pine knot fully five feet long, the limb ablaze almost from +end to end. Not more than two feet separated the burning part from his +hands.</p> + +<p>The limb was heavy, but Lieutenant Wingate was far from delicate, and +when he swung the burning limb it had power and speed behind it. The +limb burned and bruised the faces of three lumberjacks in its first +swing. Hippy plunged at the mob and belabored them right and left with +the blazing torch. More than one jack had to stop fighting long enough +to put out the blaze that singed the hair off his head.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">125</a></span></p> + +<p>Other jacks had run around one end of the camp to rush it from that +vantage point. Joe Shafto and her club met them, and so did the Overland +girls. Without uttering a sound they belabored the ruffians, beating, +whacking, prodding and swinging their clubs to good purpose.</p> + +<p>"Help! Oh, help!" screamed Emma Dean.</p> + +<p>A thrown club had hit her on the leg and felled her. Emma was out of the +fight so far as further defense was concerned, holding her aching limb +and moaning as she rocked back and forth.</p> + +<p>Hippy turned for a quick glance in her direction.</p> + +<p>"Look out, Hippy!" warned Nora, but her warning was too late. Several of +the attackers, taking advantage of his attention being drawn away from +them, leaped on him. They bore Hippy to the ground. He was mauled and +thumped, but not for many seconds, because the girls rushed to his +rescue and clubbed his attackers off. The jacks, returning, picked +Lieutenant Wingate up and tossed him into the campfire.</p> + +<p>Emma screamed at the sight, but Elfreda Briggs grabbed his protruding +feet and hauled him out, while Grace and her companions beat back the +jacks who had done the cruel thing. Elfreda put out the flames and +assisted Hippy to his feet.</p> + +<p>"Go in and fight!" urged J. Elfreda. "They're getting the best of us."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">126</a></span></p> + +<p>At that instant, Tom Gray, turning his head to see how it fared with the +girls, was hit on the head by Peg Tatem's club and knocked unconscious. +As it proved later, the blow was a light one and Tom was not seriously +hurt.</p> + +<p>The foreman, uttering an exultant yell, aimed a kick at Tom's head with +his peg leg.</p> + +<p>Grace Harlowe hurled her club at the foreman's head, but missed the +mark.</p> + +<p><i>Bang!</i></p> + +<p>A bullet hit Peg's wooden leg, and the leg went out from under its owner +like magic. Peg landed on the ground but he was up in an instant, raging +and springing for Tom. A second bullet hit the wooden leg and split it.</p> + +<p>The Overlanders were amazed.</p> + +<p>"Who shot?" cried Anne.</p> + +<p>"Don't know," panted Elfreda as she and Hippy charged two jacks who were +trying to reach Emma.</p> + +<p>Peg, frantic with rage, turned his attention to the others of the party, +apparently believing that one of them had fired the shots. He raised his +club to strike Grace who was bending over Tom.</p> + +<p><i>Bang!</i></p> + +<p>The club dropped from Peg's hand, and the arm fell to his side with a +bullet hole through it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">127</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 271px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="illus-003" id="illus-003"></a> +<img src="images/grace-127.jpg" alt="The Club Dropped from Peg's Hand." title="" width="271" height="400" /><br /> +<span class="caption">The Club Dropped from Peg's Hand.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">129</a></span>"I'm +hit! Kill 'em!" he screamed. Grabbing up the stick with his left +hand, the foreman again started for Grace, his eyes bloodshot, his lips +purple.</p> + +<p>Grace grabbed what was nearest to her hand, a pine knot, and hurled it +at the ruffian. It hit him full in the face, and the sharp protuberances +on the knot drew points of blood.</p> + +<p>A blow from a lumberjack's fist, at this juncture, knocked Joe Shafto +flat on her back. She was up with a bound.</p> + +<p>"Henerey! Henere-e-e-e-e!" There was a wild note in her voice, a note of +alarm and command. "Henere-e-e-e-e-e!"</p> + +<p>They heard Henry sliding down a tree—heard his paws raking the bark as +he slid. Joe heard it too.</p> + +<p>"Sick 'em! Sick 'em! Sick 'em!" she screamed, giving Henry a violent +prod with her club and driving the bear towards the lumberjacks. One of +them struck the beast with a club, hitting Henry over the shoulders.</p> + +<p>Henry made a pass at the man, bringing away a section of the fellow's +coat in his claws which dug into the jack's flesh with their sharp +points. The man howled and fled from the beast.</p> + +<p>Alternately prodding the bear with her club, and cracking a lumberjack +head wherever possible, the forest woman fought her way ahead, backed by +Tom and Hippy.</p> + +<p>Thus goaded, Henry rose on his hind legs and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">130</a></span> went through that party of +rough-necks like one of his kind cuffing its way through a flock of +grazing sheep. Henry bit where he could, but his greatest execution was +done with his powerful paws.</p> + +<p>The Overland Riders, though angry, weary and perspiring, unable to +resist the humor of the ludicrous sight, broke into shouts of laughter.</p> + +<p>"Henry has them on the run. Sail in!" bellowed Hippy. "Run, you +ruffians, before I turn the rest of our menagerie on you!"</p> + +<p>The lumberjacks were now giving ground rapidly, though Peg, wounded +and, judging from his expression, suffering, was not further punished. +When he saw his men running away, the foreman of Section Forty-three +hopped off as best he could, shouting angry threats. The victorious +Overlanders with the assistance of Henry chased the lumber outfit to the +river, into which the jacks plunged and waded across with all speed.</p> + +<p>"Don't you ever show your face in our camp again! Next time, if you do, +it will be bullets, not clubs," Lieutenant Wingate shouted after the +retreating attackers.</p> + +<p>Henry was restrained from following the lumbermen across the river only +by heroic measures. The forest woman headed him off and clubbed him back +towards the camp, her clothing torn, her hair down her back, her face +red and angry.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">131</a></span></p> + +<p>"Splendid!" cried Grace Harlowe, running to meet her. "You are +wonderful."</p> + +<p>"I say, Joseph, if that's your name, may I address you as 'Old Dear' +without imperilling my life?" teased Hippy.</p> + +<p>"Ye kin call me anything ye like. After the talk of them varmints +anything would sound as sweet as the harps of Heving in a thunder +storm."</p> + +<p>"All right—Old Dear," answered Hippy solemnly. "I was going to tell you +that you are the apple of my eye, but, being a peach, you can't very +well be an apple, so we will let it go at 'Old Dear.'"</p> + +<p>Joe glared through her spectacles. The sharp lines of the rugged face of +the forest woman gradually melted into a smile, the first smile that any +member of that party had ever seen there.</p> + +<p>"Go on with ye!" she retorted laughing despite her attempt to be stern. +"I ought to sick the bear on ye, but I ain't goin' to."</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">132</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2><h3>A BLAZED WARNING</h3> +</div> + +<p>"Well, we gave them a run, didn't we?" crowed Hippy.</p> + +<p>"I reckon ye'd better pack and git out of here right lively," advised +the guide.</p> + +<p>Tom Gray agreed that Peg Tatem would miss no opportunity to take revenge +on the Overland Riders for what they had done to him, and it was decided +to break camp and move at once, the forest woman being confident that +she could keep in the right direction once she found a lumber road that +lay to the right of them a couple of miles away.</p> + +<p>Weary as they were, the Overlanders were quite willing to get away +without loss of time from the scene of their troubles. Their equipment +had suffered some, but none was left behind. While they were packing, +Tom, in order to make them understand that they had gained the ill-will +of desperate men, decided to tell them of the dynamiting of the tree, +and declared that it was his belief that Peg Tatem's lumberjacks had +done the deed, intending that the tree should fall on the camp while +they were asleep.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">133</a></span></p> + +<p>"There are fellows in Forty-three's gang that were in the mob at +Bisbee's Corners," declared Tom with emphasis.</p> + +<p>"Are they likely to follow us?" asked Elfreda.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe they will stray far from their own camp, but they may +try to get us before we leave here. Therefore let's go. They have work +to do in their own camp, you see," reminded Tom.</p> + +<p>Packing and breaking camp were accomplished quickly. Ponies were +saddled, packs lashed on, after which the party started away, the guide +leading, carrying a kerosene dash-lamp to assist her in reading blazes +on trees and avoiding obstructions, for the lamp had a reflector that +threw a fairly strong bar of light.</p> + +<p>Daylight must see the Overland Riders some miles from the scene of their +fight with the men from Forty-three, and there must be as little trail +left as possible. For the latter reason, Joe Shafto kept to such ground +as was covered with a mat of pine needles. These, being springy, gave +way under the hoofs of the horses, leaving no hoof-prints, no trail. +Of the Overland Riders only two persons observed this—Tom and Grace, +for, in her brief trips with him into the woods where he, as a forester, +spent much time, Grace had learned a great deal about forestry work.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">134</a></span></p> + +<p>No halt was made until midnight, when the forest woman reined in and +directed a ray of light against a huge pine tree.</p> + +<p>"A fresh blaze," said Tom, as he trotted up to her to see what the blaze +indicated.</p> + +<p>"A blaze with a bent arrow cut in it, the arrow smeared with dirt to +make it stand out. Clever, but what does it mean, Mrs. Shafto?" he +asked.</p> + +<p>"It's a warnin', Cap'n."</p> + +<p>"Of what?"</p> + +<p>"That I don't rightly know. The arrow, I reckon, points at the danger."</p> + +<p>"Is the arrow not pointed in the direction of our old camp?" asked +Elfreda.</p> + +<p>"Ye guessed it, Miss Briggs. That means we'd better be moseying along +right smart."</p> + +<p>"How long has that blaze been there?" asked Hippy.</p> + +<p>"An hour, mebby," replied Joe. "Come along, Henry."</p> + +<p>A few strokes of her axe obliterated the arrow on the blaze, and the +party pressed on.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if that arrow-blaze was intended for us," murmured Tom, as +they rode on in silence.</p> + +<p>Soon, the guide's lamp revealed another blaze, but this was purely a +direction blaze, which she mutilated and changed to mean a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">135</a></span> different +direction, then made a sharp turn to the right. Other blazes +encountered, all freshly made, led them straight to the lumber road for +which she had been searching and would have missed had it not been for +the friendly blazes that pointed the way.</p> + +<p>"What do ye 'low for that?" demanded the forest woman when they had +emerged on the road.</p> + +<p>"I believe now that the blazes were intended for us," answered Tom, his +brow wrinkling in perplexity. "It is very strange."</p> + +<p>"Why worry?" spoke up Hippy. "We are being led, but what's the odds who +is doing the leading so long as we are led?"</p> + +<p>"Pure logic," observed Miss Briggs.</p> + +<p>"From an illogical source," added Emma in an undertone.</p> + +<p>They proceeded along the lumber road for fully ten miles, fording two +streams, then halting at a sawmill on the banks of a river. The mill had +not yet started operations. Tom got off and looked the property over, +consulted his map, then the journey was resumed. Just beyond the mill +they came upon another of the now familiar blazes, directing them to +proceed to the right and follow the river bank.</p> + +<p>"The blazer fellow evidently knows where we wish to go. Do you know +where we are, Mrs. Shafto?" called Tom.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">136</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, I know now. It's the Little Big Branch River, though it ain't much +of a river yit. We got a long ways to go before we git to the place +where ye folks are goin' to hang out for a spell. I reckon we'd better +make camp just before daylight."</p> + +<p>No one offered objection to her proposal. All were weary and cold, as +well as hungry and sleepy. Emma was swaying in her saddle, frequently +catching herself napping and straightening up just in time to prevent +falling from her horse, while the others, noses and lips blue, shivered +and made no effort to control the chattering of their teeth.</p> + +<p>"Oh, why was I ever induced to leave my happy home?" wailed Anne. "This +is the worst of all."</p> + +<p>Nothing more was heard from any of them until Joe Shafto finally +announced that they had reached the end of their night's journey.</p> + +<p>"Rustle something for the makin's, and we'll have heat and a hot drink +right smart," she called.</p> + +<p>While Hippy tied the ponies and fetched water for them, Tom gathered +firewood and started the fire for breakfast. Tea, being the quickest +drink to make, was brewed, and gulped down by the Overlanders almost as +fast as Joe could, pour it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">137</a></span></p> + +<p>"How fu—fu—funny you look," chattered Emma, nodding at Miss Briggs.</p> + +<p>"If I look as funny as I feel, I must be a scream," retorted Elfreda.</p> + +<p>"Here, here! Don't I get any of that?" cried Hippy, coming up at a run.</p> + +<p>Tea was served to him.</p> + +<p>"Ah-h-h-h! Nectar of the gods! Now if some one will kindly prepare a +little food, I shall offer deep and sincere thanks; then seek my downy +couch for sweet repose."</p> + +<p>"Hippy is the first to thaw out," chuckled Tom.</p> + +<p>"He always was soft, anyway," reminded Emma.</p> + +<p>"And we are all blue-noses this morning," added Nora laughingly.</p> + +<p>Under the warming influence of the tea, their spirits soon revived, and +when the campfire was laid and set going a little distance from the +small cook fire, sighs of relief were heard on all sides.</p> + +<p>Day was just breaking when the party laid down by the fire for a much +needed rest. Pine needles were their beds that morning. No one had the +ambition to help build a lean-to, nor did one care to wait for some one +else to make it.</p> + +<p>Noon found them still asleep, with the exception of Grace, who had risen +two hours earlier to get breakfast for Tom who was about to leave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">138</a></span> for +his work, perhaps not to return for some weeks. The Overlanders were to +make a permanent camp further down on the Little Big Branch, and, when +Tom Gray returned from his first "cruise," he was to follow the river +until he found them.</p> + +<p>"Rather indefinite," laughed Grace. "However, you aren't much of a +woodsman if you can't find us with such directions, though don't cut off +the bends in the river or you surely will miss us. We do not intend that +our camp shall be over-conspicuous."</p> + +<p>Tom said his good-bye and, mounting, rode away and disappeared in the +forest. Grace stirred up the fire and added fresh wood so that her +companions might have warmth, for the morning was chill, and then called +them.</p> + +<p>Spirals of smoke were rising above the trees from the campfire. Joe +Shafto looked up at it, and shook her head disapprovingly.</p> + +<p>"If there's one low-down jack within fifty mile of us on high ground, +he'll have us spotted for certain," she rebuked. "Great fire—great +smoke for Indian signaling."</p> + +<p>"Thank you. I had not thought of the smoke," answered Grace. "How shall +I stop its smoking?"</p> + +<p>"Pour water on it till it's out, then build a new fire. Never mind. Too +late now. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">139</a></span> damage's done, and a little smoke more or less won't +matter no how."</p> + +<p>Breakfast, noon breakfast, proved to be so satisfying that no one felt +inclined to pack up and move on.</p> + +<p>"Girls, what do you say to the suggestion that we make camp here until +some time to-morrow?" questioned Anne. "We are in no hurry, except that +we do not wish to be overtaken by Peg Tatem's gang, which, it doesn't +seem probable that we shall be."</p> + +<p>"Yes! Stay!" cried the Overlanders.</p> + +<p>"Is that satisfactory to you, Mrs. Shafto?" asked Grace, turning to the +guide.</p> + +<p>"I kin stand it if ye kin."</p> + +<p>"We stay," announced Grace. "Let's build our sheds after we have settled +our breakfasts and are able to summon some ambition."</p> + +<p>Their sleeping quarters were finished before dark, and then the girls +rambled along the river, here and there startling a buck or a doe into +sudden flight. There were no man-made trails here, no sounds other than +the murmuring waters of the Little Big Branch and the voices of nature, +to which Emma Dean listened, nodded or shook her head as if she and +those voices were holding converse. The laughing teasing of her +companions failed to swerve Emma from her newfound hobby.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">140</a></span></p> + +<p>That night, as they snuggled under their blankets, clear and cold out of +the silence pealed a mournful howl, long-drawn, strange and full of the +wild.</p> + +<p>Nora and Anne buried their heads under the blankets to shut out the +sound.</p> + +<p>"What was that?" cried Elfreda.</p> + +<p>"A wolf—an old she timber wolf—a varmint," answered the forest woman +from her lean-to.</p> + +<p>"And it bids us beware of perils near at hand," droned Emma in a +far-away voice.</p> + +<p>"Will you stop that?" demanded Elfreda. "You give me the creeps."</p> + +<p>"I think it is perfectly wonderful," breathed Emma. Then with greater +emphasis she exclaimed, "Such a voice in the wilderness is an +inspiration. How I wish Madam Gersdorff might be here to hear it. Girls, +you don't know, you cannot dream what a wonderful woman she is."</p> + +<p>"I'd like to see <i>anybody</i> dream with you setting up such a chatter," +complained Anne.</p> + +<p>"Please, please, Emma, let the wolves howl if they wish. We can't stop +them, but that is no reason why you should keep us all awake. We need +sleep," begged Grace Harlowe laughingly.</p> + +<p>After a few muttered protests, Emma subsided, and only the faint yelps +of the dreaming bull pup and the noisy slumber of Hippy Wingate +disturbed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">141</a></span> the deeply impressive silence of the great forest. That he +might better guard the camp, Hindenburg had been tied out to a tree on +his long leash. Lieutenant Wingate had built a miniature lean-to for the +pup to crawl under in the event of rain, but Hindenburg was already +under it, stretched out on the yielding browse bed, one little brown ear +vigilantly erect to catch the slightest sound. Emma Dean declared that +the dog must be deaf in that ear, for he never seemed to hear with it.</p> + +<p>The bull pup's slumbers were not disturbed that night, nor were Henry's. +The bear lay at the rear of Mrs. Shafto's lean-to all night long, curled +up into a furry ball, but with the break of day he was off in the forest +for the choice morsels of food that he knew were there for him to pluck.</p> + +<p>After the campers awakened, the forest woman's shrill call soon brought +the bear ambling back to camp, but they observed that he was restless, +now and then lifting his nose and sniffing the air, punctuated with an +occasional throaty growl, but the bull pup, flat on his back, feet in +the air, was sound asleep on his browse bed.</p> + +<p>"Henry, what's the matter with ye? I reckon maybe ye smell some varmint +that's hangin' 'round waitin' fer the leavin's of the breakfast," +scolded Joe.</p> + +<p>The bacon was on the fire and the aroma of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">142</a></span> coffee in the air when a +loud hail warned the Overland Riders that they were about to receive an +early morning call.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Wingate answered the hail. A few moments later they descried +a horseman riding through the forest towards the camp.</p> + +<p>The newcomer was dressed in khaki, wearing an army hat and high lace +boots. Grace recognized the uniform at once, having seen it before when +foresting with Tom Gray. Her identification was confirmed when she +caught sight of the bronze badge of the Forest Service, which the +stalwart rider wore on his left breast. His face was rugged and +weatherbeaten, and the strength of the wilderness was in his eye, though +the man's facial expression, at that moment, was far from pleasant.</p> + +<p>The forest ranger, or fire warden, halted and surveyed the camp with a +slow, searching gaze, narrowly observing the crackling campfire, then +suddenly bent a stern look on each member of the Overland party.</p> + +<p>"Morning, Buddy. You are just in time to sit in with us for a snack of +breakfast," greeted Lieutenant Wingate cordially.</p> + +<p>"Put out that fire!" commanded the ranger sternly, pointing a lean brown +finger at the cook fire that had grown into a lively blaze.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">143</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2><h3>THEIR DAY AT HOME</h3> +</div> + +<p>"What is wrong about the fire, sir?" questioned Grace pleasantly.</p> + +<p>"Have you a permit to build fires in these woods?"</p> + +<p>"We have not," spoke up Hippy. "Why?"</p> + +<p>"Then put it out!"</p> + +<p>"Just a moment, old top. Who sent you here?" demanded Hippy.</p> + +<p>"The Dusenbery outfit that's cutting on Forty-three notified me by +telephone yesterday that a party of campers had set on fire and burned +off several thousand feet of timber. He said there were two men and a +party of women—that they were rough-necks, and a lot of other things. I +haven't anything to do with that, but I'm going to see to it that you +don't do any more damage to the forest."</p> + +<p>"Peg Tatem, eh?" reflected Hippy. "How did you find us? Did Peg tell you +where we were?"</p> + +<p>"I saw your smoke yesterday, but couldn't rightly place you till this +morning when I smelled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">144</a></span> your smoke and found I was close to you. Are you +going to douse the fire?"</p> + +<p>"I think not, sir," answered Grace.</p> + +<p>The ranger sprang from his horse and strode towards the campfire. Hippy +stepped between him and the blaze.</p> + +<p>"Don't do anything childish. Let the fire alone. When we want the fire +out we will put it out ourselves," reminded Lieutenant Wingate.</p> + +<p>The ranger drew back an arm as if about to strike at the Overland Rider +when a menacing growl at his side caused the forest man to spring back. +He had recognized that growl instantly. Henry, standing on his hind +legs, "arms" extended, was ready for fight, following a gentle prodding +and a "Sick 'im, Henry," from his mistress.</p> + +<p>The ranger whipped out his revolver.</p> + +<p>"Drop that gun!" yelled Joe Shafto. "That's my bear!"</p> + +<p>"Don't shoot! He is a pet bear," admonished Lieutenant Wingate. "That is +Henry. Oh, are you awake?" he added, as Hindenburg rolled over, blinked, +and then dashed out and began barking at the stranger.</p> + +<p>"What's this—a circus?" wondered the ranger.</p> + +<p>"I give ye fair notice it'll be a circus if ye don't let that bear be," +warned the forest woman in a shrill high-pitched voice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">145</a></span></p> + +<p>"Put away your gun, Mister Man. There's nothing to shoot here, unless +you get too confounded obstreperous," urged Hippy, now smiling. "My +name's Wingate, Lieutenant Wingate, late of the Army Flying Corps in our +late unpleasantness with the Hun. What's yours?"</p> + +<p>"Chatworth's my name. I'm the warden up here, and, not having a permit +to have a fire in the forest, you'll have to hit the lumber trail for +the open country."</p> + +<p>"Nothing doing! You will have to dope out something better than that to +induce us to leave," grinned Hippy.</p> + +<p>Grace demanded to know where the ranger got his authority for stating +that they should have a fire permit.</p> + +<p>"It's my authority!" he answered brusquely.</p> + +<p>"Who told you to assume such authority?" interjected Miss Briggs in the +calm judicial voice that was hers when trying a lawsuit.</p> + +<p>"I'm not answering fool questions. You heard what I said. Are you +going?"</p> + +<p>"Well—yes, of course we are going, but it may be a month or two before +we do go. If you will kindly give me your address I'll drop you a +picture card later on, telling you when we expect to leave the Big North +Woods," drawled Lieutenant Wingate.</p> + +<p>"Hippy, I do not believe that Mr. Chatworth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">146</a></span> fully understands who and +what we are," interjected Grace. "We take such trips as this one every +summer, sir, and we are not greenhorns in the forest. We realize the +danger of fire to the forests as fully as well as you do. For your +information, I will merely say that we were in no wise to blame for the +fire at Section Forty-three. A tree fell over and scattered the embers +of our campfire, thus starting the forest fire and—"</p> + +<p>"All the more reason why you're not fit to be in the woods," answered +the ranger roughly.</p> + +<p>"Cut the rough talk!" admonished Lieutenant Wingate severely. "Had it +not been for us that blaze would have swept the whole state. We fought +it all night and until nearly noon next day. Stop growling! If you keep +on growling the bear and my bull pup will think you are an animal and +sail into you for keeps."</p> + +<p>"As I was about to say," reminded Grace, "my husband is a forester and +is in the North Woods now on official business. He was with us when the +fire occurred, and will join us further along in a few weeks."</p> + +<p>"Eh? What's his name?" demanded the ranger sharply, eyeing Grace with +new interest in his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Tom Gray," answered Grace.</p> + +<p>"Is he the fellow that's cruising the timber up here for the state?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">147</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Humph! Why didn't you say so before?"</p> + +<p>"I presume because you did not ask me," returned Grace demurely. "Now +that you understand, won't you please sit down and have breakfast with +us? We have plenty and really shall be glad to have you."</p> + +<p>"Well, I reckon I might as well," decided the ranger, striding over and +tying his horse to a sapling.</p> + +<p>Hippy introduced him to the members of the Overland party, the ranger +bowing awkwardly, but with the quiet dignity so characteristic of those +who have learned their lesson from the heart of nature herself.</p> + +<p>"Sorry, folks, that I had to be up a tree with you, but we must do our +duty and protect this forest. There are not many of 'em left in these +United States, and what there is, are going fast. I'll have a snack with +you."</p> + +<p>"Peace has been declared," murmured Emma.</p> + +<p>"Keep that menagerie away! I don't like bears nosing around me any +more'n I do wolves."</p> + +<p>"Wolves!" exclaimed Nora. "We heard one last night."</p> + +<p>"There are lots of 'em up here and they kill the game. The state offers +a bounty of seven dollars and a half for every one killed—every +full-grown critter; ten dollars for cubs."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">148</a></span></p> + +<p>"You say the state desires to get rid of them?" questioned Emma.</p> + +<p>"All states do. They're varmints," answered the ranger.</p> + +<p>"Why don't they try dynamite?" asked Emma. "Perhaps the wolves might eat +it and go off."</p> + +<p>"Call the bear," suggested Hippy after a brief silence.</p> + +<p>The Overland Riders shouted, and the forest ranger grinned, the bull pup +joining in the merriment by barking and dashing about the camp, taking a +gentle nip at Henry's flank as he passed that none too good-natured +beast.</p> + +<p>"I reckon this <i>is</i> a circus after all," choked the guide, trying to +talk and eat a slice of tough bacon at the same time. "Tell me what +happened about that fire. I reckon you haven't told the whole of it."</p> + +<p>Hippy thereupon related what they had discovered after the fire, as well +as the experiences they had gone through preceding the fire, to all of +which the forest ranger lent an attentive ear.</p> + +<p>"Hm-m-m!" he mused. "Reckon you haven't heard the last of that outfit. +Tatem'll have it up his sleeve for you long as he lives. Keep your eyes +peeled. That Dusenbery outfit is the biggest set of timber thieves in +the North Woods and I hope we catch 'em. Do I understand that your +husband is looking for 'timber-lookers'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">149</a></span> who are looking for easy money +on the sly, Mrs. Gray?"</p> + +<p>"He may be," smiled Grace diplomatically.</p> + +<p>"Mebby I'll run across him. Thanks for the snack. Thanks to you, Miss +Dean, for the wolf suggestion. I'll pass it on to the Game and Fish +Commissioner at St. Paul. I'll be off now."</p> + +<p>"How about this campfire, 'Chatty'? Do you still insist that we put it +out?" questioned Hippy solemnly.</p> + +<p>"Well," answered the ranger, stroking his chin reflectively, "being as +its you and further, being that I've broken bacon with you and heard a +real funny joke from Miss Dean here, I reckon I don't. 'Bye, folks. See +you some other time." The ranger led out his horse, mounted and rode +away.</p> + +<p>"That obstacle overcome," announced Miss Briggs in a tone of relief, "I +wonder what next."</p> + +<p>"If you will kindly cast your eyes downstream I think you will discover +three more obstacles on the way to the Overland camp, and, from the look +of them, I am inclined to feel that they are not harbingers of delight. +Girls, this really seems to be our 'Day at Home,'" said Grace Harlowe +laughingly.</p> + +<p>"Good night!" exclaimed Hippy Wingate after a quick glance downstream. +"Give Henry a poke in the ribs, Joe. Here's more trouble!"</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">150</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2><h3>THE WAY OF THE BIG WOODS</h3> +</div> + +<p>Three horsemen were seen approaching as rapidly as the uneven going +would permit. Two of the trio were holding their rifles under their arms +at a position indicating readiness for instant action.</p> + +<p>The Overlanders were observing them narrowly, and especially Joe Shafto, +who, having seen them first, and being suspicious of the newcomers, had +run for her rifle and thrown herself down behind a log, commanding Henry +to follow. The only other member of the Overland Riders who had a weapon +handy was Lieutenant Wingate, who wore the heavy service revolver that +he had carried while a fighting air pilot in France.</p> + +<p>Hippy's hand was close to the butt of his revolver, but he made no +effort to draw it, even though he believed that he and his party were +about to have trouble.</p> + +<p>"Keep clear, girls, and give me room," he warned. "May have to shoot."</p> + +<p>As the three strangers, one leading the way, reached the edge of the +camp, the two rear riders<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">151</a></span> threw up their rifles and covered the +Overland party with them.</p> + +<p>"Put up yer hands!" came the command, sharp and incisive.</p> + +<p>"Put up your own," flung back Lieutenant Wingate, and the newcomers +found themselves facing his weapon. "Tag! You're it. What is this, +anyway?"</p> + +<p>"Drop that aire gun or I'll let ye have a hunk of lead!" threatened one +of the strangers.</p> + +<p>"No you won't. You haven't the nerve. I'll tell you what I will do. I +will put my revolver back in its holster provided you put down your own +weapons. If you make a move to shoot I will draw and wing you before you +can pull a trigger. If you don't believe me, try it. At the same time, +old tops, I would advise you that, though you don't know it, you are +already covered by a repeating rifle, and further, that should you make +a false move, the rifle is likely to go off." With that Hippy Wingate +thrust his revolver into its holster. "Your move. What's the joke?" he +demanded, casting a quick glance at the log behind which the forest +woman was hiding, and observing that her rifle barrel protruded over the +log ever so little, though the woman herself was not visible.</p> + +<p>The men did not lower their weapons, but the rider in advance rode right +into the camp.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">152</a></span></p> + +<p>"You carrying guns? I mean game guns—rifles?" questioned the man in a +tone of severity.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Shot anything?"</p> + +<p>"Not yet, but I came near shooting two men just now," answered Hippy, +scowling as savagely as he knew how.</p> + +<p>"Let me see 'em!"</p> + +<p>"There's one of them. Look at it! On that log yonder," he added, +pointing to Joe Shafto's rifle. "Want to see the rest of them?"</p> + +<p>"I reckon that's enough," answered the stranger. "I've heard that ye +folks was a tough bunch, and up here for a big killing. I'm the game +warden. I don't suppose ye even went to the trouble to git a license to +hunt in this state. Folks like you think they can git away with most +anything, but ye can't do it in these parts."</p> + +<p>"Game warden, eh? You guessed wrong, old Santa Claus. I have a license. +We all have licenses and we propose to do some hunting when the season +opens, though that is not the main purpose of our journey up here."</p> + +<p>"Show me."</p> + +<p>Hippy handed his license to the warden, which that officer read with +frowning attention. Handing it back he demanded to see the licenses of +the others, which Lieutenant Wingate had had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">153</a></span> the foresight to procure +before the Overland Riders came west.</p> + +<p>"Reckon you're all right so far as licenses is concarned, but ye can't +carry guns up here till the season—the game season's open," said the +game warden, handing back the licenses.</p> + +<p>"It's always an open season for the kind of game we are going to hunt," +Hippy informed him.</p> + +<p>"Eh? What kind's that?"</p> + +<p>"Your kind," retorted Hippy sharply.</p> + +<p>"That's all I've got to do with ye. I'd make ye give up the guns, but +these gents have something to say to you folks. They'll take care of yer +rifles and such."</p> + +<p>The game warden backed his horse away. His two companions, taking their +cue from his move, rode to the fore.</p> + +<p>Hippy surveyed them narrowly.</p> + +<p>"Here comes the rub," Miss Briggs confided to Grace.</p> + +<p>"We're deputy sheriffs," announced one.</p> + +<p>"Charmed, I'm sure," greeted Hippy, bowing with much dignity. "Making +early calls seems to be the way of the Big Woods. What do you want? Let +me see. So far to-day we have had two wardens and two deputy sheriffs. +Speak your piece, but remember that you are covered. It's just as well +while talking to me to keep your muzzles pointed towards the ground."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">154</a></span></p> + +<p>"Are ye the fellows that burned up part of Section Forty-three?" asked +the deputy.</p> + +<p>"No. The fire did that. We are the fellows that put out the fire, or +there would be nothing left of a good part of that section except +blackened stumps and dead tree toads."</p> + +<p>"Seeing as ye admit it, that's all right."</p> + +<p>Hippy nodded. Grace and Elfreda had stepped up, just to the rear of +Hippy, that they might miss nothing of what was being said. The second +deputy kept a watchful eye on them, presumably to see that they played +no tricks on his companion.</p> + +<p>"The owner of that section, Hi Dusenbery, reckons as ye've got to pay +fer the loss of the timber ye burned, and I'm here, fer one thing, to +serve the papers on ye in the suit. Do ye accept service?"</p> + +<p>Hippy reached for the papers that the deputy held out, and, without +looking at them, tore them and dropped the fragments on the ground.</p> + +<p>"You shouldn't have done that," rebuked Miss Briggs. "Grace, help me +gather up the pieces. The idea!"</p> + +<p>"Anything else?" demanded Lieutenant Wingate. "I have had about enough +of this nonsense."</p> + +<p>"I reckon there is something else. Ye're charged with bein' dangerous +characters. Information<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">155</a></span> has been laid against ye by one William Tatem, +otherwise known as Peg Tatem, accusin' some person unknown, but +belongin' to this party, of shootin' him through the leg."</p> + +<p>"It was a wooden leg, and the shots were not fired by any person or +persons in this party. We do not know who fired them," interrupted +Hippy.</p> + +<p>The deputy sheriffs grinned.</p> + +<p>"Ye are further charged with causin' certain wild animals, to wit, a +bear and a big ugly dog, to attack Peg Tatem and his men and do 'em +injury, to wit, bites and scratches, not to speak of a bad scare."</p> + +<p>"Well? There must be something more," urged Hippy. "What do you want me +to do?"</p> + +<p>"Peg opined that if ye would settle with him for the damages to his leg, +and pay him for the scare ye give him, and settle with his jacks for +what ye did to them, he might be willin' to let ye off."</p> + +<p>Grace said something to Elfreda under her breath and Elfreda nodded. +Both saw that Lieutenant Wingate's good nature was slipping from him, +that his temper was rising.</p> + +<p>"Don't do anything rash, Hippy," urged Grace in a low tone.</p> + +<p>"If I refuse, what then?" he demanded belligerently, addressing the +man.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">156</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's up to ye."</p> + +<p>"I refuse to pay one copper cent!" roared Hippy. "Go tell that +timber-legged friend of yours that if he bothers us again he will either +get a bullet through his real leg or land in jail or both. Put that in +your pipe and smoke it! I don't believe you are deputies at all."</p> + +<p>"Then yer under arrest. The whole pack of ye is under arrest!" shouted +the deputy, suddenly throwing up his rifle.</p> + +<p><i>Bang!</i></p> + +<p>A bullet whizzed past the deputy's head, fired from the ready rifle of +Joe Shafto, who, with finger on the trigger, was glaring through her big +horn-rimmed spectacles, alert for a suggestive move on the part of +either of the three men, which would be the signal for another shot from +her rifle.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">157</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2><h3>WILLY HORSE SHOWS THE WAY</h3> +</div> + +<p>Elfreda laid a hand on Lieutenant Wingate's arm, then stepped between +him and the deputy, who had lowered his rifle a little, hesitating, it +appeared, whether to shoot and take his chances or to adopt the safer +course. The fact that he chose the latter, and made no further effort to +intimidate them with his weapon, was significant to Miss Briggs.</p> + +<p>"Mister Man, I am a lawyer, and I will speak with you. I believe you +just said that we are all under arrest," reminded Elfreda in an ordinary +conversational tone.</p> + +<p>"Ye are that, unless ye settle up," blustered the fellow.</p> + +<p>"Then, of course, you have warrants. Have you?"</p> + +<p>"Well, well, no, I reckon I hain't. Don't need none. I'm an officer of +the law. This is my warrant," he said, tapping the rifle.</p> + +<p>"We have similar arguments, arguments that are fully as potent," replied +Miss Briggs significantly. "We decline to recognize any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">158</a></span> authority +unless backed by proper credentials. What county are you from, may I +inquire?"</p> + +<p>"St. Louis County," grumbled the deputy.</p> + +<p>"And your companion—is he from the same county?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Come! I ain't got time for per-laverin' around. Are ye goin' to +pay up or go with us?"</p> + +<p>"Neither! You have no warrant; you have no proof that you are officers +of the law, and you admit that you are from St. Louis County. Grace, +what county are we now in?"</p> + +<p>"Beltrami County," replied Grace Harlowe, who had been consulting her +map.</p> + +<p>Miss Briggs nodded.</p> + +<p>"Out of your jurisdiction, Mister Deputy! It might be in order for me to +suggest that you remove your persons from our camp," finished Elfreda in +the same even tone with which she had carried on the conversation +throughout.</p> + +<p>"I'll see whether ye'll go with us or not!" raged the deputy.</p> + +<p>"Joe!" called Hippy sharply. "If these rough-necks don't go <i>instanter</i>, +trim 'em right."</p> + +<p>"Don't set Henry on them. They might hurt him," called Grace.</p> + +<p>"Get out!" commanded Hippy.</p> + +<p>The three men got, but before going they warned the Overland Riders that +they would have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">159</a></span> the law on them for shooting at officers in the +discharge of their duty.</p> + +<p>In reply, Hippy waved a hand and grinned, and the men rode away rather +more rapidly than they had come into the camp.</p> + +<p>"Great thought of yours, J. Elfreda," complimented Lieutenant Wingate.</p> + +<p>"Elfreda uses her head, Hippy. How much better than flying into a rage +and threatening your enemy with dire things," reminded Grace.</p> + +<p>"You don't always do that yourself," retorted Hippy. "Thanks, Joe. Had +it not been for you we might have had a disturbance."</p> + +<p>"Aren't we ever going to have peace?" wailed Emma. "I know I shall have +nervous prostration at this rate."</p> + +<p>"Cheer up. Let the voice of nature soothe your troubled spirits and rise +above such common things as mere officers of the law," comforted Hippy. +"What next?"</p> + +<p>"Suppose we break camp and move," suggested Grace.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes; let's do so," urged Anne.</p> + +<p>"Do you think they will come back, darlin'?" questioned Nora anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Not before it is time for the swallows to build their nests under the +eaves."</p> + +<p>Joe, muttering to herself, went out to fetch in her pack mules, June and +July, preparatory to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">160</a></span> loading the equipment on them for the start. Joe +was a little rougher with the animals than usual, and their ears, tilted +back at a sharp angle, indicated their resentment, but the guide was too +angry to notice this danger signal. A sharp slap on June's thigh to make +the animal step over was followed by a lightning-like flash of two tough +little mule heels, and Joe Shafto was lifted from her feet and hurled +against July, and then July began to kick.</p> + +<p>The Overlanders, frightened for the safety of the guide, ran to assist +her, when, out of the mix-up, leaped the forest woman, her hair tumbled +down her back, and eyes blazing through the big horn-rimmed spectacles, +she having rolled under July and out of the way with amazing agility.</p> + +<p>"I'll larn ye, ye beasts!" she shrieked, running for her club.</p> + +<p>June felt the sting of it, and July grunted as the club descended on the +fleshy part of her hip, at the same instant shooting both hind feet into +the air; but this time Joe was out of reach.</p> + +<p>"Here, here!" cried Hippy, springing forward to interfere. "We don't +permit any one to beat animals in this menagerie," he chided, grabbing +the woman's club.</p> + +<p>"Leggo!" shrieked Joe, wrenching the club from his hands. "No man ain't +goin' to tell<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">161</a></span> Joe Shafto what she kin do. Git out of here!" she raged, +advancing threateningly on Hippy. "I'll paste them mules when I want to, +and—"</p> + +<p>"That's all right, old dear," soothed Hippy, backing up laughingly, but +Joe followed him, shaking the club before his face.</p> + +<p>"Don't ye 'old dear' me. Mules is swine, and no better'n some men, and I +give ye notice no man ain't goin' to come 'tween me and my mules. I'll +paste 'em when I like, and I'll paste 'em like they did me, the +varmints, and I won't have no animile that walks like a man interferin' +'tween me and the mules and tellin' me what ter do. Git out of here +afore I give ye a wallop on the jaw, fer I'm goin' ter finish what I +begun on June, and her name'll be December when I git through, and don't +ye fergit it." Joe grabbed the mule by an ear, gave the animal a prod +with her club, then slapped June's face.</p> + +<p>"Consarn ye, ye pore insect that's tryin to look like a hoss, but that +ain't even got the skin of one, I reckon ye'll be good arter this," she +finished, and threw a pack over the back of the now thoroughly subdued +pack-mule. "Git started, ye folks, and don't say nothin' to me, for I'm +li'ble to git mad arter the stirrin' up them mules give me."</p> + +<p>"<i>Alors!</i> Let's go," suggested Elfreda after the laughter of the +Overlanders had subsided.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">162</a></span></p> + +<p>They were on their way a short time later, laughing as they headed for +the section on which they hoped eventually to meet Tom, and make +permanent camp. The forest woman had never been in that part of the +woods, but, knowing the general direction, thought she could hold to it +and come out somewhere near the spot they desired to reach.</p> + +<p>That night they lay down to sleep in the open, wrapped in their +blankets. For the week following the Overland Riders camped out in the +same way, and nothing occurred to mar the life of freedom and happiness +that they were leading.</p> + +<p>The river had been left to the right of them, for the sake of what Joe +said might be better going, and a fairly direct course was followed for +several days more. One night, however, they suddenly found themselves on +the banks of the Little Big Branch where it had taken a deep bend. Hippy +declared that it had made the bend to be near Emma and murmur sweet +nothings in her ear.</p> + +<p>"Listen well, little one," he admonished. "Tidings from the frozen +north, as well as messages intended for our ears alone, may be borne to +us through you. It is mighty fortunate that we have you with us."</p> + +<p>The bank of the river was their camp that night. The party slept just +under the bluff,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">163</a></span> protected by it and lulled to sleep by the gently +rippling waters of the forest stream. Early on the following morning +they were aroused by an uproar in the camp. Out of the uproar came the +shrill voice of their guide.</p> + +<p>"Get out of here, ye lazy good-for-nothin'. Think this 'ere is a +lumberjack hotel? Sick 'im, Henry! Sick 'im!" raged Joe Shafto.</p> + +<p>Grace, hearing the bear growl, sprang up and ran out. Her companions +were not far behind her.</p> + +<p>Sitting crouched over the campfire, which he had built, calmly cooking +his breakfast, was the Indian, Willy Horse, wholly undisturbed by the +uproar that his presence had created.</p> + +<p>"Call off the bear!" commanded Grace sharply. "The man is our friend."</p> + +<p>"He's a lazy good-for-nothin' and he's stole yer breakfast," protested +the forest woman, as she headed off Henry and drove him back with sundry +prods of her foot.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, Mr. Horse," greeted Emma.</p> + +<p>"Mornin'," answered the Indian briefly.</p> + +<p>Grace by this time was shaking hands with him; then the Overland girls +surrounded him and demanded to know why he had not been to see them +before.</p> + +<p>Emma started to tell Willy what a lot of trouble they had been in when +Grace interjected a remark that caused Elfreda to wonder.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">164</a></span></p> + +<p>"Perhaps Willy Horse knows more about our late unpleasantnesses than you +do, Emma," said Grace.</p> + +<p>"Hello, old man. How are you?" cried Hippy, striding forward with +outstretched hand.</p> + +<p>"How do! You Big Friend. Me make breakfast fire here."</p> + +<p>"Help yourself," urged the girls.</p> + +<p>"All yours," added Hippy with a wave of the hand that encompassed the +entire camp.</p> + +<p>"Not includin' the guide," differed Joe Shafto.</p> + +<p>Grace told Willy to wait until their breakfast was ready and eat with +them, but the Indian shook his head and stolidly continued preparing his +own breakfast. When it was ready he ate it, then sat back and smoked his +pipe.</p> + +<p>"See other Big Friend," he finally vouchsafed.</p> + +<p>"Tom Gray?" questioned Grace, instantly divining who Willy meant.</p> + +<p>The Indian nodded his head.</p> + +<p>"Him say all right," he added after an interval of puffing. "Say him +come along bymeby. Say Willy Horse show you place to camp. Me show."</p> + +<p>"That will be fine. Did my husband say when he expected to join us?" +asked Grace.</p> + +<p>"Say him come along soon. You see other white men?" Willy bent a steady +look on the face of Hippy Wingate.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">165</a></span></p> + +<p>"I should say we have. Deputy sheriffs, game wardens and a forest +ranger."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and we saw a fellow named Peg Tatem. We had a fight with him," +Emma informed their visitor.</p> + +<p>"So?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, we did, Mr. Horse. And some one shot a hole through his wooden +leg. Who do you suppose could have done that?"</p> + +<p>"Big Friend, huh?" he questioned, looking up at Hippy.</p> + +<p>"Not guilty," answered Hippy with a shake of the head.</p> + +<p>"How come?" demanded the Indian.</p> + +<p>Emma Dean told him the story, Willy listening gravely, puffing slowly at +his pipe, eyes fixed on the campfire. He smoked on in silence for some +time after the conclusion of her narrative.</p> + +<p>"Mebby Willy find out," he grunted.</p> + +<p>"You suspect, don't you?" demanded Elfreda, who had been narrowly +observing the Indian.</p> + +<p>"Make breakfast. We go soon. Willy show where make camp." With that the +Indian rose, turned his back on them and loped into the forest. They saw +no more of him for fully two hours, and were already packed up and on +their way when they saw him standing with shoulder against a great tree, +watching their approach.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">166</a></span></p> + +<p>"You come along. Willy show," he directed as Hippy came abreast of him.</p> + +<p>"How long will it take to reach this camp?" asked Lieutenant Wingate.</p> + +<p>"Long time. Next sundown."</p> + +<p>"To-morrow's or to-day's sundown?" demanded Emma.</p> + +<p>"To-morrow."</p> + +<p>Willy resumed his Indian gait, shoulders leaning forward, toes pointed +inward, his center of gravity well forward, and in this position he +trotted along for hours. The party halted at noon, but Willy Horse +jogged on ahead and was soon out of sight. He rejoined them after they +had resumed their journey and did not again stop until just before dark +when he announced that they would camp where they were. The Indian then +made browse-beds in the open for the Overland girls, and again +disappeared.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with that pesky savage?" demanded the forest woman. +"He's wuss'n the bear."</p> + +<p>Hippy suggested that perhaps the Indian had gone off by himself to +listen to the voices of nature.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he has gone away to shoot somebody's wooden leg," suggested +Emma demurely.</p> + +<p>Elfreda nodded, and said she too was convinced that Willy Horse had +fired the shots that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">167</a></span> shattered Peg Tatem's wooden leg, and the girls +agreed with her. They never got any nearer to the truth of that +occurrence, for, when questioned later about it, Willy Horse seemed +unable to understand what they were talking about.</p> + +<p>The Indian did not reappear until the following morning. That day he led +them a long chase and kept the Overlanders at a fast jog. How he ever +stood up under it they could not imagine, and when they stopped he was +breathing naturally, and did not appear to be in the least fatigued.</p> + +<p>"Come camp to-night," he told them when asked how near they were to +their destination.</p> + +<p>The woman guide had little to say, but her sour expression told the +Overlanders that she was not pleased that the Indian was leading them.</p> + +<p>The skies clouded over late in the afternoon, and later a drizzling rain +set in, but they continued on, well protected by their waterproof coats, +the hoods of which covered their heads. Henry, however, was a +disconsolate-looking object, but Hindenburg, riding in Hippy's saddle +bag, was dry and cosy, sleeping soundly as the rain pattered on his +sleeping quarters.</p> + +<p>Night found the party still some little distance from its destination, +and Willy Horse was appealed to for encouragement. Emma wanted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">168</a></span> to camp +where they were but the others outvoted her, so on they rode.</p> + +<p>From then on the journey was an unpleasant one. The shins of the riders +were barked from contact with trees. Low-hanging limbs of small +second-growth trees slapped their faces and deluged the riders with +water, and altogether they were experiencing about the most unpleasant +ride that they had ever taken, except possibly that across the Great +American Desert earlier in their vacation riding.</p> + +<p>Grace, perhaps, was the only exception, in that she found herself +enjoying the unusual experience and the excitement of it, for the +stumbles of the ponies were frequent; here and there a tree was heard to +fall crashing to earth, and, high and piercing on the soggy night air, +they occasionally heard the mournful howl of a wolf.</p> + +<p>"There goes seven dollars and a half," Emma would wail every time a wolf +howled.</p> + +<p>Willy Horse finally shouted and indicated by a gesture, which was +revealed to the riders in the rear by Hippy's lamp, that he was about to +change his course. The Indian turned sharply to the right, proceeded in +a direct line for half a mile, as nearly as the Riders could judge, then +threw his arm straight up into the air.</p> + +<p>"Be we there?" yelled the forest woman.</p> + +<p>"We be. That is, we're here, but whether<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">169</a></span> here is there or somewhere +else you will have to search the Indian for the answer. I don't know," +answered Hippy.</p> + +<p>"Wait! Me make fire," directed Willy.</p> + +<p>The Overlanders, having sat their saddles so long, were literally +sticking to the leather, but wrenched themselves loose, slid off and +leaned against the steaming sides of their ponies, while water from the +trees filtered over them and ran in rivulets down their coats.</p> + +<p>The flame of a cheerful campfire showed through the mist and was greeted +with a hoarse cheer by the cold Overland Riders.</p> + +<p>"Is this the place where we are to stay until Mr. Gray joins us?" called +Grace.</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered the Indian.</p> + +<p>"Land sakes! I never could have found it," exclaimed the forest woman. +"Leastwise not in the dark. Reckon I might a follered the river and got +here somehow, but not the way that pesky savage took us, and ter think I +had ter be showed by a heathen how to get here."</p> + +<p>The fire flamed into a snapping blaze, and then to the delight of the +party, they saw near at hand a large lean-to and two smaller ones.</p> + +<p>"Willy, did you make them for us?" wondered Anne.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Me make 'em."</p> + +<p>"But, they must be soaked through," protested<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">170</a></span> Nora. "How shall we be +able to sleep in a lean-to on a night like this."</p> + +<p>"No leak. Bark on roof," the Indian informed her.</p> + +<p>"Come, girls. Let us stake down and get close to that fire. I am +shivering," urged Elfreda.</p> + +<p>"I expect my pup is too," said Hippy. "And the bear. Oh, where is he?"</p> + +<p>Henry had disappeared and his master was too busy to bother about him.</p> + +<p>After building a cook fire, Willy ran out into the forest, returning +soon thereafter with several large slices of bear meat, from stores that +he had safely cached, which he proceeded to fry over the fire while Mrs. +Shafto was boiling water for tea and opening cans of beans. The girls +threw off their wet garments and sank luxuriously into the browse floor +of their lean-to.</p> + +<p>"Oh, girls, this is worth all the discomforts we have been through, +isn't it?" cried Anne enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>"I don't know whether it is or not," answered Emma sourly. "Any port in +a storm, you know."</p> + +<p>Hippy came in wet and dripping after caring for the ponies, with +Hindenburg tucked safely under his coat.</p> + +<p>"Reminds me of France," he exclaimed jovially. "Say, children, may my +Hindenburg<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">171</a></span> sleep in your quarters to-night? It will be warmer and more +comfortable for him than in mine."</p> + +<p>"No!" shouted the Overland girls.</p> + +<p>"He may sleep in the attic," suggested Emma. "Otherwise, on the roof. +Hippy, why do you keep that animal around? What is he good for except to +eat and sleep?"</p> + +<p>"Don't you malign my bull pup. He is a watch dog, the best ever, and—" +Hippy's remaining words were lost in the shout of laughter that +interrupted him.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Hippy, you are a scream," exclaimed Grace. "You know very well that +the only thing Hindenburg has watched since we started, is the food, and +always he has watched for us to throw some of it to him. Yes, he is a +wonderful watch dog."</p> + +<p>All were now crowded into the lean-to, except Willy, who, after cooking +the bear-meat, said "Bye," and went away.</p> + +<p>Good-nights were said early that evening and all hands turned in after +Mrs. Shafto had fed what was left of the supper to Henry. The bear had +come in immediately after getting the odor of one of his relatives being +cooked over the Overland Riders' campfire.</p> + +<p>Rain roared on the bark roofs of the lean-tos all night long, but the +girls, dry and cosy, slept<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">172</a></span> the night through without once awakening, +with Henry on guard out there sitting under a tree in a disconsolate +attitude, now and then wearily licking the water from his coat. +Hindenburg, more favored, slept cuddled between Lieutenant Wingate's +feet.</p> + +<p>The present camp, it was understood between the Overlanders and Tom +Gray, was to be a permanent camp for some time to come, and it was here +that some of the most exciting scenes of their journey through the Great +North Woods were to be witnessed by them.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">173</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2><h3>IN THE INDIAN TEPEE</h3> +</div> + +<p>The rain had ceased, when Grace, the first of her party to awaken, +looked out as she lay on her browse bed. The river was shining in the +morning sun, glassy, save here and there where its waters rippled over a +shallow of gravel.</p> + +<p>"Turn out!" she shouted. "This is too wonderful to miss. Oh, look!"</p> + +<p>A canoe, with an Indian crouching in its stern wielding a paddle, was +skimming across the stream, not a sound or splash of paddle, nor hardly +a ripple from it to be heard or seen.</p> + +<p>"It's Willy Horse. Hurry, girls! Don't miss this wonderful nature +canvas."</p> + +<p>Exclamations were heard from all the girls after they had rubbed the +sleep from their eyes. By then Willy was nearing their shore, and the +bow of his canoe, a real birch canoe made by himself, landed on the +beach, whereupon, Willy threw out a mess of speckled trout, sufficient +for breakfast for the entire party, amid little cries of delight from +the girls.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">174</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hey there, Thundercloud! Are those all for my breakfast?" called Hippy +from his lean-to.</p> + +<p>"Hippy!" rebuked Nora.</p> + +<p>"Oh, send him out in the woods to eat with Henry," advised Emma.</p> + +<p>While the Overland girls were washing at the river, Willy cleaned the +fish and handed them to the forest woman who already had the cook fire +going. And such a breakfast as the Overland party had that morning! +Following the meal they made Willy take them for a ride in his canoe, +two at a time; then Hippy and the bull pup took a skim up and down the +river with Willy at the paddle.</p> + +<p>"All we need now to make us feel like real aborigines is an Indian +wigwam or a tepee," suggested Grace to her companions.</p> + +<p>"What is the difference between them?" asked Miss Briggs.</p> + +<p>"A tepee is a temporary home; the wigwam is the Indian's permanent +abiding place."</p> + +<p>"Me make," announced Willy.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mister Horse! Will you really?" giggled Emma.</p> + +<p>Willy grunted, and, shoving off his canoe, paddled swiftly away. He +returned an hour later, the canoe loaded with strips of birch bark which +he carefully laid on the shore. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">175</a></span> Indian then trotted off into the +forest. On this trip he fetched an armful of "lodge"-poles. After +trimming them, he tied three together with a long deerskin thong, about +eighteen inches from the tops of the poles, carrying the thong about +them a few times and leaving the end of it trailing down. The rest of +the poles he stood against the sides of the tripod at regular intervals +all the way around.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's an Indian house!" cried Emma. "It really is."</p> + +<p>Thus far the work had been quickly accomplished, and now came the +enclosing of the structure. This Willy did by laying strips of bark on +the sloping "lodge"-poles, carrying the leather thong about them to hold +the bark firmly against the poles. The entrance, formed by spreading +poles apart, faced the waters of the Little Big Branch.</p> + +<p>The tepee was finished shortly before eleven o'clock that morning, when +Willy hung a blanket of deerhide over the doorway. As yet, none of the +Overlanders had been permitted to look in and when they asked if they +might do so, "You wait. Me fix," answered the Indian, ducking into the +house he had created, and in a few moments they saw wisps of smoke +curling up from the peak of the tepee through the opening left by the +tops of the "lodge"-poles.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">176</a></span></p> + +<p>"You come," announced the Indian as he stepped out.</p> + +<p>The girls lost no time in crawling into the tepee. Cries of delight rose +with the smoke of the lodge-fire that Willy had made with a few sticks +and pieces of bark, as they found themselves in a circular room fully +ten feet in diameter, in the center of which crackled a comforting +little fire, the draft carrying the smoke straight up and out of the +tepee.</p> + +<p>"What if it should rain?" questioned Emma apprehensively.</p> + +<p>"Me put cover over top," answered the Indian, whose stolid +expressionless face was peering in at them. "No rain come along. You +like?"</p> + +<p>Miss Briggs got up and offered her hand to him.</p> + +<p>"We do, Willy. But why do you do so much for us?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Willy's Big Friends," he answered gruffly, and started to back out, but +the girls would not let him go until each had shaken hands with him and +thanked him.</p> + +<p>"By the way, where do you live?" wondered Nora.</p> + +<p>"Summer time live on reservation. Hunting time live up here in tepee. Me +show. Me go hunting, too. Mebby shoot deer, mebby big moose. Bye!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">177</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 279px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="illus-004" id="illus-004"></a> +<img src="images/grace-177.jpg" alt="Grace Got One Spill and Essayed Another Attempt." title="" width="279" height="400" /><br /> +<span class="caption">Grace Got One Spill and Essayed Another Attempt.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">179</a></span> +"Oh, don't go away," begged Grace. "We like to have you here, and I +wish, too, that you would let me paddle that beautiful canoe. It is the +first bark canoe I have ever seen. I know how to paddle a modern canoe, +but I saw this morning that the bark boat is an entirely different +craft. Will you teach me?"</p> + +<p>"Me show. Go meet Big Friend now."</p> + +<p>"Bring him back with you, Willy," urged Grace, but the Indian already +had withdrawn, and when they looked out he had gone.</p> + +<p>"Hey, you folks!" called Hippy, who was grooming Hindenburg with a horse +brush. "Where is the dinner?"</p> + +<p>Grace said she had forgotten all about it, and that Mrs. Shafto had gone +out to try to shoot a duck.</p> + +<p>"In the meantime we starve, eh? Hindenburg is so hungry that his sides +are caving in, and the bear has gone out into the woods to eat leaves. +By the way, Willy Hoss's canoe is down yonder hidden under the bushes. +He said you were to use it, Grace. He has gone away."</p> + +<p>After dinner, which was more in the nature of a luncheon, Mrs. Shafto +came into camp with three ducks which she had shot, and promised her +charges that they should have stuffed roast duck for supper.</p> + +<p>That afternoon Grace tried the canoe. She<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">180</a></span> got one spill and was soaked +to the skin, but crawled back to shore laughing at her mishap, and +essayed another attempt.</p> + +<p>"I thought my canoe was cranky, but this beats everything," she called +to her companions as she again floated out on the stream in the bark +canoe. The Overland girl practiced for half an hour, during which she +got the hang of the cranky bark canoe and did very well paddling it.</p> + +<p>"Let me try it," begged Emma.</p> + +<p>"You will not," objected Hippy. "Think I want to plunge into that cold +water and rescue you?"</p> + +<p>"Do you think I am simple enough to fall in?" demanded Emma indignantly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and as often as I could pull you out. Then again, you would lose +yourself listening to the voices of nature and get into a fine, wet +mess. That nature stuff makes me weary."</p> + +<p>Emma did not paddle the canoe that day, nor did any of the others +express a desire to do so. They saw no more of the Indian that day, and +that night the girls spread their blankets in the tepee.</p> + +<p>"We must have a fire in here for the sake of cheerfulness," urged Anne.</p> + +<p>"Yes. And burn ourselves up," objected Emma.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">181</a></span></p> + +<p>"There should be no danger unless we roll into the fire in our sleep," +answered Miss Briggs.</p> + +<p>A small fire was kindled in the tepee, and, for a long time after they +had gone in for the night, the Overland girls sat with feet doubled +under them, enjoying the novel sensation of having for their use a real +Indian tepee, and listening to Joe Shafto relate some of her experiences +in the Big North Woods.</p> + +<p>The conversation was interrupted by Henry who poked his nose into the +tepee and sniffed the air inquisitively. A slight tap on his nose by the +guide sent the bear scampering away. After a hearty laugh at Henry's +expense, the girls rolled up in their blankets and went to sleep not to +awaken again until sunrise, when they were jolted out of their dreams by +a loud halloo.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">182</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2><h3>THE TRAIL OF THE PIRATES</h3> +</div> + +<p>"Tom's here!" shouted Grace. "All right, Tom. We will be out as soon as +we can find our way out of this roundhouse," she laughed, feeling for +the opening that, in the subdued light, looked like all the rest of the +tepee wall.</p> + +<p>Tom was bronzed and happy, and after greeting the girls he inquired for +Henry and Hindenburg.</p> + +<p>"The bear's out lookin' for his breakfast," answered the forest woman.</p> + +<p>"And the bull pup is asleep. He keeps bankers' hours instead of +attending to his business," complained Emma.</p> + +<p>After breakfast Tom told them of his work in the forest, adding that he +had observed evidences of the recent presence of timber-pirates.</p> + +<p>"That is, I have found their blazes, secret cuttings on trees in remote +sections. This discovery I have marked on the map, and will inform the +authorities after I have finished 'cruising' the Pineries. This +afternoon I shall work<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">183</a></span> north to look over some virgin forest ground +near here. Come along with me, won't you, Hippy?"</p> + +<p>"Sure thing. We'll take Hindenburg for protection," agreed Hippy.</p> + +<p>"Why not take the rest of the party?" suggested Grace.</p> + +<p>"This is a business trip," replied Tom. "Of course you can go if you +wish, but it were better not, for we shall have to rough it in the real +sense of the word. Willy wants to go out with me, and may join us up +river sometime to-day."</p> + +<p>"Where is the measly redskin, Cap'n?" demanded Joe.</p> + +<p>"He has gone downstream. Willy has a camp a short distance below here. +That Indian is a real man."</p> + +<p>"We have found him so," agreed Elfreda.</p> + +<p>Joe Shafto grunted disdainfully.</p> + +<p>Tom remained at the camp until after dinner, replenished his supplies, +including a stuffed duck which the forest woman prepared for him; then +he and Hippy set out on their ponies for up-river points.</p> + +<p>"What is in the wind, Tom?" questioned Lieutenant Wingate after they got +under way. "I know you had some good reason other than merely desiring +my company, or you would not have asked me to go with you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">184</a></span></p> + +<p>Tom laughed heartily.</p> + +<p>"A little of both, Lieutenant. I hear that timber-pirates have been +making some cuttings above here, and I wish you to go along as a witness +to what I may find. That's all."</p> + +<p>"No scraps in sight, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no."</p> + +<p>Hippy sighed.</p> + +<p>"Tell me about it."</p> + +<p>"Timber thieves seek the remote places and look for suitable plots that +can be cut off and floated downstream to the mills. There the logs are +thrown in with other logs, and branded on one end to correspond with +such logs as have been procured in a legitimate way. Should the pirates +be discovered, they frequently buy the plot, if they represent a big +concern, and nothing more is done so far as the authorities are +concerned."</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to say that reputable lumber companies go in for +anything of that sort, do you?" wondered Hippy.</p> + +<p>"I did not say 'reputable.' Of course not. All big concerns are not +necessarily reputable in the sense you mean, but there is many a man +to-day who holds his head high in the world, though the foundation of +his business was stolen timber."</p> + +<p>Hippy uttered a low whistle of amazement.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">185</a></span></p> + +<p>"Look there!" exclaimed Tom Gray late in the afternoon as they rode into +a "cutting" from which the timber had been removed. Several acres had +been cut off, and skidways built up for more extensive operations, +probably for that very season.</p> + +<p>Upon consulting his map, the forester found, as he had expected, that +the timber was not charted as belonging to private individuals. Tom +pointed to a man-made dam in the river. It had been constructed of +spiles—small logs, driven in like posts, set so that they leaned +upstream. The water gates were open, and, upon examination, showed that +logs had been floated there, for the marks of the logs were visible on +the sides of the gates and on the tops of the spiles. Added to this, the +floor of the dam was covered with last season's logs, hundreds of them.</p> + +<p>"Will you please tell me why a dam is necessary to lumbering?" +questioned Lieutenant Wingate.</p> + +<p>"To provide a good head of water on which to float logs down to the +mills when the river is low. The logs are dumped into the dam until it +is full; the gates are then opened and the logs go booming down towards +the mills. To be fully equipped there should be a second dam above this +one to wash down such timber as fails to clear. We will go on further +and see what we find."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">186</a></span></p> + +<p>They found the second dam, constructed across the river at a narrow +spot. It had been quite recently built, as Tom Gray found upon examining +the spiles and comparing their age with those of the lower dam.</p> + +<p>"This looks to me like a fine piece of timber," he announced with a +sweeping gesture that took in the great trees that surrounded them. "We +will cruise as far as we can before dark and go over the rest of the +section to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"And you believe 'pirates' are trying to hog all they can of it, do +you?" questioned Hippy.</p> + +<p>"There can be no doubt of it. We have evidence of that."</p> + +<p>"Suppose some one should step in and buy the section—what then?"</p> + +<p>"It would serve the robbers right," declared Tom Gray with emphasis.</p> + +<p>"What is the section worth?"</p> + +<p>"Too much money for us. Say fifty to seventy-five thousand dollars, or +even more if it is owned by private persons. If the state owns it, the +latter figure probably would be about what one would have to pay for the +timber rights."</p> + +<p>"At the latter price how much could a fellow expect to clear on the +deal?" persisted Hippy.</p> + +<p>Tom said it would depend upon whether one sold the logs delivered at the +mill, or worked them into lumber at his own mill. It was his opinion<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">187</a></span> +that the holder should earn a profit of a hundred thousand dollars or +more, in the latter instance, provided he had proper shipping +facilities.</p> + +<p>"Of course, here you have the river on which to float your logs down to +the mill, which should be located at or near the lakes," added Tom.</p> + +<p>"Look it over carefully to-morrow. I am getting interested to know more +about the lumber business. One can't have too much knowledge, you know. +Now that we have sold our coal lands in Kentucky, you and I are +interested in high finance. Eh, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Thanks to you, Hippy, we are."</p> + +<p>The coal lands to which Hippy referred were part of an estate that had +been willed to him by an admiring uncle while Lieutenant Wingate was a +member of the United States Army Air Forces in France. The Overland +Riders had made the Kentucky Mountains the scene of their summer's +outing the year before their present journey, and there experienced many +stirring adventures. Hippy, at first, decided to work the mines himself, +with Tom Gray as his partner, but that winter they received an offer for +the property and sold it outright for a large sum of money, which +Lieutenant Wingate insisted they should share equally.</p> + +<p>The two friends, after sitting about their campfire until a late hour +that night discussing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">188</a></span> the subject that had taken strong hold of Hippy's +mind, lay down to sleep in the open.</p> + +<p>Immediately after breakfast next morning Tom and Hippy started out to +make a thorough "cruise" of the pine trees in the section from which a +few acres of logs had been cut. They finished their work late in the +afternoon, but Tom did not venture a further opinion on what he had seen +until they were on their way to their camp, where they had decided to +remain another night.</p> + +<p>"Well?" demanded Hippy finally. "Speak up! How about it, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Hippy, you have looked upon the finest plot of virgin timber to be +found anywhere outside the states of Oregon and Washington. I wish +someone would buy it and beat those pirates out. It is a burning shame +to let them get away with it."</p> + +<p>"Where would one have to go to find out about it?"</p> + +<p>"St. Paul, possibly. Why?"</p> + +<p>"I was just wondering, that's all," answered Lieutenant Wingate +thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>Hippy asked who owned the timber adjoining the section, but Tom did not +know that any individual owned it because the map showed that it was +still a part of the state forest reserve.</p> + +<p>"You see these maps were issued some months ago, and many changes may +have taken place<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">189</a></span> in that time, though they are really supposed to be up +to date."</p> + +<p>"Is Willy likely to be up here to-day, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"No. I asked him to keep within easy reach of the Overland camp at night +while we are away."</p> + +<p>Willy, being a man of his word, guarded the Overland camp jealously for +two nights, but on the morning of the next day, just before daybreak, he +started to go upstream and look for the two absent men, his +understanding being that they were to be away but one night. He was +hiking along the river bank when Hippy, who had remained with the horses +while his companion went into the forest for a final brief survey before +starting for home, discovered the Indian who hailed him.</p> + +<p>"How do?" greeted the Indian.</p> + +<p>"Nothing wrong at camp, is there?" questioned the Overland Rider +anxiously.</p> + +<p>"No. Me come see where Big Friends go."</p> + +<p>"That is fine. You are just the man I wish to see. Who cut off this +timber, Willy?" indicating the cutting that he and Tom had first +discovered.</p> + +<p>"Not know. Somebody steal um."</p> + +<p>"That is what Captain Gray says. Perhaps it was cut by a new +owner—someone who has bought this plot, Willy."</p> + +<p>The Indian, gazing on the stumps in the clearing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">190</a></span> with expressionless +eyes, shook his head slowly.</p> + +<p>"This section belongs to the state, I think," ventured Hippy.</p> + +<p>"No belong state."</p> + +<p>"Who, then?"</p> + +<p>"Belong Chief Iron-Toe. Him Chippewa chief—Big Chief."</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Wingate became instantly alert.</p> + +<p>"Are you positive of that, Willy?"</p> + +<p>The Indian nodded.</p> + +<p>"Do you know the gentleman with the iron toe?"</p> + +<p>"Him my father."</p> + +<p>Hippy was a little taken back by the answer, but his eagerness for more +information overcame what might have become embarrassment.</p> + +<p>"Your father! Do you think he would sell the section?" he asked eagerly.</p> + +<p>"No sell."</p> + +<p>"But I wish to buy it, Willy."</p> + +<p>"You buy?" questioned the Indian, regarding Lieutenant Wingate +thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"You Big Friend. Me fix."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean it?"</p> + +<p>"Me fix."</p> + +<p>"Good. When?"</p> + +<p>"Next sun-up. We go Chippewa Reservation."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">191</a></span></p> + +<p>"How far?"</p> + +<p>"Two sun ride."</p> + +<p>"Say nothing to anyone about this. I'll say whatever is necessary to my +friends. You wake me when you think best to start for the Chippewa +Reservation to-morrow morning and we will be off. Want a horse, Willy?"</p> + +<p>"Me take pony."</p> + +<p>It was settled, and on the way back to the camp of the Overlanders +during that afternoon Hippy confided his plan to Tom Gray, but Tom was +doubtful of its success. He said he already knew what Hippy had had in +mind, and that if he were able to buy the section for anything within +reason there would be a fortune in it.</p> + +<p>"Will you go in on the deal with me?" asked Hippy.</p> + +<p>"Yes, if you keep within my resources. Thanks to you for letting me in +on your coal land deal in Kentucky I have some funds that I can use. +That was like giving the money to me, and I have been ashamed of myself +ever since for letting you drag me into any such deal."</p> + +<p>"Chop it, Tom. As Willy would say, 'You Big Friend.' Say nothing to any +of the folks, unless you wish to confide in Grace. I shall, of course, +tell Nora where I am going and why."</p> + +<p>During the rest of the journey back to the Overland camp, the two men +discussed the plan<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">192</a></span> of action that Hippy should follow—provided he got +the timber plot—the hiring of men and the purchase of equipment, and, +by the time they had reached the Overland camp, all details were +settled. Nothing was said to either Grace or Nora until that evening, +when the two Overland men confided their plans to their wives.</p> + +<p>Next morning, before the camp was astir, the Indian had awakened +Lieutenant Wingate and the man and the Indian had ridden away in the +dark of the early morning.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">193</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2><h3>THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL</h3> +</div> + +<p>"What ye moonin' 'bout?" demanded Joe Shafto, giving Nora Wingate a prod +with a long bony finger.</p> + +<p>"I am worrying about Mr. Wingate, Mrs. Shafto. He was to have been back +in two days, and here it is nearly two weeks since he and the Indian +went away."</p> + +<p>"Indians is all varmints, anyway, but don't ye worry 'bout that man of +yers. Ain't worth it. None of 'em is."</p> + +<p>"Don't you say that about my Hippy," rebuked Nora indignantly. "I love +my husband, just as you loved yours."</p> + +<p>The forest woman laughed harshly.</p> + +<p>"Ain't no such thing as love. A man's just a man, kind of handy to do +the chores and bring home the venison. Henry's worth a whole pack of +husbands, and I kin wallop Henry when he don't mind. Best thing 'bout +Henry is that he can't jaw back at me."</p> + +<p>"He can growl at you, can't he?" returned Nora, laughing in spite of her +worry.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">194</a></span></p> + +<p>"He kin, and he kin git a clip on the jaw, like I give my man once. No, +sir. Bears is better company than is men. I know for I've tried 'em +both. Take my advice and when ye wants to git another husband, jest git +a bear instead."</p> + +<p>"But bears are beasts," laughed Grace, who had joined the two in time to +hear Mrs. Shafto's advice.</p> + +<p>"So's men. Bears growl—so does men. Mules kick, like June and July—so +does men. Animiles live for nothin' but to git fed and sleep. So does +men. What's the difference?"</p> + +<p>The girls laughed heartily.</p> + +<p>"Your logic is excellent, but your philosophy is not sound," replied +Grace. "There is such a thing as companionship and helpfulness, and the +finer things of human association."</p> + +<p>The forest woman sniffed.</p> + +<p>"Ain't no such thing," she retorted. Joe stalked away to attend to her +duties, and in a few moments the Overland girls heard her berating the +bear.</p> + +<p>Tom Gray, during the period of Lieutenant Wingate's absence, had made +frequent trips to the section that Hippy wished to buy, and now knew to +a certainty that it was a prize plot of timber. Tom was in the Overland +camp on this particular day, mapping out the timber tract in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">195</a></span> detail, +though with little idea that it could be purchased at a price within +their means. He was at work on the map when he heard Hindenburg barking +excitedly.</p> + +<p>"Something unusual must be on to make the bull pup raise such a +disturbance," muttered Tom, tossing his map aside and crawling from the +tepee.</p> + +<p>He saw Nora was running, crying out that Hippy had returned.</p> + +<p>"Hooray! Meet me with food!" shouted Hippy. "I've been living on iron +rations for two days because bears ate up our fresh stuff and tried to +eat the mess kits too. Hulloa, Tom!"</p> + +<p>"What luck?" asked Tom, after shaking hands.</p> + +<p>"The best. We have met the enemy and he's 'ourn,' as Mother Shafto would +say. Don't ask me a question until my stomach begins to function."</p> + +<p>A luncheon was quickly prepared, and Hippy had plenty of attention, all +the girls standing about while he ate, ready hands passing food until +Hippy could eat no more.</p> + +<p>"Where's that pesky Indian?" demanded the guide, frowning.</p> + +<p>"He is coming along with a bunch of men and supplies to show them the +way to our claim. Twenty jacks, a cook and a fiddler will be here late +this afternoon, together with a knock-down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">196</a></span> bunk-house, sufficient food +supplies for two weeks, tools, and I've got a supply of cash to pay the +hands. Now what have you to say for yourself, Tom Gray?"</p> + +<p>"I was waiting to inquire what sort of a deal you made."</p> + +<p>"Say, folks! Had it not been for Willy Horse I should not have got the +property at all. That chief with the iron toes is a shrewd old duffer. +He has owned the property for some years, and all that time the Hiram +Dusenbery Company has been trying, by fair means or otherwise, to buy it +of him, but Old Iron-Toe put the price so high that they preferred to +wait, hoping that when he got hard up he might be willing to sell for +less."</p> + +<p>"Did he know that timber-thieves had been helping themselves to trees?" +questioned Elfreda.</p> + +<p>"No. Willy told him. Willy saw the chief first and the deal really was +made before I even saw the old fellow. Well, we smoked a pipe of peace +together and he didn't say a word for a whole hour after I was +introduced. Finally he grunted:</p> + +<p>"'You Big Friend Willy Horse. Big Friend me, too. What you give?"</p> + +<p>"I told him to make his own price and I would consider it—that I wished +to take no advantage, nor did I desire to pay a price that would not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">197</a></span> +leave me a profit. Well, we sat and the chief smoked for another hour.</p> + +<p>"'You give ten thousand money. You give one-eighth what you make to +Chief Iron-Toe. You Big Friend.'</p> + +<p>"'It's a bargain!' I said, just like that. Old Iron-Toe handed me his +pipe again. I took another pull at it. Bah! It was awful. It nearly +strangled me, but it sealed the compact. We went to the county seat +where the property was transferred to Wingate & Gray and the deed filed, +after which I gave him my check for ten thousand dollars."</p> + +<p>Tom, who had been doing some rapid figuring while Lieutenant Wingate was +speaking, glanced up, smiling.</p> + +<p>"I don't know how you did it, but you have a wonderful bargain. There is +a fortune in those trees."</p> + +<p>"I didn't do it at all. Willy Horse did it, and he is going to have the +best job that can be dug up for him, provided my influence has weight +with the firm of Wingate & Gray. Tom, it's up to you, now. You are the +brains of this establishment. Go to it. I've done my share so far as it +has gone."</p> + +<p>"You have, indeed. How is the equipment being brought in?"</p> + +<p>"By mule teams. I reckon, too, that they will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">198</a></span> have a fine tune getting +in here on the trail that leads to the Dusenbery Company's works above +our section and—"</p> + +<p>"I say, Mister Lieutenant, do I understand ye to say that a pa'cel of +lumberjacks is comin' here?" interrupted Joe Shafto.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Then I quits right now. Don't want no truck with them critters."</p> + +<p>"That's all right, old dear. You just keep right on with the outfit, and +if a lumberjack so much as looks at you, set the bear on him. I know +what Henry can do in that direction, having had a run-in with him +myself."</p> + +<p>"Don't ye 'old-dear' me!" growled Joe. "Started that agin, have ye? Miss +Wingate, if ye don't tame that husband of yers with a club, I will." Joe +winked at Nora as she said it.</p> + +<p>"Leave him to me, Mrs. Shafto. Hippy, go wash your face. You are a +perfect sight. I'm positively ashamed of you."</p> + +<p>"That's all right, Nora. That relieves me of the necessity of being +ashamed of myself. Joe, you merely imagine that you dislike lumberjacks. +There are some good fellows among them. They aren't all so bad as you +paint them," said Hippy soothingly.</p> + +<p>The forest woman flared up.</p> + +<p>"I hate the whole pack and pa'cel of 'em!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">199</a></span> I-hate 'em wuss'n a scalded +pup hates vinegar on his back. I'll stay, of course, but I'll sick Henry +on 'em if they bothers me; then I'll turn my back and fergit that +Henry's chawin' up a human bein'. So there!"</p> + +<p>The Overland girls laughed merrily, and Grace linking an arm into the +guide's led her down to the river where the two sat down, Grace to give +Joe Shafto friendly advice, and Joe to accept it as she would from no +other member of the Overland Riders.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Tom and Hippy were discussing their plans. They spent a +good part of the day doing so. After dinner Grace and Elfreda paddled up +the river in the bark canoe, returning just before suppertime, faces +flushed from their exercise, and eyes sparkling.</p> + +<p>Early next morning Willy Horse and the advance guard of the timber +outfit arrived on the scene, as was evidenced by sundry shouts up-river. +Tom and Hippy hurried upstream to meet the party, and later in the day +the Overland girls came up to watch the work already in progress. A +knock-down bunk-house was rapidly going up, and the cook with pots and +kettles over a brisk fire in the open was preparing supper for the +lumberjacks.</p> + +<p>The jacks were a hardy two-fisted lot of men, Swedes, Norwegians, French +Canadians, half-breeds<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">200</a></span> and a few sturdy Americans, though the latter +were greatly outnumbered. Tom was bossing the gang and doing it like a +man who had handled lumberjacks before.</p> + +<p>"Why so rough with them?" remonstrated Grace.</p> + +<p>"Because I know the breed. Be easy with jacks and they think you are +afraid of them, and will promptly take advantage of you. One must, not +for a moment, let them feel that he is not master of the situation and +of them. You will discover that sooner or later."</p> + +<p>By night the bunk-house was ready for occupancy, though the bunks were +not yet in place and the men would be obliged to sleep on the floor for +one night at least. After a hearty supper, well cooked under the +observant eyes of Tom Gray, the lumberjacks retired to their shack, and +the sound of the fiddle and the shuffle of dancing feet, accompanied by +shouts and yells, rose from the bunk-house, which was located near +enough to the Overland Riders' camp to enable them to hear, and to see, +if they wished, what was going on.</p> + +<p>Willy Horse was the guest of the Overlanders, though he refused to eat +with them, and sat all the evening by the fire saying never a word, +which is the Indian's idea of friendly conversation.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">201</a></span></p> + +<p>On the following day, under Tom Gray's supervision, the construction of +the dam for the new owners was begun across a narrow part of the river, +a little upstream from the Overland camp. In order to lower the water in +the river while they were driving the spiles, Tom had the men put the +gates in place in the dam built further up the stream by the +timber-pirates. This, in the low condition of the river, would keep the +water back for several days and give Tom's men a better opportunity to +build his dam.</p> + +<p>Henry had made several cautious visits to the scene of operations, which +he viewed from the high branches of a tall pine, and, upon descending, +soundly boxed the ears of a lumberjack who attempted to make friends +with him.</p> + +<p>"Tom," said Grace one evening after a few hours spent by her watching +the work, "who is the short, thick-set lumberjack with the red hair?"</p> + +<p>"The one with the peculiar squint in his eye?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. That is the man."</p> + +<p>"The men call him Spike. I don't know what the rest of the name is. +Why?"</p> + +<p>"I don't like his looks. Then again there is something about him that +reminds me of someone that I have seen—I mean in unpleasant +circumstances."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">202</a></span></p> + +<p>"I fear our guide has prejudiced you against lumberjacks, and I know +that she has taught Henry to hate the whole tribe. One shouldn't look +for drawing-room manners in a lumberjack. We have a loyal gang of men, +men who will fight for us, if necessary, and who certainly can work. +That, it appears to me, is the answer."</p> + +<p>"Very well. I shall keep my eye on him, just the same. Hark! I thought I +heard someone coming."</p> + +<p>Tom and Grace were sitting by the campfire. The others of their party, +with the exception of Mrs. Shafto and the bear, were listening to the +fiddle and the thudding of the hob-nail boots of the lumberjacks as +they danced away the early hours of the evening.</p> + +<p>"Never mind. The pup will take notice."</p> + +<p>"The only thing the pup takes notice of is, as Emma Dean says, food!" +laughed Grace. "Someone <i>is</i> coming, Tom."</p> + +<p>"Hindenburg!" commanded Tom Gray sharply.</p> + +<p>The bull pup, sleeping by the fire, roused himself, wiggled his stubbed +tail, and, rolling over on his side, yawned and promptly went to sleep +again. Tom Gray glanced quickly towards the shadows that lay to the rear +of them, and, as he did so, a figure appeared.</p> + +<p>"Willy, is that you?" he demanded, as a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">203</a></span> familiar movement revealed the +identity of the figure.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>Grace asked the Indian where he had been. He mumbled an unintelligible +reply, then turned to Tom.</p> + +<p>"Two men come. They watch shack. Me want to shoot, but not do."</p> + +<p>"Certainly not," rebuked Tom. "What do you think they want?"</p> + +<p>"Come spy on camp. I spy on them. Fix guns and creep up. Look in windows +and whisper. Bah! No good. What do?"</p> + +<p>"Have they rifles? Perhaps they are hunters," suggested Tom.</p> + +<p>"No hunt. Me watch." Willy Horse melted into the shadows.</p> + +<p>"Who can it be?" wondered Grace.</p> + +<p>"Hunters, of course. Willy Horse's zeal has run away with his judgment. +I think—" Tom paused. Protesting voices were heard back in the forest, +voices raised in angry resentment. Two men suddenly burst out into the +light of the campfire, followed by Willy Horse close at their heels, his +rifle pressed against the back of a panting man.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">204</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2><h3>PEACE OR WAR?</h3> +</div> + +<p>"Here, here! What's this?" demanded Tom Gray, springing up. "Willy!"</p> + +<p>"This is an outrage!" panted the man against whose back Willy Horse held +the rifle. The stranger's red hair fairly bristled as he cautiously +removed his hat and mopped the perspiration from face and forehead. +"I'll have the law on you, you low-down redskin!"</p> + +<p>"Easy there, pardner. This Indian is not low-down," retorted Tom Gray in +a warning tone. "Willy is our friend. What is it you wish, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Am I on the section recently purchased by Wingate & Gray?"</p> + +<p>"You are, sir. I am Tom Gray. Mr. Wingate will be here shortly. Won't +you sit down?" urged Tom. "That is all right, Willy. Please ask +Lieutenant Wingate to come here," he added, nodding and smiling to the +Indian, who backed away into the shadows.</p> + +<p>"I am Chet Ainsworth, timber agent," said the stranger. "This is my +guide, Tobe Skinner. I'm here to talk a little business with you. Tobe<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">205</a></span> +thought he knew the way, but we got a thousand miles out of it. While we +were trying to decide whether this was a lumber camp or a state's prison +colony that Indian ruffian got the drop on us and drove us in. Tobe +would have shot him on the spot if the Indian hadn't beat him to it by +getting the drop on him. I'll see the Indian agent 'bout that when I go +back. I'll—"</p> + +<p>"Hippy!" called Tom as he saw Lieutenant Wingate and others of the +Overland outfit strolling towards camp. "Meet Mr. Ainsworth, and his +guide, Mr. Skinner. They are here on a business matter, the nature of +which I do not know. We are ready to hear what you have to say, Mr. +Ainsworth."</p> + +<p>Grace rose and said she would have Mrs. Shafto prepare food for the two +men.</p> + +<p>"I'm ready to hear the story, Ainsworth," announced Hippy, nodding.</p> + +<p>"Are you the party that bought Section Seventy-two, Mr. Wingate?" asked +Ainsworth.</p> + +<p>Hippy nodded.</p> + +<p>"Without wishin' to be personal, may I ask what you paid for it?"</p> + +<p>"You have my permission to ask anything you wish. I reserve the right to +answer or not. The answer is <i>not</i>! in this instance," replied Hippy.</p> + +<p>"No offense, no offense," answered the agent, assuming a jovial tone. "I +represent certain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">206</a></span> interests that have been negotiating for this very +property, parties that already have large holdings in this vicinity, and +who wish an uninterrupted stretch of timber and river to the lakes."</p> + +<p>"Yes?" questioned Hippy.</p> + +<p>"Of course they knew you bought on speculation, because you ain't +lumbermen, and they reckoned they'd buy it from you so as to give you a +fine profit on your investment. That's why I asked you what you paid for +the property."</p> + +<p>"Yes?" repeated Hippy.</p> + +<p>"No man can say that ain't a fair offer. Now we'll get right down to +business, Mister—Mister—"</p> + +<p>"Wingate," assisted Tom.</p> + +<p>"We'll get right down to business, Mr. Wingate. You will sell?"</p> + +<p>"Sure thing. I'll sell anything I have except my wife and the bull pup."</p> + +<p>"Good! I reckoned that was about the size of it," chuckled Ainsworth, +passing a hand across his face to hide his expression of satisfaction. +"What's your figger?"</p> + +<p>"Half a million."</p> + +<p>"Feet?"</p> + +<p>"No. Dollars."</p> + +<p>"Are you crazy?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Ha, ha! I see. You're one of those funny<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">207</a></span> fellows," laughed the agent. +"That's all right, Pard. Have your little joke, and now let's get down +to business. What'll ye take cash down, balance ninety days, for the +section?"</p> + +<p>"Half a million. What will you give?"</p> + +<p>"Twenty-five thousand," answered the agent quickly.</p> + +<p>"The deal is off," said Hippy, rising.</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute! You're too confounded sudden. I want to argue the +question," urged the visitor.</p> + +<p>"No. You have made your offer; I have made my offer. The subject is +closed. Come, have a snack. I see the girls have it ready for you, and +let's talk about the weather. I think it is going to snow."</p> + +<p>Tom, though he had with difficulty repressed his laughter, offered their +guests every attention, and so did the Overland girls, but the subject +of the sale of the claim was not again referred to that evening, except +just before bedtime. None of the girls was favorably impressed with +either Mr. Ainsworth or his guide, and during the meal the forest woman +glared threateningly at the pair through her big spectacles. Near its +close, the visitors got a shock that nearly frightened Chet Ainsworth +out of his skin, and at the same time sent the Overland Riders into +unrestrained peals of laughter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">208</a></span></p> + +<p>Henry, who had been out of sight ever since the arrival of the two men, +had ambled into camp observed only by Emma Dean who hugged herself +delightedly when she saw the bear's intention.</p> + +<p>A yell from Chet Ainsworth when he felt the hot breath of the beast on +his neck, as Henry sniffed at it, brought every one, including Chet, to +their feet. Tobe Skinner whipped out his revolver and would have fired +at the animal had not Tom Gray gripped his wrist.</p> + +<p>"He's tame. Don't be frightened," soothed Hippy. "All the animals in our +menagerie are halter-broken and milk-fed. Sit down. Go away, Henry! The +gentleman's nerves are a little upset after his sprint with Willy +Horse."</p> + +<p>Mr. Ainsworth sat down, but the guide did not do so until Mrs. Shafto +had called off her animal and made him lie down.</p> + +<p>"That was the voice of nature whispering to you, Mr. Ainsworth," +suggested Emma demurely. "Henry had a message for you. You should have +listened. Did you ever have the birds of the air, or the beasts or the +trees, tell you their secrets, sir?" Emma's face wore a serious +expression.</p> + +<p>Chet and Tobe gazed at her with sagging jaws, then glanced at Hippy.</p> + +<p>Hippy Wingate tapped his own head with a finger and sighed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">209</a></span></p> + +<p>"They do get that way sometimes. We have others in our outfit who are +similarly affected," he said sadly.</p> + +<p>"So I have discovered," articulated Ainsworth. "I reckon we'll be +going."</p> + +<p>"Certainly not," interjected Grace. "Don't mind Mr. Wingate. He too is +somewhat queer at times. You will stay here to-night, both of you. We +could not be so inhospitable as to permit you to start out at this hour +of the night. In the morning you will have breakfast and, if you wish, +an early start."</p> + +<p>"Sure," agreed Tom. "We have a lean-to that is not occupied. You can +bunk in there."</p> + +<p>"Thanks, but chain up that bear or I won't be responsible for what +happens. Think over my offer to-night," he urged, turning to Hippy. +"After you have slept over it you will see that it is to your best +interests to accept."</p> + +<p>"Thanks," answered Hippy. "Good-night."</p> + +<p>After the visitors and the Overland girls had turned in, and the +campfire was fixed for the night, Tom and Hippy had a confidential talk, +their visitor and his proposals being the subject of the discussion; +then they too sought their browse-beds.</p> + +<p>Yells and a shot, punctuated by screeches from Joe Shafto, awakened all +hands in the gray of the early morning.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">210</a></span></p> + +<p>"Is it peace, or is it war again?" mumbled Anne, sitting up and rubbing +her eyes sleepily.</p> + +<p>"It certainly does sound like war, but I think it is only the beginning +of it," answered Grace, hurriedly throwing on her clothes and running +out to see what the uproar was about. What she saw caused Grace and her +companions, who had followed her out, to utter gasps of amazement.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2><h3>A WISE OLD OWL</h3> +</div> + +<p>"What's the trouble, Tom? Oh, stop them!" cried Grace.</p> + +<p>"Let her finish it," answered Tom briefly.</p> + +<p>"Sick 'em, Henry!" shouted Hippy Wingate, who saw the black bear humping +himself across the camp, not yet having discovered what the uproar was +about. "What's this? What's this?" he cried, suddenly comprehending.</p> + +<p>Tobe Skinner, with streaming face which Joe Shafto had hit with a pot of +hot coffee, was sprinting for the timber, after having taken a shot at +the bear with his revolver. Following<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">211</a></span> him came Chet Ainsworth puffing +and raging, with Henry on his hind legs in close pursuit, making +frequent swings with his powerful arms and soundly boxing the head of +the fleeing man, and Joe Shafto prodding the bear to urge him on to +further effort.</p> + +<p>Neither Tom nor Hippy made a move to interfere, but Grace sped forward +and placed a firm hand on the forest woman's arm.</p> + +<p>"Stop him!" commanded Grace sternly. "Stop him, I say! He will kill the +man."</p> + +<p>"Serve the houn' right if the bear did. I'll larn 'em to mind their +business, the sarpints! Henry!" A sharp rap over the bear's shoulder +slowed the animal down. A second tap brought him to all fours, with his +mistress's hand fastened in the hair of his head.</p> + +<p>"That'll do, Hen. These soft-hearted folk ain't goin' to let ye chaw the +gentleman up to-day, but, if ever I set eyes on either of the scum agin, +I'll give the varmints what's comin' to 'em, and I'll do it sudden-like, +and I'll do it so it stays done, and there won't be nobody to stop me +next time. If ye don't believe it, jest give me the chance. And to think +I had to waste a perfectly good pot of coffee on that timber-robber's +head. He's a skin and a tight-wad, and I'll bet my month's wage that he +robs the birds of their eggs to save the price of keepin' a hen of his +own."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">212</a></span></p> + +<p>"Please! Please," begged Grace laughingly. "Which one of the pair do you +mean?"</p> + +<p>"Both of 'em. They ain't here for no good. Wait till I tell ye what they +did and ye'll see—"</p> + +<p>"Just a moment. Tell it to all of us," urged Grace, leading the irate +woman and her tame bear up to her companions.</p> + +<p>"Why did you stop them, Grace?" growled Hippy. "First fun we've had +since Emma discovered the animal under the table. What's the joke, old +dear?"</p> + +<p>The forest woman was so angry over her recent experience that she forgot +to chide Hippy for his familiarity.</p> + +<p>"Matter? Matter enough. As I was sayin' to Miss Gray, them varmints +ain't here for no good, and ye ain't heard the last of 'em by a long +shot. They'll be back. Take Joe Shafto's word for that, and they won't +be back alone, 'cause they're too big cowards. Yaller streaks in both of +'em. I'll bet the pair of 'em was trying to get this timber lot away +from ye. Don't ye have no dealin's with 'em. Don't want no truck with +them kind of cattle, and I'll tell ye right now that if they show their +yaller faces 'round here agin, I'll set my Henry on 'em for keeps." Mrs. +Shafto gasped for breath preparatory to entering on a fresh tirade, when +Tom Gray, embracing the opportunity, got in a question.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">213</a></span></p> + +<p>"Suppose you tell us what the row was about. What was it?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"The varmints tried to bribe me, that's what."</p> + +<p>"Bribe you!" exclaimed the Overlanders in chorus.</p> + +<p>"That's what I said."</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you take it?" demanded Hippy. "That was easy money."</p> + +<p>"To do what?" questioned Elfreda, her professional interest instantly +aroused.</p> + +<p>"To find out what ye paid for the section and just what ye opined ye'd +do with it. They reckon ye're holdin' it on 'spec' and that they kin git +it fer a little mor'n ye paid for it. If they can't do that, I opined +from what the varmints said, that they'd git the property some other +way. Wanted me to find out just what yer plans was and to writ' 'em down +and leave 'em in a holler log up next the dam above the one ye're +buildin'."</p> + +<p>"What did you say to that?" questioned Elfreda.</p> + +<p>"I sicked Henry on 'em and soaked the guide feller with part of the +breakfast. I'd a done a heap more if I'd had the time."</p> + +<p>"How much did they offer you?" inquired Emma interestedly.</p> + +<p>"Two dollars and a half, and said they'd leave as much more after they +got what they wanted."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">214</a></span></p> + +<p>"Two dollars and a half!" exclaimed Hippy. "And you refused two dollars +and a half? Why, old dear, that's a fortune. I am amazed that they +should have been so liberal. Positively reckless, I should say. Discard +such riches? It is unbelievable."</p> + +<p>"When were they to call for this information?" questioned Miss Briggs.</p> + +<p>"They didn't say. I was to leave it there, that's all," growled Joe, +stalking to her breakfast fire and resuming her operations there.</p> + +<p>"Would it not be a good plan to have Willy Horse watch the log and see +if he can give our 'friends' a scare?" asked Grace.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but Willy is inclined to be violent," laughed Tom. "You saw what +happened to Ainsworth and his guide when they sneaked up to our camp +last night, didn't you? Next time the Indian might do something rash. +What do we care, who or what? The property is ours and we are going +ahead with our plans. We shall soon put in a portable mill at the mouth +of the river, float our logs down and saw them there where the lake +steamers can pick up the lumber. Let the disappointed ones rage if they +wish."</p> + +<p>The forest woman, having pressed the dents out of her damaged coffee pot +and prepared a fresh supply of coffee, now summoned the Overlanders to +breakfast, which was a somewhat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">215</a></span> hurried meal, for Tom and Hippy were +eager to get out to direct the work on their dam, which already was +moving along satisfactorily, and which they hoped to finish in about +another week.</p> + +<p>Following breakfast, the girls saddled their ponies, packed luncheons in +their mess kits and started down the river for a day's outing by +themselves, leaving Joe Shafto at home. The party returned just before +dark, Elfreda Briggs proudly exhibiting a duck that she had shot on the +lower river. After supper, for which all hands had keen appetites, Hippy +announced that Willy Horse had been appointed official hunter for the +lumber outfit at seventy-five dollars a month, which meant riches to the +Indian. It would be Willy's duty to provide fresh meat for the +lumberjacks. Added to this, the Indian would shoot wolves and collect +the bounty, and, when not otherwise engaged, act as the faithful +watchdog for the Overland Riders.</p> + +<p>"You Big Friend," was Willy's only comment when informed of his new job, +but they observed that he puffed more vigorously at his pipe, and gazed +more intently into the fire than usual.</p> + +<p>"Do you see things in the fire?" questioned Emma, sitting down by the +Indian.</p> + +<p>He nodded.</p> + +<p>"Tell me what you see," she urged in a confidential tone.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">216</a></span></p> + +<p>"See white girl fly like bird."</p> + +<p>The girls broke into a merry peal of laughter.</p> + +<p>"He has your measure," laughed Tom.</p> + +<p>"See owl up tree. Mebby come see white girls," added the Indian, and +then, to their amazement, the raucous voice of an owl was heard in the +branches high above their heads. The owl continued his hoarse night +song, the Overland girls interestedly watching Emma Dean's rapt +expression as she listened.</p> + +<p>"He is trying to say something," she half-whispered, holding up a hand +for silence. "He is speaking, perhaps, of the mysteries of the +universe—our immediate universe."</p> + +<p>"Yus-s-s-s," observed Hippy solemnly. "Tell me, I prithee, little +bird-woman, what is the wise old owl saying? Has he a message for me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. And I can tell you what it is. He says, 'you simp, you simp, you +simp, you simp-simp.' Interpreted freely, this means, in addition to the +truth of the owl's wise assertion, that you have gathered all the +ingredients of a calamity, but you don't know it. Beware, Hippy Wingate, +of dire things to come!" finished Emma, amid a shout of laughter. The +Indian puffed on his pipe in stolid silence.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">217</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2><h3>WHEN THE DAM WENT OUT</h3> +</div> + +<p>In the two weeks that had passed since Wingate & Gray started their +operations on the Little Big Branch, wonders had been accomplished. A +modern camp for the lumberjacks had been constructed, and the dam had +been completed to the extent of permitting them to close the gates and +let water accumulate there.</p> + +<p>On the day that marked the completion of the work, the Overland girls +arranged to show their appreciation of what the jacks had done by giving +them a surprise party. This party, first suggested as a dinner, after +much discussion was changed to an old-fashioned dancing party, which the +girls thought the men would enjoy more than they would a dinner.</p> + +<p>Just before they sat down to their supper, the lumberjacks were +"tipped" to finish the meal as quickly as possible and slick themselves +up, because the Overland party was coming over to call, and Captain Gray +to give them a brief "spiel," as Hippy expressed it in telling the men<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">218</a></span> +to get ready. The jacks received the word without comment; in fact they +received it somewhat sullenly. Hippy, however, knew the lumberjack +tribe by this time—knew their peculiar ways—and told the girls to go +ahead with their plans.</p> + +<p>Darkness had settled over the Big North Woods when Hippy rallied his +flock for the party, each girl spruced up for the occasion, Emma Dean's +face wreathed in smiles in anticipation of the good time that was in +prospect. The only member of the outfit who remained behind was the +forest woman, who flatly refused to associate with "them varmints," +meaning the lumberjacks. Henry, laboring under no such scruples, +followed the Overlanders as they set out for the lumberjacks' shack. +Any unusual activity, especially one that gave promise of food, +instantly aroused Henry's curiosity, so, in this instance, he was close +at the heels of the party when they filed into the bunk-house, where he +nosed about smelling of the bunks, of the tables and sniffing the air, +following which he sat down where he could command a view of the entire +room.</p> + +<p>The lumberjacks shook hands awkwardly with their guests, except that +Spike merely made a move to do so, then quickly withdrew his hand and +shoved it into the pocket of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">219</a></span> Mackinaw. Hippy acted as master of +ceremonies, and, after waving jacks and guests to seats, cleared his +throat, and made a complimentary speech.</p> + +<p>"Captain Gray got stage fright at the last minute and told me that I +must tell you what he wished you to know," he said. "I'm not going to +make a speech, but what I am to say is, that when we get through with +this job Mr. Gray and myself have decided to declare a dividend. That +is, we are going to give each one of you men who started out with us, +and who have done such fine, loyal work, a good-sized cash bonus. I +perhaps don't need to tell you that I never made a speech in my life—so +my friends say—but money is a loud talker; so, at the end of the +season, we'll let money tell you how much we appreciate the good work +you fellows have done."</p> + +<p>Henry, who sat blinking at Lieutenant Wingate, at this juncture rolled +over, and, curling up, went to sleep.</p> + +<p>"You see," cried Hippy. "Even the bear goes to sleep when I talk." The +men gave three cheers for Wingate & Gray, and three more for the +Overland girls. "Help us get these tables out of the way, you fellows. +We are going to have some music. Speech making is ended."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">220</a></span></p> + +<p>Nora Wingate was already conferring with the "fiddler." Then, as the +tables were moved to one side, Nora launched into a lively song that she +had sung to the doughboys in France, the fiddler accompanying her on his +violin. There were rough spots in the fiddling, but these Nora submerged +in the great volume of her fine contralto voice. The song finished, the +men howled for more and stamped on the floor. Nora sang again.</p> + +<p>"We will now have a dance," announced Grace. "You boys will please act +natural, and for goodness sake don't step on our toes with those hob-nail +boots. Choose your partners."</p> + +<p>Not a jack moved.</p> + +<p>"Help me haul 'em out, Tom," cried Hippy, yanking a big Canadian to the +floor and standing him up beside Nora Wingate. Tom did a similar service +for another one, and in a few seconds five lumberjacks, red of face, +shifting uneasily on their feet, were standing beside their partners on +the dance floor.</p> + +<p>"Hit it up, Mr. Fiddler," called Tom, whereupon the fiddler began sawing +the strings of his violin and calling off for the dance, a square dance, +and soon the crash of hob-nail boots on the board floor made the shack +tremble, the fiddler beating time with his foot.</p> + +<p>Had it not been that the Overland girls knew<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">221</a></span> the dance they never could +have followed the fiddler's calls.</p> + +<p>"Shinny on the corners," "Gents all forw'd," "Sling yer pardner," "Up +and down the travoy," "Dozey-dozey," "Smash 'em on the finish," was the +way he called off, the latter call bringing the feet of the lumberjacks +down in a series of bangs that threatened the collapse of the floor. +Outside, hovering over a little Indian fire, Willy Horse smoked +stolidly, his ears attuned, not to the music and the shuffling feet, but +to the sounds of nature, and to sounds that did not belong in nature's +scheme of things.</p> + +<p>"Let's have a waltz," cried Hippy exuberantly.</p> + +<p>Grace shook her head.</p> + +<p>"No waltzes," she answered. "Square dances will do very well. The +dancing is rough enough as it is without our being spun to dizziness," +she added in a lower tone.</p> + +<p>"What do you want, Hippy Wingate?" demanded Anne. "This surely is rough +enough work, isn't it? The fellows are doing the best they can, but they +are not used to dancing with women. It is a great party, just the same."</p> + +<p>"Can't be beat," agreed Hippy.</p> + +<p>"I think Willy is trying to attract your attention," interrupted Miss +Briggs, as she swept past Hippy in the dance.</p> + +<p>Glancing towards the door, Lieutenant Wingate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">222</a></span> saw the Indian framed in +the open doorway. Willy Horse made no sign, but his intent gaze was full +of meaning. Hippy strolled leisurely to the door.</p> + +<p>"Evening, Willy. Come in and have a dance or something to eat," greeted +Hippy cordially. In a lower tone he asked, "Anything wrong?"</p> + +<p>"Mebby! You come. No speak here."</p> + +<p>The Indian turned away, and Hippy followed him casually until well out +of sight of the dancers.</p> + +<p>"Now what is wrong?" demanded the Overland Rider in a brisk tone.</p> + +<p>"You hear big noise?"</p> + +<p>Hippy shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Can't hear anything above the smashing of the lumberjacks' boots."</p> + +<p>"Me hear. Big noise up river—boom—boom—boom! Listen! What you hear?"</p> + +<p>"It sounds like wind in the tops of the trees," answered Hippy after a +moment of listening.</p> + +<p>"No wind. Willy know."</p> + +<p>"What is it, then?"</p> + +<p>"Water! Dam up-river go out. Water come down! Mebby logs come down, +too!"</p> + +<p>"What! The dam built by the timber-thieves? It isn't possible. There is +not enough water in the dam to cause the roar I hear."</p> + +<p>"Plenty water. You fix gates so dam fill up. You know."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">223</a></span></p> + +<p>"That's so." Hippy ran down to the river to listen, still doubting +Willy's assertion that the timber-thieves' dam had burst out.</p> + +<p>The Indian had followed and stood silently beside his listening +companion, his own ears listening to the distant murmur. Willy, however, +did not need to listen. He knew!</p> + +<p>"I don't believe it is water that we hear," muttered Lieutenant Wingate.</p> + +<p>"Him water," muttered the Indian. "Moon come up. Good!"</p> + +<p>The moon at full, after being hidden from view for nearly a week, rose +above the tops of the trees, thinning the darkness that lay heavy on the +river, the full light not yet having reached the Little Big Branch at +that point. Hippy shaded his straining eyes and gazed upstream. All +seemed peaceful in that direction, but he suddenly realized that the +sound he had heard was increasing in volume. He could now hear a +succession of hollow reports, the meaning of which he could not fathom. +He asked his companion what it meant.</p> + +<p>"Logs him jump up in water. Knock together and make big noise."</p> + +<p>Hippy suddenly visualized the scene that the Indian's brief words had +pictured.</p> + +<p>"Watch it! I'm going for help!" cried Hippy, sprinting for the shack. As +he neared it the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">224</a></span> familiar sounds of the earlier evening greeted his +ears. The fiddler was still sawing away; the bang of hob-nailed shoes on +the floor of the shack resounded rhythmically, and Hippy thought, as he +ran, of the weariness that the Overland girls must feel after their +strenuous evening of constant dancing with the rough and ready +lumberjacks who knew neither fatigue for themselves nor for their +entertainers.</p> + +<p>Reaching the doorway, Hippy caught Tom Gray's eye and beckoned to him.</p> + +<p>"Yes?" questioned Tom eagerly as he stepped over to Lieutenant Wingate.</p> + +<p>"Willy says the dam has gone out. I can't tell whether it has or not, +but it sounds that way."</p> + +<p>"What dam?" demanded Tom Gray.</p> + +<p>"That up-river dam of the timber-pirates. You remember we shut the gates +to keep the water below it low while we were driving the spiles for our +dam."</p> + +<p>Tom ran out into the open and stood listening. A moment of it was all +that was necessary to tell him what had happened.</p> + +<p>"Quick! The gates. We must get our gates open or we're lost!"</p> + +<p>The two men sprinted for the river, Tom in the lead, Hippy a close +second. He wondered why he had not thought of the gates, and chided +himself for his stupidity.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">225</a></span></p> + +<p>"Come fast!" called Willy, referring to the rushing flood that now had +become a sullen roar.</p> + +<p>"Call out the jacks. Hurry!" ordered Tom.</p> + +<p>Willy flashed away. Tom paused only for an instant to listen and +estimate how much time they had before the flood would be upon them.</p> + +<p>"Are you game for it, Hippy?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"For what?"</p> + +<p>"To help me get the gates up?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Come on then, and watch your footing," shouted Tom, running out on the +top log that formed the cap on top of the spiles. The footing was +slippery, but not ordinarily perilous. Now, in the face of that which +was hurtling down upon them, their undertaking was a desperate one. +Neither had on his spiked boots, which, in a measure, would have aided +them in keeping their footing, and they slipped and stumbled, and +sprawled on all fours again and again.</p> + +<p>Being so familiar with the operation of the gates that they had planned +and built, they had no difficulty in finding the gate-levers, but these +were heavy, necessarily so, operating somewhat after the manner of a +sweep in an old-fashioned well.</p> + +<p>Tom and Hippy threw themselves upon one of the two big levers that +operated the gates, and began tugging with all their strength. In the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">226</a></span> +meantime Willy Horse had reached the lumberjacks' bunk-house.</p> + +<p>"Dam go out! Water come down!" he shouted to make himself heard. "Big +Boss say come quick."</p> + +<p>The fiddler ceased playing, and the dancers gazed at the Indian, not +fully understanding.</p> + +<p>"Water come down! Come quick! Run!"</p> + +<p>This time they understood. Uttering a shout the jacks burst out through +the narrow doorway, and ran for the river, followed by the Overland +girls on flying feet, and meeting Joe Shafto on the way to the scene of +the disaster.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">227</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2><h3>THE RIOT OF THE LOGS</h3> +</div> + +<p>"We'll have to be quick!" shouted Tom to make himself heard above the +roaring of the waters. "Beardown hard!"</p> + +<p>"I can't. I'm slipping!" gasped Hippy.</p> + +<p>"The gates are moving! Keep it up!"</p> + +<p>The two men struggled and fought, gaining a few inches at a time but not +enough to permit the jam of logs that was rushing down the stream to +pass through the gates in the flood.</p> + +<p>At this juncture the Overland girls and the jacks came running down the +bank. They saw the two men struggling with the gates, and at the same +instant they saw something else. In the reflected light of the moon, +they saw a white crest sweeping around a bend in the river, hurling logs +into the air, which came tumbling and shooting ahead like huge black +projectiles. A warning scream from the girls was unheard by either of +the struggling men. A dozen lumberjacks leaped to the cap-log to go to +the assistance of Tom and Hippy, who they knew were in great peril.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">228</a></span></p> + +<p>"Come back! Boys, come back! You can't help them now," cried Grace in an +agony of apprehension.</p> + +<p>"The fools! Why don't they run?" raged Joe Shafto, and the pet bear +growled in sympathy with her at the unusual sounds.</p> + +<p>It was a terrifying moment for those who could do no more than stand +helplessly watching. The jacks by this time were well out on the +cap-log, with Willy Horse in the lead and red-headed Spike close at his +heels. They were suddenly halted by a report that sounded like an +explosion of heavy artillery.</p> + +<p>An advance log, rushing straight towards the gates, swerved when within +a few feet of them, and, rearing half its dripping length, hurled itself +against the gate-lever at which Hippy and Tom were tugging.</p> + +<p>Both saw the giant rise from the boiling flood.</p> + +<p>"Too late! Save your—" Tom did not finish. Hippy and Tom at that +instant were catapulted into the air, hurled by the gate-lever, and fell +into the river below the dam with a splash.</p> + +<p>Without an instant's hesitation, Willy Horse, followed by Spike, leaped +to the rescue, knowing well that only a few seconds lay between them and +the cataract of logs that was about to tumble over into the Little Big +Branch below the dam.</p> + +<p>The rest of the jacks hesitated only for an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">229</a></span> instant, then they too +leaped into the river and made their way towards Tom and Hippy, both of +whom were unconscious. Willy Horse grabbed up Hippy with apparent ease, +and raised him to his own back just as he would shoulder a dead deer.</p> + +<p>"Git Big Boss!" he shouted, and began struggling shoreward with his +burden.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Spike had sprung to Tom Gray, but despite his great +strength he did not succeed in shouldering Tom.</p> + +<p>"Give a hand here!" he bellowed.</p> + +<p>The lumberjacks reached him at this juncture and, together, Spike and +his companions brought the unconscious man towards the shore.</p> + +<p>Then the spiling gave way under the strain that for several minutes had +been put upon it, and the dam went out with a crash and a roar, +accompanied by a series of terrifying explosions.</p> + +<p>It would have been an awesome sight to the Overland Riders had not their +attention, at that moment, been centered on the lumberjacks. The jacks +reached the shore only a few seconds before the structure gave way and +the logs, hurtled into the air, fell splashing into the flood below the +dam. Hippy and Tom were borne up the bank and laid on the ground.</p> + +<p>"Are—are they dead?" gasped Emma.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">230</a></span></p> + +<p>"No," answered Miss Briggs, who had placed a finger on the pulse of +each.</p> + +<p>"Please carry them to the bunk-house," directed Grace in a strained +voice, after Willy Horse had run quick fingers over the heads of the two +victims.</p> + +<p>"Big Friends bump heads! Much all right soon, mebby," he grunted, +walking along beside Hippy as the jacks started with him and Tom towards +the house.</p> + +<p>It was but a short time after their arrival there, however, when both +regained consciousness. Neither Tom nor Hippy knew whether they had been +hit by the log that struck the gate-lever, or whether they had been made +unconscious by their fall into the water. Both came to in a severe chill +and were put to bed in the bunk-house, warmed with hot drinks and +blankets, and soothed until they fell asleep.</p> + +<p>The lumberjacks stood about awkwardly, and the Indian hovered near, his +stolid face reflecting no emotion. Spike was the only jack present who +apparently was indifferent to the scene. At midnight Willy motioned to +the girls to go.</p> + +<p>"Me watch. Big Friends wake up morning. No sick," he said.</p> + +<p>"Willy's suggestion is a good one," agreed Elfreda. "There is little the +matter with either except shock and exhaustion. Let's go!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">231</a></span></p> + +<p>Grace nodded.</p> + +<p>"Boys, we thank you very much," she said, turning to the lumberjacks. +"Mr. Wingate and Mr. Gray would have lost their lives had it not been, +for you and Willy. They will not forget. Neither shall we. Good-night."</p> + +<p>At dawn when Hippy awakened, Willy Horse was still sitting by him, +puffing his pipe.</p> + +<p>"Dam go out," observed the Indian between puffs.</p> + +<p>"So I heard it rumored," yawned Hippy.</p> + +<p>"Big Friend go out."</p> + +<p>"Seems to me that I heard something about that too. How is Captain +Gray?"</p> + +<p>"Other Big Friend all right."</p> + +<p>"Are the jacks awake?" asked Hippy.</p> + +<p>"Git up now."</p> + +<p>"Tell them to come here."</p> + +<p>When the half-dressed lumberjacks came over to his cot, Hippy eyed them +sternly.</p> + +<p>"You're a fine bunch of ladies' men, aren't you? Dance the light +fantastic while your bosses are trying to save the dam."</p> + +<p>The jacks grinned sheepishly.</p> + +<p>"What are you loafing around here for? Why don't you get out and start +work on a new dam? You needn't think a little thing like a busted dam is +going to stop Wingate & Gray. Go on now! You know what to do. We two are +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">232</a></span> only ones who've got a right to be lazy this morning. Wait a +moment! Come back here!" commanded Hippy as his men started to go away.</p> + +<p>"I take back what I said. You aren't ladies' men at all. You are a bunch +of confounded rough-necks. Shake paws!" Hippy put out a hand, but was +sorry for it afterwards, for the bear-like grips of the lumberjacks +left it a "pulp," as Hippy Wingate expressed it.</p> + +<p>Work on a new dam was begun that very day. Tom and Hippy, though lame +and sore, and, at odd moments, a little dizzy, were at the dam all day +long directing the work of clearing away the wreck while part of their +force cut fresh spiles in the woods. The lumberjacks, wet to the skin, +worked with tremendous force and to good purpose, for the organization +that Tom Gray had developed and systematized, was as near a perfectly +working machine as it was humanly possible to make it.</p> + +<p>Day after day the work progressed, but despite their best endeavors two +weeks and a half had passed before the gates were again lowered to test +the new dam's power to resist a full head of water. Several days more +were required to fill the dam until the surplus water toppled over the +"dashboard."</p> + +<p>For another twenty-four hours the dam was watched for indications of +weakness, but none developed. Now that the big work was completed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">233</a></span> Tom +and Hippy journeyed to the wrecked dam of the timber-pirates. They +examined what was left of it with great care. Finishing their +investigation, the two men looked at each other with eyes full of +meaning.</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you think of it?" questioned Hippy.</p> + +<p>"I think, Hip, that it was something more than structural weakness that +caused this dam to go out," answered Tom.</p> + +<p>"What do you think did it—I mean how was it done?" wondered Lieutenant +Wingate.</p> + +<p>"Dynamite!" The word came out with explosive force. "The pirates don't +like our presence here, so thought they would put us out of business. +They didn't know us, did they, Hippy?"</p> + +<p>"No. I wonder what they will think now—or do?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing in the way of damaging our property, for we shall have our +works watched after this. They might blow the upper dam, of course, but +there are no logs being held there and the water would simply flow over +our construction without doing damage. We must tell Willy what we +suspect and assign him to guard duty. An Indian can sleep and yet be on +watch."</p> + +<p>"Like Hindenburg, who always sleeps with one ear awake," suggested +Hippy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">234</a></span></p> + +<p>"But never hears anything with it," laughed Tom. "We'll see."</p> + +<p>Later in the day when Tom spoke confidentially with the Indian about +what the Overlanders suspected, Willy evinced no surprise. He nodded in +agreement with Tom that the new dam must be guarded.</p> + +<p>It was. Willy slept near it in a lean-to down near the river. For +several nights nothing occurred to indicate that there was anyone within +miles of the camp. By day Willy hunted, often not coming in until after +dark. It was on a Saturday night, however, that Willy failed to reach +camp until nearly midnight. On his back he bore the carcass of a young +deer that he had shot and dressed miles from the Overland headquarters +on the bank of the Little Big Branch. He was nearly in when suddenly he +raised his body to an erect position, listened for a few seconds, then +dropped his burden and sprinted for home.</p> + +<p>The Overlanders long since had turned in and the lumberjacks were in +their bunks, comfortable, and as happy as a lumberjack permits himself +to be, when suddenly their bunk-house seemed to be lifted free of the +ground. It swayed and trembled as a terrific crash rent the air. The +tepee toppled over at the same instant, leaving the Overland girls lying +in the open. Tom and Hippy, at the time asleep in their lean-to,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">235</a></span> which +was a few yards nearer the river, never were able to decide whether they +had been hurled from their beds or had leaped out before they were fully +awake. At least, they found themselves outdoors, and some yards from the +lean-to.</p> + +<p>"For the love of Mike, what now?" gasped Hippy.</p> + +<p>Hindenburg was running about in circles, uttering dismal howls, and the +pet bear was scrambling for the top of the highest tree in his vicinity.</p> + +<p>"It's the dam!" shouted Tom Gray. "They've got us this time!" growled +Tom, starting down the bank, followed by Hippy and the yowling bull pup. +Hippy saw a figure running from the bank of the river a little further +upstream. It was a man, and he was running in short hops, as if he were +using a stick or cane to assist him in covering ground rapidly.</p> + +<p>Behind the fleeing man Tom and Hippy discovered a second figure. It was +Willy Horse. The first figure, as the two Overlanders started for him at +a run, had dashed out over the broken and bent spiles of the dam, +hopping from one spile to another with remarkable agility, with Willy +Horse in close pursuit.</p> + +<p>The hopping man, reaching the end of the spiles at the middle of the +dam, halted, hesitated, and the Indian was upon him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">236</a></span></p> + +<p>"It's Peg Tatem!" cried Hippy. "He's the scoundrel who did this thing."</p> + +<p>A knife in Peg's hand flashed in the moonlight, another appearing in the +hand of the Indian, and out there on their precarious footing the men +stood, thrusting and parrying, with their two-edged blades, watched with +breathless interest by the entire Overland party, who had rushed to the +river's edge.</p> + +<p>A sudden uproar was heard in the direction of the bunk-house. The +lumberjacks having discovered that a fight was in progress were running +towards the river to see if they too could not get into the fray, for a +lumberjack loves nothing in the world so violently as he loves a fight.</p> + +<p>"Keep out of it!" ordered Tom as he saw that the jacks were headed for +the path that Peg and Willy had taken.</p> + +<p>"Tom! Do something!" begged Grace. "Don't let those two men kill each +other."</p> + +<p>"We can do nothing. Even to call to Willy would take his attention from +the battle. You know what that would mean."</p> + +<p>"Oh-h-h-h-h!" moaned Emma, toppling over in a faint.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Heavens! Look!" wailed Anne.</p> + +<p>One of the combatants staggered and swayed. An arm was thrust out at +him, but the blade that had been driven against him did not flash<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">237</a></span> in +the moonlight, for the body of the wielder was between it and the +spectators. Even the jacks stood silent, they having halted at Tom +Gray's command, but their breathing was heavily audible.</p> + +<p>"He's killed! It's Peg!" cried Grace.</p> + +<p>The Indian's victim, following the last thrust, had toppled over into +the river below the dam. With a bound, Willy Horse cleared the spiling +and leaped to the river bed to finish his victim.</p> + +<p>"Willy! Stop!" Grace Harlowe's voice rang out shrill and penetrating, as +Willy, the savage instincts of his race having taken possession of his +soul, raised his knife-hand above Peg Tatem, who lay on his back on the +river-bed.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">238</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2><h3>CHRISTMAS IN THE BIG WOODS</h3> +</div> + +<p>Willy Horse, brought suddenly to his senses by Grace's scream, +hesitated, got slowly to his feet, and stood narrowly watching his +opponent who lay, nearly covered with water, moaning faintly. There was +ferociousness in the heart of the Indian, but Grace's voice had stayed +his hand.</p> + +<p>Lumber-jacks, with Tom and Hippy, had plunged into the shallow stream +the instant that Grace cried out, and were running towards Willy, now +standing calmly awaiting them.</p> + +<p>"Did you kill him?" shouted Hippy.</p> + +<p>"No kill. Mebby kill bymeby," answered Willy Horse briefly as Tom and +Hippy came puffing up to him.</p> + +<p>"You have done enough. Let him alone!" commanded Tom, lifting the head +and shoulders of the wounded man. "Fellows, carry this man ashore, but +don't hurt him!"</p> + +<p>Emma, having regained consciousness, was assisted up the bank by Anne +and Nora, while Peg was being taken to the bunk-house by the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">239</a></span> +lumberjacks. Elfreda, after a brief examination, did not believe that +Peg's wound would prove fatal, but Hippy advised her not to tell the +foreman of Section Forty-three of this, saying that he wished to make +the man talk, which Peg probably would not do were he to think that his +wounds were trivial.</p> + +<p>The lumberjacks were ugly, and, had they had their way, they would have +promptly finished the job begun by Willy Horse, believing, as they did, +that Peg Tatem was responsible for the present and previous disasters +that had befallen the Overland Riders in the Big North Woods.</p> + +<p>Peg Tatem regained consciousness after Elfreda and Tom had worked over +him for more than an hour.</p> + +<p>"Did the Redskin git me?" he demanded weakly.</p> + +<p>"You're right he did," agreed Hippy. "You might as well tell us all +about it now before it is too late. We know what you have done, and +that's good and plenty, but you are now going to make a confession and +swear to it."</p> + +<p>Peg went into a violent rage at the suggestion and pounded the cot with +his wooden leg until he was exhausted. Waiting until the fellow had +quieted down, Hippy then informed him that in case he recovered, and had +not confessed, they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">240</a></span> would see to it that he went to prison for a long +term. After hours of urging, the foreman of Section Forty-three gave in +and made a full confession. Elfreda wrote down his statement and made +Peg swear to it, after Hippy had promised that, in the event of his +recovery, there would be no prosecution.</p> + +<p>Tatem declared that he had acted wholly under the orders of Hiram +Dusenbery, of the Dusenbery Lumber Company; that it was his jacks who +had turned the skidway loose on the Overland camp, and that it was Tatem +himself, acting under orders, who had dynamited the big pine and tumbled +it over on the Overlanders. He said that Dusenbery and Chet Ainsworth +were partners in the business of timber-stealing, and that the +dynamiting was Ainsworth's scheme.</p> + +<p>"Why did they wish to be rid of us?" asked Miss Briggs.</p> + +<p>"They reckoned they'd spoil yer game. T'other reason was that they +wanted this 'ere section fer themselves."</p> + +<p>"Good! We will send both to jail," promised Elfreda. "Now what I wish +are the names of witnesses who can verify at least part of your story."</p> + +<p>After some thought Peg named several lumberjacks, fellows who were still +in the employ of the Dusenbery Company. The Overlanders then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">241</a></span> ceased +their questioning to give Peg a much-needed rest, and left him in the +care of two jacks, with the reminder that they would be held fully +accountable for the safety and good care of the prisoner.</p> + +<p>Willy Horse was started that night for the nearest fire warden's +station, there to have the warden telephone for a doctor, and also for +the sheriff of the county, as it was thought best to hold Tatem as a +material witness. The doctor and sheriff arrived late next day. Peg's +injuries were found to be quite serious, and it was a full week later +before he could be moved to the county jail where he was a prisoner +under treatment for two more weeks.</p> + +<p>Hippy accompanied Peg, and while at the county seat swore out warrants +for Dusenbery and Chet Ainsworth. At the December term of court both men +were found guilty and sentenced to serve terms in prison. Peg Tatem, +according to agreement with the complainants, was released and advised +to seek other fields, which he did.</p> + +<p>In the meantime a new dam had been built by Tom and Hippy, and a sawmill +established twenty-five miles further down the river. The sounds of the +"swampers'" axes and the "saw-gangs" were now heard in the forest from +daylight until dark, where huge logs were being felled, trimmed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">242</a></span> +skidded and rolled down into the new dam, to be "boomed," and released +after every thaw in early spring, and sent on their way to the mill.</p> + +<p>The Overland girls still lingered. After some discussion they had +decided to remain in the woods until after Christmas. By Christmas time +the ground and the trees were white with snow, and Tom closed his +"cruising" for the season. Willy Horse was absent much of the time, +trapping for himself and hunting game for the table of the lumberjacks. +The girls were now living in a real log cabin which the jacks, hearing +them express a wish that they might have one, had built. Logs blazed in +the fireplace, and there the Overland girls, after long hikes in the +forest, and occasional rides on their ponies, spent many happy hours.</p> + +<p>At Nora's suggestion, an elaborate Christmas celebration, including a +Christmas tree, was planned by the girls for the jacks and themselves. +Tom, obliged to go to St. Paul on business, more than a week's journey +in itself, was commissioned to purchase the supplies and Christmas gifts +for the celebration, and returned in a sleigh from Bisbee's Corners, +reaching the Overland camp by way of a new trail that his men had cut. +He was a regular Santa Claus, except that he rode "behind mules instead +of reindeers," as Emma Dean expressed it. Then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">243</a></span> began the real +preparations for Christmas, with many conferences in the log cabin.</p> + +<p>Two Christmas dinners were to be laid Christmas evening, one in the new +modern bunk-house that had been recently erected, where the old original +gang of lumberjacks and a few selected newcomers were then living. Many +additional men had been taken on during the early part of the winter +when the lumbering operations began on a large scale, and efforts were +made to instill into the new men the spirit of the Overland outfit, +which the old men long since had absorbed.</p> + +<p>The great day arrived. The old and faithful jacks were to sit down with +the Overlanders to the spread that was in preparation all that day, Joe +Shafto, after much grumbling, laying aside her feud against all +lumberjacks and helping the regular cook in his work of preparing the +dinner. This was supervised by Grace and Elfreda, while their companions +attended to laying the tables and decorating the bunk-house with greens +brought in by the jacks.</p> + +<p>At seven o'clock that evening, the jacks, who had been put out of the +new bunk-house without ceremony, were told to enter. They thumped in, +and gazed in amazement at the transformation of their home, at the +festoons of pine cones and greens, at the gaily colored lanterns, at the +red,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">244</a></span> white, and blue candles on the table, and at the big American flag +suspended from the rafters at the lower end of the room.</p> + +<p>The girls disposed themselves about the table so that they might sit +with their guests. Hippy took the head of the table, with Spike, who was +known by no other name, at his right. Grace had never been able to +banish the disagreeable impression that she felt on first setting eyes +on the big red-haired lumberjack, and that feeling now seemed to take +hold of her more strongly than ever as Spike, shoulders slouched forward +and eyes lowered, shuffled to the seat assigned to him.</p> + +<p>"Sit down!" ordered Hippy, and all hands sat, Tom taking the seat at the +lower end of the table.</p> + +<p>There was real turkey, with cranberry sauce, squash, creamed onions, +mashed potatoes, celery and a variety of other vegetables, brought from +the city by Tom. Willy Horse acted as waiter, Mrs. Shafto declining to +unbend to the extent of waiting on "them varmints."</p> + +<p>"I'll fodder white folk, and I'll sling a bone to a bear or a bull pup, +but no timber houn' of a lumberjack's goin' to git 'chuck' from the +paws of Joe Shafto, and that's the end of the argefyin'," she declared, +challenging the girls with a threatening glare through her big +horn-rimmed spectacles.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">245</a></span></p> + +<p>There were only a few jacks present, outside of the "original" crowd, as +Tom called them, all the others having a dinner of their own in the old +bunk-house.</p> + +<p>The "talk" at the table was mostly confined to the Overland Riders, +their efforts to make conversation with their partners, the +lumberjacks, eliciting little more than grunts. The jacks were busy, +very busy, and when the time came for dessert, every platter and every +plate was empty.</p> + +<p>"Pudding! Fetch on the pudding," cried Hippy.</p> + +<p>There followed a few moments of waiting while the girls were clearing +the table of used dishes, then Willy Horse was seen entering, bearing a +huge platter, on the platter a great mound of blazing plum pudding.</p> + +<p>The jacks gasped.</p> + +<p>"Fire!" yelled a lumberjack.</p> + +<p>Every jack in the room leaped to his feet and the next instant they were +blowing great, long-drawn breaths at the blue flame that, as they +thought, was consuming something that was good to eat. With strong +breaths, and vigorous slaps from ham-like hands, they soon put out the +"fire," Willy Horse, in a rage, kicking out with his feet at every shin +within reach. The Overland Riders were convulsed with laughter, as the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">246</a></span> +jacks solemnly filed back to their seats at the table.</p> + +<p>"That's plum pudding, you poor fish!" groaned Hippy.</p> + +<p>"Ain't nothin' now," grumbled Spike. "Purty nigh burned up."</p> + +<p>Grace composed her face and tried to explain that burning the plum +pudding was an old English custom, and that, instead of destroying the +pudding, it added to its flavor, but the jacks shook their heads, +probably thinking that she was saying this to make sport of them. After +the pudding had been served, the jacks tasted it gingerly, then smacking +their lips they quickly devoured it. Coffee and nuts followed, and the +meal came to an end.</p> + +<p>"We will now view the Christmas tree," announced Hippy. "Outside there +are millions of Christmas trees, all dolled up with fancy spangles, but +they aren't like this tree, as you will see. Pull the string, Emma!"</p> + +<p>A real Christmas tree was revealed as Emma Dean draped back the flag, a +tree decorated with lights and spangles, its branches bending low under +the weight of gifts. A beautiful repeating rifle for Willy Horse brought +a grunt from the Red Man, but nothing more. From the base of the tree +Emma then picked up a bag, opened it and advanced towards the table.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">247</a></span></p> + +<p>"A little Christmas gift from Mr. Gray and Mr. Wingate," she said, +depositing a ten-dollar gold piece before each lumberjack. Their +amazement left them speechless. Some quickly slipped their gifts into +their pockets, others merely sat and gazed at the shining pieces of +metal for a moment before picking them up.</p> + +<p>"Fellows, this is not the bonus we promised you," said Tom. "This is a +Christmas present, just a little gift of appreciation on our part. There +are socks and boots and other things on the tree for you, and when we +have gone you will divide the stuff equally between you. Spike, what's +the matter?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>Spike had not touched his gold piece, but sat looking at it, drawing in +deep labored breaths.</p> + +<p>"It's real, better grab while the grabbing is good," urged Hippy.</p> + +<p>Spike shook his head and shoved both hands under the table.</p> + +<p>The Overland Riders saw instantly that the man was agitated.</p> + +<p>"If you don't wish to accept our gift, you need not do so, Spike," said +Tom. "We shan't lay it up against you if—"</p> + +<p>"It ain't that!" exploded the lumberjack.</p> + +<p>"Then what is it, old man?" questioned Hippy.</p> + +<p>Spike, rising awkwardly, swallowed hard several times and essayed to +speak.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">248</a></span></p> + +<p>"Talk, if you feel like it. It will do you good," urged Tom kindly.</p> + +<p>"It's 'cause I ain't fit ter touch it, that's why," blurted Spike. "Yer +wants me t' talk. I'll talk. I ain't fit 'cause I ain't fit, that's all. +I'm a thief, and I'm a skallerwag, and I served a term in Joliet prison. +I ain't never had nuthin' but kicks and cuffs and dodgin' perlice afore +I got inter this outfit. First off, I thought it was soft here—that ye +folks was easy, but somehow it warn't. There was somethin' else in the +kind o' treatment yer give me that I couldn't git through my haid."</p> + +<p>The hair of Spike's head was now a bristling flame of red.</p> + +<p>"You're excited. Hook your canthook on the other side and stop the log +from rolling before it mashes you flat," advised Hippy.</p> + +<p>"I got ter talk now, and then I'll quit and git out fer good. I took +money fer ter do ye an inj'ry. I took it from that houn' Ainsworth. I +was to tell him 'bout things that was goin' on here and—"</p> + +<p>A low, rumbling, menacing growl, at first coming, it seemed, from the +very boots of the lumberjacks, startled the Overland Riders. The growl +suddenly burst into an angry roar. Acting upon a common impulse, every +jack in the room sprang to his feet and made a savage rush for the +red-headed Spike.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">249</a></span></p> + +<p>"Sit down, you rough-necks!" bellowed Hippy Wingate. "This is Christmas. +Sit down unless you want me to give you a clip on the jaw!"</p> + +<p>The jacks hesitated, drew back, then slouched to their seats, scowling +threateningly.</p> + +<p>"It'd serve me right if ye fellers beat me up," resumed Spike. "I'm no +good. I never was and I'm goin' ter quit onless ye fire me afore I've +got through speakin', but I wants ye folks t' know that I throwed that +dirty money away, I did. It burned me like no money I ever filched did; +it burned me inside and out and I slung it inter the river. I meant ter +do ye a measly trick, ye folks, and I did, but I wants ye ter know +partic'lar that Chet Ainsworth and that gang of his'n didn't git no +information outer me. That's more'n I ever done for anybody afore. Ye've +treated me white, ye have, Boss," he said, looking at Tom, "and +I've—I've—" Spike gulped and swallowed hard. "I've opined ter do ye +dirt."</p> + +<p>Spike struggled for more words, and then, to the amazement of his +fellows, sank into his seat with tears rolling down his cheeks.</p> + +<p>A jack laughed. Hippy fixed him with a stern look. Tom Gray rose +gravely.</p> + +<p>"Don't laugh, fellows," he admonished. "You have seen one of your own +bare his soul, if you can understand what that means. It<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">250</a></span> takes a brave +man to do that, boys, a man of wonderful courage. I wonder how many of +you would have the courage to do the same. I'll have more to say on the +subject of Spike in a moment. First, I want to thank you for your +loyalty to us. We could not have won out if you hadn't been loyal. We +are going to make money, as I have told you before, and you boys who +have helped to make it are going to get your share."</p> + +<p>"Give 'em a little rough stuff. They'll understand that better than they +do this soul business," suggested Hippy, and the jacks grinned.</p> + +<p>"As for Spike, he forgot to carry out his threat to resign—" resumed +Tom.</p> + +<p>"I quit, and I—" interrupted Spike, flushing hotly.</p> + +<p>"Sit down!" commanded Hippy, forcing him back into his seat, from which +Spike had started to rise.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Wingate and I have had several talks about affairs here," resumed +Tom. "Among other things, we have decided that we have need of a +foreman, a foreman who can get out the work with the new men—you +fellows do not need a foreman—and carry out our orders in other +directions. Before coming here for this little party, we had already +decided on a man for the job of foreman, and I, for one, am glad we +picked the man we did, but I want you boys to approve<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">251</a></span> of our +appointment. What you say <i>goes</i>. Stand up!" commanded Tom Gray sternly, +fixing his gaze on the red-headed jack, who, from sheer force of habit, +obeyed that tone instantly.</p> + +<p>"There's the man I've picked," announced Tom, pointing to Spike.</p> + +<p>A dead silence greeted the announcement, a silence broken only by the +heavy breathing of the lumberjacks, and the shrill voice of Joe Shafto +back in the cook-house abusing Willy Horse.</p> + +<p>"What do you say, fellows?" urged Tom quietly.</p> + +<p>Something seeped slowly into the brain of those rough and ready +two-fisted lumbermen. To advance a confessed crook to foreman, a man who +had bargained to do a traitorous thing to his Big Boss—it was big, it +was unheard of in their rough lives. Even the girls of the Overland +party, not one of whom had known of Tom's and Hippy's purpose, felt a +thrill, but no one spoke.</p> + +<p>"Well, fellows?" urged Tom gently.</p> + +<p>"<i>Yes!</i>" The word was uttered in a roar, a mighty roar that was heard in +the cook-house and by the lumberjacks at their Christmas dinner in the +old bunk-house.</p> + +<p>Nora Wingate, carried away by her emotions, sprang to her feet and threw +wide her arms.</p> + +<p>"Boys! Boys!" she cried almost hysterically.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">252</a></span></p> + +<p>"You're rough, but you're men—loyal, splendid fellows, and I love you, +every one of you!"</p> + +<p>Spike, with burning face, bolted for the door.</p> + +<p>"Come back here!" bellowed Hippy Wingate. "You've forgotten something," +pointing to the gold-piece that lay where Emma Dean had placed it before +Spike's plate. "I never did see anyone so careless with money."</p> + +<p>The red-headed lumberjack returned slowly, picked up the gold-piece and +opened his mouth to speak, but no words came.</p> + +<p>"Never mind. Don't say it," smiled Tom. "You may go now."</p> + +<p>"Thankee," mumbled Spike, and made a hurried exit. Reaching the door, he +broke into a run, never pausing until he had plunged deep into the +forest, not to return until long after the jacks had turned in for the +night.</p> + +<p>Following the new foreman's departure the gifts for Overlanders and +jacks were quickly distributed, and, half an hour later, on their way to +their own camp, the Overland Riders stepped out into the sparkling +night, where, as Hippy Wingate had said, every tree was a Christmas +tree, dressed with snapping reflected lights from the moonbeams on the +snowflakes. Elfreda Briggs called attention to a dark object at the top +of a great pine. It was Henry—Henry in disgrace—Henry who had stolen +a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">253</a></span> turkey from the cook-house and felt the sting of his master's club +across his sensitive nose.</p> + +<p>June and July disturbed the serenity of the night with two long-drawn, +throaty brays.</p> + +<p>A snow-bird chirped in the foliage somewhere above the Overlanders.</p> + +<p>"What is the little birdie saying, Emma girl?" teased Hippy.</p> + +<p>"What is he saying?" answered Emma thoughtfully. "I think, Hippy, that +he is wishing us all a merry, merry Christmas and a happy, successful +new year."</p> + +<p>On the following morning Spike entered the office of the company where +Tom Gray was at work on the books.</p> + +<p>"Boss," he said, "it ain't right this thing that ye said last night. I +been sittin' out thar in the woods all night thinkin'—"</p> + +<p>"About being made foreman?" questioned Tom.</p> + +<p>"Yes. An' 'bout that other thing. When the fellers laughed an' ye said I +was 'barin' my soul,' I didn't have no such thing. But Cap'n! Out thar +in the woods, an' God Almighty lookin' down and seein' me thar in the +moonlight, I found one. Mebby ye told him to give it to me, but I got +it. I didn't un'erstan' then what ye meant. I do now, an' wanted ye to +know it. Cap'n! I got er soul!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">254</a></span></p> + +<p>Without giving Tom Gray opportunity to make fitting reply, Spike squared +his shoulders and shuffled out and called his gang together.</p> + +<p>Spike's confession and his new job worked a transformation in him. He no +longer wore the surly, hang-dog expression of former days; he walked +more erectly and his gray eyes boldly met those of any person who +addressed him. The manner in which the red-headed foreman drove the work +along throughout the winter, overcoming obstacles and winning and +holding the respect of the men, confirmed the judgment of Tom and Hippy +that Spike was the right man for the job.</p> + +<p>The girls of the Overland party, with Joe Shafto, Henry and the mules, +started for home two days later, leaving Tom, Hippy and the bull pup to +remain in the woods until spring.</p> + +<p>All that winter the big circular saws in the mill far down on the Little +Big Branch sang their way through millions of feet of huge logs, cutting +them into lumber, and piling up profits for the firm of Wingate & Gray, +while the jacks toiled and abused each other, and all bosses—especially +their own—and fought with the jacks from rival lumber camps until the +end of the season. Each man then received a cash bonus that brought from +him a gasp of amazement and a growl of appreciation. Willy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">255</a></span> Horse and +most of the "original" party of jacks were kept at work on the section +all during the next summer, again to resume lumbering operations in the +early fall.</p> + +<p>The further adventures of the Overland Riders will be related in a +following volume, entitled "<span class="smcap">Grace Harlowe's Overland Riders in the High +Sierras</span>," the story of an eventful summer's outing. The hold-up of the +Red Limited, the capture of an Overlander, strange adventures in the +Crazy Lake section, the bowling game above the clouds, the battle with +the mountain bandits, and the solving of the mystery of Aerial Lake, +make a story of unexcelled interest and swift action.</p> + +<p style='text-align:center; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 3em;'>THE END</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Grace Harlowe's Overland Riders in the +Great North Woods, by Jessie Graham Flower + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OVERLAND RIDERS *** + +***** This file should be named 20341-h.htm or 20341-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/3/4/20341/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Grace Harlowe's Overland Riders in the Great North Woods + +Author: Jessie Graham Flower + +Release Date: January 11, 2007 [EBook #20341] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OVERLAND RIDERS *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +[Illustration: "You Ruffian!"--Frontispiece.] + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- + +GRACE HARLOWE'S OVERLAND RIDERS +IN THE GREAT NORTH WOODS + +by + +Jessie Graham Flower, A. M. + +Illustrated + +THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY +Akron, Ohio--New York +Made in U. S. A. + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- + +Copyright MCMXXI By THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- + +CONTENTS + + PAGE + + CHAPTER I--ON THE BIG WOODS TRAIL................................ 11 + + The Overlanders, arriving at their destination, are told that their + guide is busy doing the family washing. Hippy and Hindenburg, the + bull pup, make a hit. Emma Dean wishes she had stayed at home. The + "untamed" bronco entertains the villagers. + + CHAPTER II--THE VOICE OF NATURE.................................. 18 + + "Why don't yer feed the critter some soothin' syrup?" jeers a + villager. Emma reads the message of the hermit thrush. On the way + to the "Big Woods." Trouble is threatened at Bisbee's Corners. The + Overlanders attacked by roistering lumberjacks. + + CHAPTER III--THE CHARGE OF THE JACKS............................. 31 + + "Out of this, lively!" shouts Tom Gray. The fight in the village + street. Hippy and Tom rescue an unfortunate Indian from the jacks. + Willy Horse follows and overtakes his rescuers. "You Big + Friend--Big Medicine!" The new guide creates a sensation. + + CHAPTER IV--A HUMAN TALKING MACHINE.............................. 42 + + Joe Shafto lays down the law to her charges. Tom Gray admits that + he is at fault. Emma announces that some of her ancestors were + birds. Hippy advises the guide to eat angel food. A wild beast in + the cabin of the forest woman. + + CHAPTER V--OVERLANDERS GET A JOLT................................ 53 + + "A bear! A bear under the table!" Grace Harlowe's companions thrown + into panic. Nora puts her foot in a platter of venison. The guide + explains that Henry, the bear, is a "watch dog." Hippy and the bear + meet in hand-to-hand conflict. + + CHAPTER VI--CAMPING UNDER THE GIANT PINES........................ 63 + + "Sick 'im, Hindenburg!" gasps Hippy. The bull pup saves his master, + and Henry gets a beating. Tom shows how to read the forest + "blazes." The Overland Riders pitch their first camp in the great + forest. Emma gets a message from the air. The lull before the + storm. + + CHAPTER VII--FELLED BY A MYSTERIOUS BLOW......................... 74 + + Tom and Grace hearken to warning sounds in the trees. "Quick! Get + the girls out!" A rush from an unknown peril. Hippy declares that + "Nature is an old fogy." Crashing reverberations are heard in the + forest. "Hippy's hurt!" cries Elfreda Briggs. + + CHAPTER VIII--THEIR FIRST DISASTER............................... 80 + + Tom informs his companions that their camp has been wiped out. + Building a fire in the rain. Overland girls learn the secrets of + the forest. Joe Shafto boxes Hippy's ears. The pet bear is welcomed + with a club. A startling assertion. + + CHAPTER IX--LUMBERJACKS SEEK REVENGE............................. 91 + + "The skidway was tampered with!" Overland tents are destroyed. Tom + gets a cold welcome. A warning of timber thieves. Lean-tos are + built for the night's camp. "How can we go to bed with one side of + the house out?" wonders Emma. Awakened by an explosion. + + CHAPTER X--MYSTERY IN THE FALL OF A TREE........................ 102 + + Hippy is assisted down the river bank by a flying tree limb. The + camp of the Overlanders again suffers disaster. "Hurry! We've set + the woods on fire!" Battling with a forest fire. Hippy wants to + dream of food. A disturbing outlook. + + CHAPTER XI--THE THREAT OF PEG TATEM............................. 115 + + Henry sleeps on high. The bear and the bull pup scent trouble. The + foreman of Section Forty-three goes trouble-hunting. Settlement is + demanded of the Overlanders for the burned trees. "Skip! Get out!" + orders Lieutenant Wingate. Peg starts a row. + + CHAPTER XII--A SHOT FROM THE FOREST............................. 121 + + Tom Gray attacked by the lumberman. The jacks take a hand. Hippy + uses a firebrand as a weapon. Overlanders badly punished. Shots + from the forest shatter Peg's wooden leg. Henry paws his way into + the fight. The Overlanders meet a fresh mystery. + + CHAPTER XIII--A BLAZED WARNING.................................. 132 + + Grace Harlowe's party seeks a change of scene. The bent arrow + points to danger. The end of a long night's journey through the + forest. The mournful wail of a timber wolf carries a meaning to + Emma Dean. "Put out that fire!" commands the forest ranger. + + CHAPTER XIV--THEIR DAY AT HOME.................................. 143 + + The caller at the Overland camp grows threatening. Henry sounds a + warning growl. Ordered to leave the forest. Emma tells the ranger + how to get rid of wolves. "I reckon you haven't heard the last of + Peg Tatem." + + CHAPTER XV--THE WAY OF THE BIG WOODS............................ 150 + + Newcomers arouse the apprehensions of the Overland Riders. "Put up + yer hands!" comes the stern command. Deputy sheriffs inform the + Overlanders that they are under arrest. Joe Shafto fires a warning + shot at their annoying callers. + + CHAPTER XVI--WILLY HORSE SHOWS THE WAY.......................... 157 + + Elfreda out-argues the officers of the law. Visitors politely + requested to remove themselves. Threats of revenge. Camp is made on + the banks of the Little Big Branch. Willy shows the way to the + Overlanders' permanent camp. + + CHAPTER XVII--IN THE INDIAN TEPEE............................... 173 + + Willy Horse arrives in a bark canoe. An Indian home is built for + the Overland girls. Grace paddles the birch canoe and gets a + ducking. Henry investigates the tepee and his nose suffers. A loud + halloo arouses the girls from their beauty sleep. + + CHAPTER XVIII--THE TRAIL OF THE PIRATES......................... 182 + + The bull pup keeps bankers' hours. Tom and Hippy seek + evidence of timber-thieves and make discoveries. Hippy + evolves a great idea. Willy tells Lieutenant Wingate about + Chief Iron Toe. Hippy and the Indian go away on an important + mission. + + CHAPTER XIX--THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL......................... 193 + + "Bears is better than husbands," declares Joe Shafto. Hippy + announces that he has bought a big timber tract. "Don't ask me a + question until my stomach begins to function." Willy Horse brings a + warning of spies near the camp. + + CHAPTER XX--PEACE OR WAR?....................................... 204 + + Chet Ainsworth arrives at the point of a rifle. The peace of the + Overland camp violently disturbed. Hippy admits that he is crazy. + Henry gives uninvited guests a scare. "They do get that way + sometimes." Overlanders gaze in amazement. + + CHAPTER XXI--A WISE OLD OWL..................................... 210 + + Joe sicks the bear on the guests. The forest woman in a rage. + "Stop him! He'll kill the man!" Willy Horse sees things in the + campfire. Emma finds a message for Hippy + in the hoot of the old owl. + + CHAPTER XXII--WHEN THE DAM WENT OUT............................. 217 + + A surprise party for the lumberjacks on Hippy's claim. The dance + is interrupted by the Indian's message. "Dam up river go out! + Water come down!" announces Willy Horse unemotionally. The jacks + take alarm. + + CHAPTER XXIII--THE RIOT OF THE LOGS............................. 227 + + A desperate struggle. "I'm slipping!" gasps Hippy. "Too late!" Tom + and Hippy are hurled into the river. Dynamite used on the pirates' + dam. A hand-to-hand knife battle on the spiles. Grace stays the + Indian's hand. + + CHAPTER XXIV--CHRISTMAS IN THE BIG WOODS........................ 238 + + A capture and a confession. Peg Tatem in the toils. Timber + pirates get prison terms. The lumberjacks' big Christmas. "Sit + down, you rough-necks!" roars Hippy. Spike bares his soul. What the + snow-bird said. + +----------------------------------------------------------------------- + +GRACE HARLOWE'S OVERLAND RIDERS IN THE GREAT NORTH WOODS + + + + +CHAPTER I + +ON THE BIG WOODS TRAIL + + +Hippy Wingate stepped from the train that had just pulled into the +little Red River Valley station and turned to observe Tom Gray and the +others of the Overland Riders detrain. In one hand Hippy carried a +suitcase, in the other a disconsolate-looking bull pup done up in a +shawl strap. + +"Be you Gray?" + +Hippy turned to look at the owner of the voice, not certain that the +question had been addressed to him. He found himself facing an +uncouth-looking youth who, despite the heat of an early September +afternoon, wore a heavy blanket Mackinaw coat, rubber shoes and thick +stockings tied at the knee. Khaki trousers, and a cap of the same +material as the coat, completed the typical lumberjack outfit, though +Tom Gray was the only member of the Overland party who recognized it as +such. The youngster's hands were thrust firmly into the pockets of the +Mackinaw coat as he stood eyeing Hippy with a sullen expression on his +face. + +"Am I what?" demanded the Overland Rider, putting down the suitcase and +dropping the pup, much to the animal's relief. + +"I said, be you Gray?" + +"Not yet, old chap. I am threatened with a bald head early in my young +life, but I thank goodness I am not gray. Why? What's the joke?" + +The loungers on the station platform laughed, and the boy shifted +uneasily and leaned against a station pillar. + +"'Cause I was to meet er feller named Gray who was comin' in on this +train." + +"Oh! That's it, is it? I thought you meant is my hair gray," grinned +Hippy. "Oh, Tom! Here is your man. Here's your guide," cried Hippy, +shaking hands cordially with the young fellow. + +Detaching himself from the girls of the party of Overland Riders who +were assembling their luggage, Tom Gray stepped over to Lieutenant +Wingate. + +"Are you Joe Shafto?" questioned Tom, addressing the boy. + +"Naw, I ain't. Joe sent me over to meet you folks and tell you how to +git up to the place." + +"Why isn't Joe here to meet us?" demanded Grace Harlowe, joining the +group in time to hear the boy's explanation. + +"Joe's doin' the washin' to-day, and to-morrer is ironin' day. Joe sent +word sayin' as I was to meet you and tell you not to git up there before +late to-morrer afternoon." + +"Ho, ho! Doing the family washing, eh?" chortled Hippy. "Fine guide you +have selected, Tom Gray. Hey there!" Hippy made a spring for the bull +pup, who had fastened his teeth in the neck of a fox terrier, and picked +his dog up by the handle of the shawl strap. The fox terrier came up +with Hindenburg, by which name the bull was known, and it required the +united efforts of Tom and Hippy to extricate the fox terrier from +Hindenburg's tenacious grip. + +"It might be wise to hang onto your dog, Hippy," advised Tom. "You are +to show us the way to Shafto's, I presume?" questioned Tom Gray, +addressing the boy again. + +"Naw. I reckon you can find the way yourself. Can't spare the time. I +got a fall job in the woods over near the reservation. You take the main +road straight north from here till you git to Bisbee's Corners. Ask at +the general store there where Joe Shafto lives and they'll steer you. +Joe said to tell you folks to get your supplies there, too. Bye." The +boy turned abruptly and walked away. + +"Hold on! Not so fast, boy. How far is it to Joe's?" demanded Tom. + +"Nigh onto thirty mile," flung back the boy. + +"I wish I had stayed at home," wailed Emma Dean. + +"We have not yet begun, dear," reminded Elfreda Briggs, to which Anne +Nesbit and Nora Wingate agreed with emphatic nods. + +"Tom Gray, I fear you have made a mess of selecting a guide to pilot us +through the Big North Woods of Minnesota," declared Grace with a +doubtful shake of the head. + +"I can't help that. I engaged Shafto on the recommendation of the +postmaster of this very town. He wrote me that, according to his +information, no man in the state knows the woods so well as this fellow +Shafto does. At my request, the postmaster engaged him for us, so don't +blame me because Joe is doing the family washing instead of being here +to meet us," retorted Tom with a show of impatience. + +"Lay it to the postmaster and let it go at that," suggested Hippy +good-naturedly. + +"Tom, I am really amazed that you, a woodsman and a professional +forester, should require the services of a guide," teased Anne. + +"I don't. The guide is for you folks. Of course I know how to keep from +getting lost, but I shall not be with you all the time, so--" + +"Come, let's get busy," urged Hippy. "Nora, if you will kindly hold +Hindenburg, Tom and I will unload the ponies. Ready, Thomas?" + +Tom said he was. The palace horsecar attached to their train had already +been shunted to a siding, and the ponies of the Overland Riders were +found to have made the journey from the east without injury. Quite an +assemblage of villagers had gathered to witness the operation of +unloading the ponies, and they gazed with interest as each Overland girl +in turn stepped up to claim her mount as it was led slipping down the +gangway. Hippy Wingate's pony, a western bronco that he had acquired +that summer, was the last of the ponies in the car. "Ginger," as its +owner had named it because of its fiery temper, being unusually free +with his heels, had been separated from the other animals in the car by +bars, the bars now bearing marks made by his sharp hoofs. + +"Tom, please fetch out my educated horse," urged Hippy, winking wisely +at the crowd of spectators. + +"Why not fetch him out yourself? He isn't my horse," laughed Tom. + +"Oh, very well," said Lieutenant Wingate, stepping into the car, +removing the bars and reaching for the pony's headstall. That was the +beginning of what proved to be an exciting time for Lieutenant Wingate +and a most enjoyable entertainment for the villagers. The next act was +when Hippy was catapulted from the car door by the heels of the untamed +bronco and landed in the street. Fortunately for him, Lieutenant +Wingate, instead of jumping back when the pony began to kick, threw +himself towards the animal, a trick that handlers of ugly horses quickly +learn to do. He was thus, instead of being hit by the heels of the +bronco, neatly boosted through the open door of the car. + +The villagers howled with delight as the Overland Rider got up and +brushed the dirt from his uniform. + +"I have heard it said that incorrigible horses are sometimes made docile +by sprinkling a pinch of salt on their tails," observed Elfreda Briggs +to her companions. + +"Remonstrate with the beast, Hippy. He is educated," suggested Emma +Dean. + +"Hippy, my darlin', do be careful," begged Nora as her husband limped up +the gangway, jaws set, the light of battle in his eyes, his anger rising +with every step he took. + +Hippy clasped the pony's neck, the rat-tat-tat of the animal's heels +against the side of the car being somewhat reminiscent of machine-gun +fire to the Overland girls. + +"He'll be killed!" wailed Nora. + +"Who? The pony?" asked Emma in an unruffled voice. + +"No! What do I care about the pony? It's my Hippy." + +A yell from the villagers brought others running to the scene, but no +one offered assistance. Hippy and the bronco were tussling on the +threshold of the car with Hippy's feet in the air most of the time. + +"Tickle him in the ribs," suggested a villager. "That'll make him laugh +and he'll fergit to kick." + +The villagers howled with delight. + +"Tickle him yourself," retorted Nora. + +"Jump!" urged Miss Briggs. + +"No! Hang on!" shouted Tom Gray. "If you let go he'll kill you! Urge him +down the gangway and I will grab him when he makes the rush." + +At that instant the pony leaped. Hippy lost his foothold on the edge of +the doorsill, and the pony, unable to bear the additional weight on its +neck, stumbled and went down on the gangway. The animal's hips struck +the railing, burst through it, and man and horse rolled off to the +ground, Ginger kicking and squealing, with Hippy Wingate clinging +desperately to his neck. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE VOICE OF NATURE + + +The bronco was on his feet instantly, with Hippy still clinging to the +animal's neck. All the villagers scattered as Ginger bolted across the +street. + +"Why don't _you_ tickle his ribs?" cried Emma to the spectators. + +For a few moments it looked as if man and bronco would land in the +village postoffice by way of its large front window. + +"Whew!" grinned Hippy, mopping his brow after he had conquered and tied +the pony to the tie-rail in front of the postoffice. + +"I--I thought you said that Ginger was an educated horse," reminded +Emma. + +"He is. That is what is the matter with him. Like some persons, not far +removed from me at the present moment, he knows _too_ much for the +general good of the community. What Ginger needs is a finishing school, +and he's going to start right in attending one this very day. You watch +my smoke." + +"Smoke!" chuckled Elfreda Briggs. "I don't mind it at all ordinarily, +but I do wish that, when you get excited, you wouldn't insist on burning +soft coal." + +"Say, Mister! Why don't yer feed the critter some soothin' syrup? They +got it in the store there," urged a spectator. "Good fer man er beast." + +Hippy grinned at the speaker, and the villagers roared. + +"Good idea, old top. We will pour a bottleful down your throat at the +same time. It is good for all animals, you know. Why don't you roar, you +folks? All right, if you won't, I'll roar." Hippy haw-hawed and the +villagers grinned. + +"Come, come. Please do something, Hippy," begged Grace laughingly. + +"Sure thing. What do you want me to do?" + +"If you and Tom will roll and tie the packs, you will be doing us a +service. I imagine we girls are a bit out of practice in lashing packs, +and, as we have quite a bit of equipment to carry, and a long ride ahead +of us to-day, we must have everything secure, and start as soon as +possible." + +"Want a guide, Mister?" questioned a young man dressed as a lumberjack, +lounging up to Lieutenant Wingate. "I kin take ye anywheres." + +"We have one," replied Hippy briefly. + +"I don't see none. Who be he?" + +"Name's Hindenburg," said Hippy, pointing to the bull pup. "Greatest +little guide west of the Atlantic Ocean. I paid a thousand dollars for +his bark alone. The breeder threw in the rest of the dog because, when +you peel the bark off a tree, it dies." + +Emma Dean uttered a high, trilling laugh, and the other girls joined in +so heartily that, for a moment, or so, work came to a standstill. Hippy +then briskly attacked the packs, while Tom secured them to the backs of +the ponies. + +While this was being done Grace left the party to buy food sufficient to +last for at least a two-days' journey, and returned with her arms full +of bundles, the contents being transferred to the mess kits of her +companions. + +"Are you going to let the dog run?" questioned Anne. + +"I am not. He rides horseback," replied Hippy briefly. "I am a man of +resources." + +"Especially in leading educated ponies," murmured Emma. + +In the meantime, Hippy had taken a canvas bag from his pack and hung it +over the pommel of his saddle. + +"Come, Little Hindenburg. We will now go bye-bye," cooed Hippy, lifting +the bull pup, depositing it in the open bag, and tying the dog's lead +string to the saddle. + +"Hippy darlin'!" cried Nora. "If Hindenburg jumps out he will hang +himself and choke to death." + +"Sure he will. That is why he isn't going to jump out." + +Hindenburg stood up in the bag and barked in apparent approval of +Hippy's assertion. + +"Listen!" exclaimed Emma, holding up a hand. "Bark again, Hindenburg." + +Hindenburg did so, Emma Dean giving close attention. + +"What is the big idea?" demanded Lieutenant Wingate. + +"I wished to listen to this voice from the canine world because it +carries a message to us," answered Miss Dean gravely. + +Hippy gave her a quick keen glance, but Ginger, taking sudden umbrage at +a dog barking at his side, demanded his rider's exclusive attention. By +the time Hippy had subdued the bronco, Emma's peculiar remark had passed +out of mind. Soon after that, with packs neatly lashed, each rider in +the saddle, the Overland Riders wheeled their ponies and jogged along +the village street on their way to the Great North Woods where Tom Gray, +as an expert forester, was to "cruise" or estimate the amount of timber +standing on the thousands of acres in the huge timber tract, the largest +tract of virgin timber east of the Rocky Mountains. + +The Overland Riders, who, for the previous three summers, following +their return from France where they had served in various capacities +during the war, in the Overton College Unit, had decided to accompany +Tom to the Big Woods, seeking such adventure as the northland might +afford. + +As they started away on the first leg of their journey, none was more +joyous than the bull pup, who barked at the villagers, barked at every +dog and cat within sight, and, after the village had been left behind, +entertained himself by barking at imaginary cats and dogs, Emma Dean +being his most interested listener. Emma's quietness attracted the +attention of her companions, and they wondered at the change in her, +for, on previous journeys, there was seldom a time when Emma did not +have a great deal to say. + +Not until after five o'clock that afternoon did the party halt to rest +the ponies and have luncheon, the latter consisting of hot tea and +biscuit, the Riders having planned to eat their supper at Bisbee's +Corners. + +Most of the girls were quite ready for a rest, but, this being their +first long ride of the season, they found, upon dismounting, that they +could hardly walk. Grace, being the least disturbed of the party, +volunteered to get the fire started and brew the tea, while Lieutenant +Wingate and Tom Gray watered the horses and staked them at the side of +the road for a nibble at the grass that grew there. Then all hands sat +down with their feet curled under them and held out their tin cups for a +drink of hot tea. + +Emma Dean poised her cup in the air, and, with a far-away look in her +eyes, listened intently to the solemn bell note of a hermit thrush. + +"What _is_ on your mind to-day, Emma Dean?" laughed Anne Nesbit. "Is it +possible that you are in love or something?" + +"I am listening to the voices of nature," replied Emma solemnly, shaking +her head slowly and taking a sip of tea. + +"This is something new, isn't it?" twinkled Grace Harlowe. + +"Yes," agreed Elfreda. "Only a few hours ago you were listening to a +'message' from the throat of the bull pup, and now I suppose you are +turning your attention to that hermit thrush for the same reason." + +"I am listening to the voices of nature," returned Emma. "Listening for +the messages that, when once rightly interpreted, will open up the vast +realm of the unknown to us mortals. If we would but listen we should +hear many mysteries explained and--" + +"Speak, Hindenburg!" interjected Hippy, giving the bull pup a push with +the toe of his boot and bringing a growl from the animal. "How long has +she been this way, girls?" + +"Make fun of me if you wish. I am used to it." + +"I agree with Emma that there is much in nature that we might do well to +consider, suggestions that it would be to our everlasting advantage to +adopt," spoke up Tom Gray. "So far, however, as being able to read the +notes of the birds or the growl of a bull pup--piffle!" + +"I agree with you," nodded Elfreda. + +"Emma, where do you get all that dope?" questioned Hippy. "I am +beginning to believe what I suspected last season, when you were riding +that 'con-centration' hobby, that your war service has unbalanced your +mind." + +"No, no! He is only joking, Emma," protested Nora. + +"It matters little to me what Hippy Wingate says or thinks. I belong to +the 'Voice of Nature Cult.'" + +"What's that? A breakfast food?" laughed Anne. + +"The 'Cult' is an organization of advanced thinkers, presided over by +Madam Gersdorff, an adept who can converse with the birds of the air, +the animals and--" + +"I wish she were here," declared Hippy with emphasis. "I should like to +have her tell that bronco what my opinion of him is and hear what he +says in reply," added Lieutenant Wingate, flipping a biscuit, which +Hindenburg deftly caught and gulped down at a single swallow. + +"Madam Gersdorff gave some remarkable demonstrations of her power in the +direction of interpreting the voices of nature last winter," resumed +Emma. "She is giving me a correspondence course at five dollars a +lesson, which I consider a remarkably low price. I wish I might induce +you girls to take the course, but I don't suppose any of you have the +nerve to do so in the face of Hippy Wingate's unkind criticisms. Let me +tell you something. A medium that I went to in Boston a few weeks ago +told me some remarkable things about myself. I had been telling her of +this 'Voice of Nature Cult.' 'How strange,' answered the medium. 'I see +birds all about you. A whole flock of them accompanied you into this +very room. See! They are hovering over you at this very moment.'" + +"I'll bet they were a flock of crows," murmured Hippy. + +"Did you see them, darlin'?" begged Nora in an awed tone that brought +smiles to the faces of her companions. + +"No. I was not sufficiently in tune with nature to see them, especially +in daylight." + +"Good-night!" muttered Hippy Wingate. + +"And what do you think the medium also said?" asked Emma. + +"Five dollars, please," laughed Grace. + +"She did not. All she would consent to take from me was a dollar, and +she said that, if I would come to her twice a week regularly, she would +promise that, in a few weeks, I could see the birds as well as she +could. But I didn't tell you--what the medium said of even greater +importance was that the explanation was that some of my ancestors, far +back in the dim shadows of the early hours of the world, were birds of +the air. Just think of it, girls! Birds! Flying through the air and--" + +"Darting yon and hither," finished Hippy. + +"_Alors!_ Let's fly," cried Elfreda Briggs amid a shout of laughter from +the Overland Riders. + +"So say we all of us," answered Grace, springing up and beginning to +pack away her mess kit. "It will be long after dark before we reach +Bisbee's Corners." + +The girls were still laughing as they rode away, Emma Dean silently +resentful, her chin in the air, her face flushed. + +"Do you really think she is in earnest about that nature stuff?" +questioned Anne. + +"She thinks she is, but of course she isn't. Emma, like many others, +must have a hobby to ride. She, fortunately, is fickle in her hobbies, +and rides one but a short time before she tires of it and casts it +aside. What would we do on these journeys without her?" laughed Grace. + +"Yes. Our Emma is a joy and a delight," nodded Anne. + +After a brisk ride at a steady gallop, the Overlanders jogged into the +one street that Bisbee's Corners possessed shortly after nine o'clock +that evening, all thoroughly tired but happy, with Hindenburg sound +asleep in the saddle bag. + +The streets, they saw, were thronged with men, mostly lumberjacks, some +singing, others shouting, and here and there a pair of them engaged in +fist battles. + +"Must have been paid off," observed Tom Gray. "We are getting near the +Big Woods, folks." + +"I should say we are," replied Grace, taking in the scene with keen +interest. "I hear a fiddle. There must be a dance going on." + +"A dance? Oh, let's go," cried Emma. + +"Better listen to the voices of nature," answered Tom laughingly. "A +lumberjack dance is no place for a refined woman, or man either, for +that matter. Where to, Grace?" + +"The general store. I'll go in. The girls had better stay on their +horses, for I don't like the looks of things in Bisbee's." + +"Lumber-jacks are rough, but let them alone and they will let you +alone," said Lieutenant Wingate. + +Tom Gray said this might be true in theory, but that it was not always +true in fact. + +Pulling up before the general store, Grace dismounted and elbowed her +way through a crowd of men, smilingly demanding "gangway," which was +readily granted, though accompanied by quite personal remarks about her, +to which, of course, the Overland girl gave not the slightest heed. + +"Joe Shafto bought the supplies for you, Mrs. Gray," the owner of the +store informed her after Grace had introduced herself and stated her +mission. "Joe packed the stuff home on the mules and said you'd pay for +it when you come along. That alright?" + +"Perfectly so, and thank you ever so much. What is the excitement out +there?" with a nod towards the street. + +"Jacks comin' in for the early work in the woods. The foremen are hirin' +'em here and sendin' 'em on to the different camps. The whole bunch is +just spoilin' for fight. Better not stir 'em up unless your crowd is +lookin' for trouble," advised the storekeeper. + +"Oh, no. Nothing like that," laughed Grace Harlowe, laying the money for +their supplies on the counter. "Nothing wrong outside, is there, Hippy?" +she asked quickly as the lieutenant came in rather hurriedly. + +"No. I'm after candy." + +"That is fine. Buying candy for Nora and the girls," glowed Grace. "My +husband seldom thinks to bring me candy, and--" + +"For Nora? No. I'm getting the candy for the bronco and the bull +pup--trying to buy my way into their good graces, as it were. Neither +one of them takes to the uproar in the street. The bronc' is threatening +to bolt, and Hindenburg has declared war on the lumberjack tribe +because one of them poked a stick in his ribs just now." + +Grace, after thanking the storekeeper for his courtesy, went out +laughing, but the instant she stepped into the street she intuitively +sensed a change in the spirit of the crowd there. The jacks had fallen +silent in comparison with their previous uproarious attitude--sullen and +threatening, it seemed to her. + +"What's wrong here, Elfreda?" she asked, stepping up beside Miss Briggs' +pony. + +"A jack tried to pull Emma from her horse, probably out of mischief. Tom +jumped his pony over and knocked the fellow down with his fist. Three or +four others started for him. Tom rode one of them down and the others +ran into the crowd for protection. I think we are headed for trouble," +prophesied J. Elfreda. + +"Grace, where is Hippy?" called Tom Gray anxiously. + +"In the store buying candy for the pup." + +"Stand back, you fellows!" commanded Tom sternly as he discovered that +the jacks were crowding closer and closer to the little group of +horsewomen. "We don't mind sport so far as the men are concerned, but +you must let these young women alone. Hurry, Hippy!" he urged, as +Lieutenant Wingate appeared at the store door. + +"Overland!" called Grace, which was the rallying hail of the Overland +Riders, and by which signal Lieutenant Wingate knew that all was not +well with his companions. + +Hippy jumped from the store porch and strode to his pony. + +"What is it?" he questioned sharply, taking Ginger's rein from Nora and +vaulting into his saddle to the accompaniment of joyous barks from +Hindenburg. + +"Reckon these wild jacks are getting ready to rush us. Keep your eyes +peeled," warned Tom Gray. + +"Here they come! Look out!" called Grace. + +"Let go of my bridle, you ruffian!" they heard Anne Nesbit cry, and as +they looked they saw her bring down her riding crop across the face of a +lumberjack who had grasped her pony's bridle and was trying to separate +the animal from the others of the party. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE CHARGE OF THE JACKS + + +"Get out of this! Lively!" shouted Tom to the girls. + +"Keep together!" added Hippy. + +The two men forced their ponies between the girls and the lumberjacks, +the girls using their crops on their ponies and urging them on. + +The Overland girls cleared the scene in a few seconds, and halted a +short distance up the street to wait for Hippy and Tom, who were having +difficulty in extricating themselves from the mob. They did not succeed +in doing this until Hippy began to belabor Ginger over the rump, at the +same time pulling up on the reins. This caused the animal to whirl and +buck and kick. Every volley from Ginger's lightning-like kicks put +several members of the mob out of the fight. Tom was using his crop, but +without much effect. + +A rough hand was laid on Hippy's leg, and a mighty tug nearly unhorsed +him. It probably would have done so had not Hindenburg at that juncture +taken a bite of the lumberjack's hand and caused the fellow to let go +without delay. + +The jacks by this time had begun to fight among themselves. Single and +group fights suddenly sprung up all over the street. The jacks, for the +moment, had lost their interest in the newcomers, and the two Overland +men, taking advantage of the opportunity, galloped down the street, +passing scattered groups of brawlers who were too busy with their own +affairs to heed them. + +The Overland men were almost clear of the mob when yells ahead of them +attracted their attention to a fresh disturbance. A man, who, as they +drew near, was seen to be an Indian standing at the side of the road, +taking no part in the disturbance, was the object of the uproar. A crowd +of half a dozen jacks had pounced on the Indian. He went down under the +rush. Hippy saw them grab the fellow and hurl him into the middle of the +street. The Indian was on his feet in an instant, and, from the light +shed through the windows along the street, Hippy saw a knife flash in +the Indian's hand, saw the red man's arm shoot out, and a man fall, +uttering a howl. + +The jacks hesitated briefly, then uttering angry yells they hurled +themselves upon the Indian, bore him to the ground, and began to kick at +him with their heavy boots. + +Tom turned his pony and rode into the crowd at a gallop. Three +lumberjacks went down under his charge. + +"The cowards!" raged Hippy, also charging into the group and completing +what his companion had begun. + +"Run, you poor fish!" he yelled at the Indian, who had got to his feet +and stood dazedly gazing at his rescuers. "Run!" + +The Indian, suddenly recovering himself, darted between two buildings +and disappeared. + +"Good work!" chuckled Hippy, galloping up the street with Tom to join +the girls, who were waiting for them. + +"Oh, that was splendid!" cried Anne Nesbit as Tom and Hippy rejoined the +party of Overland girls. + +"It won't be splendid unless we step lively," answered Tom. + +"Keep going, girls, keep going," urged Hippy. + +"I hate to run away, but being a peace-loving person I run away whenever +a fight is suggested to me." + +"We know it," observed Emma. + +"Thanks! Which way do we go?" questioned Hippy. + +"Straight ahead and take the first right-hand turn about a mile from the +village to reach Joe Shafto's place, the storekeeper told me," Grace +informed them. + +The party galloped on until they reached the turn indicated by Grace +where they halted and consulted, deciding that the road to the right was +the one they should take. This road, according to Grace's information, +should lead them to Joe Shafto's place, ten or fifteen miles further on, +though it was not their purpose to go on to Joe's that night. + +The Overland Riders walked their horses after making the turn, there +being no need for haste, as no one believed that the lumberjacks would +follow, and further, the Overlanders were looking for a suitable camping +place for the night. + +"This appears to be a good place to make camp," finally called Tom Gray, +who was riding in the lead of the party. Tom pulled up and looked about +him, the others riding up to him and halting. + +"No good!" answered a strange voice. + +"What? Who said that?" demanded Hippy. + +A man stepped out from the shadow of the trees and stood confronting the +peering Overlanders. + +"It's Lo, the poor Indian!" cried Hippy. "Hello, Lo!" + +"So it is," agreed Tom. "How did you get here ahead of us?" + +"Come 'cross," answered the man, indicating with a gesture that he bad +taken a short cut through the woods, though how he knew where they were +going, unless he had heard their discussion at the point where they took +the right-hand road, the Overlanders could not imagine. + +"You say this is 'no good' as a camping place. What is the matter with +it?" demanded Tom Gray, regarding the Indian suspiciously. + +"No water. You come, me show." + +"Let him lead the way," suggested Elfreda. + +"Yes. Give the poor red man a chance," urged Hippy. + +The Indian, without asking further permission to lead them, turned and +trotted along ahead at a typical Indian lope, and at a rate of speed +that necessitated putting the ponies at a jog-trot in order to keep him +in view. The Indian proceeded on for fully half a mile, then, turning +sharply to the left, led them on until he reached the bank of a stream, +to which he pointed as indicating their camping place. + +The site was hidden from the road by which they had arrived by trees and +a bluff, thus protecting the party from discovery by persons passing +along the road, which they readily understood the Indian had purposely +planned. + +"Fine! Fine!" glowed Tom. + +"We are much obliged to you, and thank you," added Anne. + +"What is your name?" asked Elfreda as the girls began to dismount. + +"Willy Horse." + +"Ho, ho, ho!" exclaimed Hippy Wingate. "That's a horse of another color. +Ladies and gentlemen, permit me to introduce to you Chief Willy Horse, +and believe me he is some horse to stand the punishment those +lumberjacks gave him and still be able to talk horse sense." + +The Overlanders acknowledged the introduction laughingly, and shook +hands with the Indian, at the same time giving him their names. + +"Where you go?" demanded the red man, addressing Tom Gray. + +"To the Pineries in the north." + +"Good! What do?" + +"Cruise them, Willy. Do you know what that is?" + +The Indian nodded. + +"Good! What you do?" he questioned, turning to Lieutenant Wingate. + +"Oh, most any old thing, Willy old hoss," answered Hippy jovially. "It +is mostly other persons who do the doing, in my case. They do me +instead." + +"Good! You Big Friend--big medicine. You help Willy Horse. Willy not +forget. Mebby kill lumberjacks one day, too." + +"Don't get naughty. They hang naughty Indians," reminded Hippy. + +"Oh, Mister Pony--I mean Mister Horse--won't you sit down and have a +snack with us?" invited Emma Dean. + +"Of course he must," insisted Tom, pausing at his work of starting a +cook fire. + +The Indian shook his head. + +"Me go," he announced briefly. + +"Sorry. Hope we see you again," said Hippy. + +"Me see. You Big Friend. Bye," he said, halting before Lieutenant +Wingate. With that he trotted away. + +"What a queer character," exclaimed Nora Wingate. "He loves my Hippy, +because my Hippy is a brave man." + +"Who runs away to fight another day--not!" added Emma mockingly. + +"He must have run very fast to catch up with us," suggested Anne. + +"An Indian can outdistance a horse, as horses ordinarily travel," +answered Tom. "Then, too, he probably knew a shorter cut." + +"Did you notice how bruised and swollen his face was, and how +indifferent he appeared to be about it?" questioned Grace solicitously. + +"Probably not so indifferent as he seemed to be," laughed Hippy. "You +know an Indian forgets neither a kindness nor a wrong, and you see how +my magnetic personality led this particular Indian to love me." + +"All Indians do," observed Emma. + +"Let's make camp and eat," urged Anne. "I am nearly famished." + +Hippy most heartily approved of Anne's suggestion. Every member of the +outfit assisted in "rustling" the camp and the food. Ginger got a whole +handful of candy for his part in the routing of the lumberjacks, and +Hindenburg also helped himself liberally from the bag when Hippy put it +down on the ground. + +While eating their supper the Overlanders talked over their experiences +of the day and the evening. Miss Briggs declared that she would have +been keenly disappointed if something had not occurred to stir them up +at the outset of their journey. + +"This getting into difficulties became a habit with this outfit on the +very day that it set sail for France and the great world war," she said. + +"I thank my stars that we are going into the woods where peace and the +voices of nature reign supreme," spoke up Emma. + +"Sometimes the voices of nature have a savage growl in them," reminded +Tom Gray laughingly. "Who is going to stand guard to-night?" + +"No one," answered Grace, nodding to Hippy. + +"Righto! The bull pup is the guard for this journey. I brought +Hindenburg along so that I might not lose sleep," answered Hippy, which +stirred the Overland girls to laughter. They had not forgotten that it +was a habit with Hippy Wingate to go to sleep when on guard and leave +the camp unprotected. + +All hands being tired and stiff after their long ride, they turned in as +soon as the supper dishes were washed and laid out to dry. Hindenburg +was tied to a tree on a long leash so that he might not stray away, and +the camp quickly settled down to slumber, a slumber that was +uninterrupted until some time after sun-up, when the bull pup awakened +them with his insistent barks. Hindenburg wanted his breakfast. + +They took their time in breakfasting, knowing that nothing was to be +gained by haste in view of the fact that Joe Shafto would be engaged in +ironing the family wash, and that they probably would not get started on +their journey to the Big North Woods before the following day. + +Stiffness of joints from the previous day's ride was soon forgotten in +the crisp morning air and the flame of color of the foliage, for they +were now entering a scattering growth of forest. As they progressed, +however, the trees were of larger and sturdier growth and the road +became merely a wagon trail leading to the northward. + +Luncheon was eaten by the roadside and the journey resumed immediately +afterwards. An hour later they came upon a clearing of about an acre, +with a small space occupied by a garden in which stood a log cabin of +comfortable dimensions. + +"Grace, is this the place?" called Tom Gray as they slowed down. + +"I don't know, but it seems to answer the description." + +"Anybody living up here would need to be a guide or he never would be +able to find his way home," declared Lieutenant Wingate. + +"Hoo--oo!" hailed Emma. + +After a few moments of waiting the Overlanders were gratified to see the +cabin door open and a woman step out, shading her eyes with a hand. She +was tall, thin and angular, the thinness of her face accentuated by a +pair of big horn-rimmed spectacles through which she glared at the +newcomers. + +"Who be ye?" demanded the woman in a rasping voice. + +"We are the Overland Riders, and we are looking for Joe Shafto's place," +answered Grace pleasantly. + +"I reckon ye ain't lookin' very hard," snapped back the woman. + +"Is this Joe's place?" interjected Tom Gray. + +"It be, I reckon." + +"Is Joe at home? I am Tom Gray. I arranged to have him act as our +guide." + +"I reckon he is." + +Tom dismounted and led his pony to the gate, irritated at the woman's +abrupt manner and speech, but this feeling was not shared by the others +of his party who were greatly amused at the brief dialogue. + +"I say, I am Tom Gray. May I see Joe?" + +"I reckon ye kin if ye've got eyes." + +"Then please ask him to step out. Or shall I go in?" + +"Yer lookin' at Joe Shafto. If ye don't like the looks of me look +t'other way!" she fairly flung at him. + +"You don't understand, Madam. We engaged Joe Shafto, a man, to guide us +through the North Woods and--" + +"I tell ye I'm the party, and I'm man enough for any bunch of +rough-necks in the timber," retorted the woman. + +"A woman guide! Good night!" muttered Hippy Wingate under his breath. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A HUMAN TALKING MACHINE + + +"Of course, of course. I--I--well, I'll talk to my friends about it," +answered Tom lamely. He was flustrated and flushed, greatly to the +enjoyment of the Overland girls. + +"That's all right, Tom," soothed Grace. "I am positive that Miss +Shafto--" + +"Mrs. Shafto," corrected the woman. "Mrs. Joe Shafto. Git the handle +right." + +"I am positive that Mrs. Shafto will answer our purpose very nicely," +finished Grace. + +"Yes, yes. I--I agree with you," mumbled Tom. "If you have time, or when +you do have time, we shall have to talk over our plans with you and--" + +"Ain't got no time for nothin' to-day. Had yer dinners?" + +"We had luncheon on the way," replied Grace. + +"Lucky for ye. I'll go work at the ironin'; then I've got to clean +house. Mebby then I'll talk to ye." + +Joe stamped back into the house, slamming the door behind her, and the +Overland Riders lost themselves in gales of laughter, galloping their +horses on beyond the house so that Joe might not hear. Tom followed +along slowly, considerably crestfallen. + +"Tom Gray, you surely have distinguished yourself," declared Anne +Nesbit. + +"My Hippy couldn't have done worse," added Nora. + +"It gives me a pain in my back just to look at her," averred Elfroda. +"Listening to her is worse." + +"I shan't listen at all. Thank goodness I have the voices of nature to +listen to," observed Emma. + +"Girls, I admit that I have made a mess of it. I suppose we can go on +without a guide, but really it is not wise for you girls, inexperienced +as you are in woodcraft, to venture into the Big Woods." + +"I do not agree with you folks," interjected Grace. "That woman is +sharp-tongued, but she is a sturdy and dependable character. It is my +opinion that we might have done a great deal worse in selecting a +guide. Let's go back to the house, make camp nearby, and wait until the +sturdy warrior is ready for us. She will be out again to talk to us soon +enough, if I am a judge of human nature." + +The Overlanders acted upon the suggestion and pitched their little tents +among the trees across the trail from Joe Shafto's home. While they were +thus engaged Joe came over and watched the operations, but without +uttering a word until the camp was made and a little cook fire started +for a cup of afternoon tea. + +"What's that for?" she demanded, pointing to the fire. + +"Afternoon tea now, and to cook our supper on later," answered Grace. + +"Yer all goin' to eat supper with me." + +The girls protested, but Joe, when once she had made an assertion, would +brook no opposition. + +"Six o'clock; no earlier, no later. To-morrow mornin' we start at four +o'clock. I've got all yer fodder, which-all I'll carry on June and July. +Them's my pack mules. Work singly or in pairs. Kin kick like all +possessed. No great scratch whether there's anythin' to kick at or not, +but they know better'n to kick me, though they ain't no love for Henry, +and he gives them heels plenty of room, 'cept one time when he forgot +hisself and got kicked clear out into the road, and nigh into kingdom +come, and I'll bet the pair of 'em that ye folks ain't got a hoss in the +outfit, not even that bronco with the glassy eye, that kin kick once to +June or July's twenty kicks, and, if you don't believe it, just heave a +tin can at one or t'other of 'em and see if ye can count the kicks, but +keep the road between ye and the kicks or I shan't be responsible for +what happens to ye, because I know them mules and I know what they can +do, and then agin--" + +"Oh, help!" wailed Emma. + +"The voice of nature," chuckled Hippy. "And to think we've got to listen +to it for weeks to come." + +"What's that ye say?" demanded Joe. + +"I--I think I was thinking out loud. I didn't mean to say anything. +Honest to goodness I didn't," apologized Hippy lamely. + +Joe fixed him with threatening eyes, then launched into another +monologue on mules, which wound up with some remarks on lumberjacks, +and a leaf from her family history. + +The Overland Riders learned that Joe's husband, who was a timber +cruiser, had been killed by lumberjacks, and that she was the sworn +enemy of every man who wore a Mackinaw coat and worked in the woods. + +"Since my man's death I've been livin' up here in the woods, guidin' +huntin' parties, makin' an honest livin' and layin' for the men who +killed my man. I'll find 'em yet. Now who be ye all? I hain't had no +interduction except as Mister Gray interduced himself to me, and--" + +"This is my wife, Grace Harlowe Gray," said Tom. + +The forest woman shook hands and glared into Grace's smiling eyes. + +"Glad to meet ye, Miss Gray. Ye look like one of them boudwarriors that +I seen pictures of in the high saciety papers." + +"Miss Emma Dean," announced Tom, pointing to Emma. + +"Glad to meet ye." Joe gave Emma a searching look. "Pert as a bird, +ain't ye?" + +"Some of my ancestors, I have reason to believe, were birds, and it is +quite possible that I have inherited some of their traits," answered +Emma airily. + +"Sparrows! No good. Don't git swelled up over some of yer folks wearin' +feathers. The kind ye belong to they shoot on sight. And now who be +_ye_?" demanded the woman, stepping up to the dignified J. Elfreda +Briggs. + +Elfreda introduced herself. + +"Glad to meet ye. Yer quite set up, but I guess ye might come down a peg +after ye git acquainted." + +Nora Wingate and Anne Nesbit then introduced themselves, and Joe was +"glad to meet" them, but she forgot to address personal remarks to them, +for her eyes, glaring through the big spectacles, were fixed on Hippy +Wingate's grinning face. All this was "a powerful good joke to him," as +Emma confided to Grace in a loud whisper. + +Joe strode over to Hippy and peered down into his face as he sat playing +with Hindenburg. + +"I reckon some of yer ancestors must been monkeys, judgin' from that +monkey-grin on yer face. What's yer name?" + +Hippy told her, adding that he had been a flying ace in the world war, +which announcement he made pompously. + +"Glad to meet ye, Lieutenant; but look smart that ye don't try any of +yer flytricks on Joe Shafto. Six o'clock, folks. Remember!" was Joe's +parting word as she strode swiftly from their camp, screwing up her face +into a long-drawn wink as she passed Grace Harlowe. In that wink Grace +read what she had been searching for. Joe Shafto was human and a +humorist, crude, but with a keen mind and a love for banter that +promised much enjoyment for the Overland Riders. + +"I wonder who is the Henry that she mentioned?" reflected Grace out +loud. + +"Perhaps Henry may be a tame goose. Think of 'June' and 'July' as names +for mules," chortled Hippy. "Oh, we're going to have a merry, merry time +this coming two months--especially Hindenburg and myself." + +Afternoon tea was an enjoyable occasion that day, at which the principal +topic was their new guide. + +At five minutes before six, after stamping out their little campfire, +the Overland party started for the log cabin. As they crossed the road +Hippy sniffed the air. + +"I smell food!" he cried. + +"Onions! Save me!" moaned Emma. + +"No. It is something far and away ahead of mere onions," answered Hippy. +"I don't know what it is, but were this not so formal an occasion, I +should break into a run for it." + +The door of the cabin stood open, so the party filed in unbidden. The +table was long enough for a lumberjack boarding house, constructed of +boards nailed together with cleats and placed on two boxes. Oilcloth +covered the boards and hung clear to the floor on either side. The ends +were open. There was a freshness and wholesomeness about the place that +attracted the girls at once. + +"Set down!" commanded Joe, entering with a heaping platter of meat. + +"That is what I smelled!" exclaimed Hippy. "May I ask what that meat is, +Mrs. Shafto?" + +"Venison." + +"Eh? Don't wake me up," murmured Hippy. + +"Is the deer season on?" questioned Tom. + +"No. Not till November fifteenth. This is smoked venison, killed last +season. I put down a lot of it in caches where the water will keep it +cool." + +Another dish, a tinpanful of baked potatoes, came on with other smaller +dishes of vegetables; then the coffee was poured into the thick +serviceable cups that had already been placed by the plates, which, +together with two loaves of bread, comprised the meal. Appetites were at +concert pitch and it was with difficulty that Hippy Wingate restrained +himself until the girls were seated. + +"Miss Dean, set down at the end where I can watch ye that ye don't fly +away. Sorry ye have to set on a box, but there ain't chairs enough to go +around. I give the Lieutenant a chair 'cause a box ain't safe for him. +He's a big feeder and the box ain't strong. Dip in, folks. Get started. +Help yourselves. This ain't no saciety tea." + +The food was passed along and each Rider helped herself from platter and +pan, and every plate was heaped under the observant eyes that were +glaring through the big horn-rimmed spectacles to see that each person +helped herself to liberal portions. + +Exclamations were heard all around the table when the girls had tasted +of the smoked venison. Hippy, however, was too busy to talk or exclaim +unless he were forced to do so. + +"Lieutenant, did ye et like that when ye was chasin' the flyin' Dutchmen +in France?" demanded Joe. + +Hippy nodded. + +"It's a eternal wonder ye didn't fall down then." + +"I couldn't. I lived on angel food most of the time, and, after a while, +I could fly. See? You live on angel food long enough and you can fly, +too," promised Hippy gravely. + +"I reckon I would at that," answered the forest woman, pursing her lips, +the nearest thing to a smile that the Overland Riders had seen on her +stern, rugged face. + +The girls laughed merrily, and Nora turned a beaming face on her +husband. + +"Hippy, my darlin', you've met your match this time," she said. + +"I met you first, didn't I?" retorted Hippy, then returned to his +absorbing occupation and shortly afterwards passed his plate for another +helping. + +"My land!" exclaimed Joe. "Ye do beat the bears for eatin'. Never seen +one that could stow it away the way ye do." + +"You should see him when he is hungry," advised Emma. "Why, when we were +riding in the Kentucky Mountains last year we--" + +"Well?" demanded the guide. + +Emma had abruptly ceased speaking as she felt something rubbing against +her foot. At first she thought it was Hindenburg who had slipped into +the house and crawled under the table to salvage the crumbs. Now +something surely was nosing at her knee. + +Emma Dean's face contracted ever so little when a cold something brushed +the back of the hand that hung at her side. + +"Hi--Hippy, where's the pup?" she questioned weakly. + +"Tied to a tree out yonder. Why?" + +Emma groped cautiously with the hand, first wishing to assure herself +that she was not imagining, before making an exhibition of herself. The +hand came in contact with what she recognized instantly, as a cold nose. +Light fingers crept gingerly along the nose and paused at a huge, furry +head, now well at her side. She gave a quick, startled glance down at +what lay under her hand, and her face went ghastly pale. + +Uttering a hysterical scream, Emma Dean toppled over backwards, crashing +to the cabin floor. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +OVERLANDERS GET A JOLT + + +As she went over, Emma Dean's feet hit the under side of the table. Her +plate of venison slid off to the floor, and Hippy Wingate's coffee +landed in his lap. The Overlanders sprang to their feet, but Joe Shafto +sat glaring from one to the other of them in amazement. + +"A bear! A bear! A bear under the table," screamed Emma and sank back in +a dead faint. + +It was then that the Overland Riders saw what had so frightened her, for +a black bear ambled out from under the table and began gulping down the +venison from Emma's overturned plate. To the eyes of the girls he +appeared to be a huge animal, and his growls, as he swallowed choice +morsels of venison, were far from reassuring. + +"Don't be skeert! It's only Henry," cried the forest woman. "Set down!" + +No one heeded her advice. Elfreda Briggs was standing on a chair, Anne +Nesbit had run into the garden which she had reached by a short cut +through an open window. Tom and Hippy, having sprung back, were gazing +on the intruder in startled amazement, while Nora Wingate, standing on +the table with one foot in the platter of venison, was screaming. + +Grace, who had backed into a corner, was trying to subdue her own +individual panic sufficiently to reason out the situation. Joe Shafto's +words, when Grace finally absorbed them, brought enlightenment. + +"Will he bite, Mrs. Shafto?" she called. + +"Won't bite nothin' if ye don't bother him." + +Grace ran to Emma and bathed her face with water. + +"Get down!" commanded Lieutenant Wingate, holding up a hand to Nora. +"Don't you see you're spoiling a perfectly good lot of venison? I never +saw such a parcel of 'fraid cats in all my life." + +"Neither did I," grumbled Mrs. Shafto. "I didn't know Henry was down +there or I'd a shooed him out before ye set down." + +"I won't get down until that beast is out of the house," declared Nora. +"Whoever heard of such a thing. Don't!" + +Hippy pulled her down without ceremony and placed Nora in a chair. + +"Behave yourself! You will see more bears, and then some, before you +finish this journey." + +Joe took a broom and shooed Henry out into the yard. A scream out there +followed almost instantly, for Henry had ambled around the house to make +the acquaintance of Anne Nesbit. + +"The beast is chasing me!" she panted, as she ran back into the house. + +No one gave heed to her, so she ran to Nora and the two consoled each +other. In the meantime, Grace had revived Emma. + +"Ha--as he gone?" she wailed weakly. + +"Yes. That is Mrs. Shafto's tame bear, you silly." + +"Merely a voice of nature that you heard, Emma," reminded Hippy. "By the +way, what message did Henry convey to you?" + +"Henry is the name of Mrs. Shafto's pet," explained Grace. + +"Fright!" moaned Emma in answer to Hippy's question. + +"Mrs. Shafto, if you don't mind, I believe I will have another piece of +deer," said Hippy. + +"Yer wife stepped in it," replied Joe. + +"It's all in the family," observed Hippy, holding out his plate. + +One by one the Overlanders returned to the table, with the exception of +Emma, whose appetite had left her, but Hippy had the rest of the +venison all to himself. The meal was finished off with apple pie, and +the girls said they had not eaten so much since their first meals at +home on their return from service in France. + +Following the meal, the Overland Riders discussed their proposed journey +with the forest woman, looked over the supplies she had bought and +pronounced themselves satisfied, not only with her purchases, but with +Joe Shafto herself. Nothing more was seen of Henry that evening. The +woman said he probably had gone into the woods to sleep or to forage for +food. + +"Where did you get the beast?" questioned Emma. + +"When he war a cub. I shot his mother and brought the cub home, and he's +one of the family. I kin make him mind just like a dog, and sick him on +like a dog. I'll call him in and show ye." + +"No, no," protested Emma and Nora in chorus. + +"I shall dream of bears all night, but don't you dare let him out while +I am here," begged Emma. + +"Henry's my watchdog. He sleeps on the front steps, and he'll chaw up +anything that comes in the yard after I git to bed, so keep out or +you'll git bit." + +"Oh, I shall keep out, never fear," answered Emma in a tone of voice +that brought a laugh from everyone at the table. + +Before leaving Mrs. Shafto that night the Overland girls acquainted her +with such plans as they had made for their outing, Tom telling her of +the work that lay before him and expressing his wish to have the party +as near to his work as possible. "Good nights" finally were said, and +the guests departed for their little camp among the trees. A fire was +built to light up the tents while the girls were arranging their +blankets and preparing themselves for bed. + +"Hindenburg gets free range for the night," volunteered Hippy. So, with +the bull pup on watch, all hands turned in, for an early start was to be +made on the following morning. They were awakened by his barking at +daybreak. + +Joe Shafto was hallooing to them. + +"Git a hustle on ye," she called in answer to Tom Gray's answering hail. + +There was a scramble in the camp of the Overlanders, for they desired to +show their guide that they were no novices at breaking camp and getting +under way. Just as they were finishing their breakfasts Joe led over +June and July, and waited observantly while Tom and Hippy rolled their +belongings into packs which Mrs. Shafto lashed to the mules with her own +hands. + +"Ye see the twins don't like to have strangers monkeyin' around 'em," +she explained. "I'll git goin' now and ye kin foller along. I've got to +git Henry first." + +"Eh? What's that?" demanded Hippy. + +"I don't go nowheres without my Henry." + +"You--you aren't going to take that beast with you, are you, Mrs. +Shafto?" cried Emma. + +"I sure be, and I reckon ye'll be mighty glad to have him along before +we git through with this here hop into the Big Woods." + +Emma groaned dismally. + +"Never mind," soothed Hippy. "You can practice your nature reading stunt +on him. Who knows but that you may learn the bear language, so that by +the time we finish our work up here you will be able to go out in the +forest and tell the bears your life history, and listen to them telling +you theirs. Of course they might eat you, but that would not matter." + +"Huh!" grunted Miss Dean, elevating her nose and turning her back on +him. + +"Mount!" ordered Hippy, after each girl had saddled her pony and stood +waiting for the start. They swung into their saddles with agility, and +jogged out into the road with Hindenburg racing ahead and darting back, +barking joyously. He was already feeling the call of the wild. + +"There's Joe," called Emma, as they rounded a bend in the road. + +"I do not see the bear," wondered Tom. + +"Perhaps she decided to leave him at home to shift for himself. I hope +so." + +Grace said she hoped _not_, for the bear would make life interesting for +them. + +Joe was sitting on the back of one of her pack mules jogging along, +leading the second mule behind, but, though she must have heard the +Overlanders shout to her, she neither replied nor looked back. +Hindenburg, however, darted ahead and began barking at the mules, +dodging their heels successfully for several minutes, much to the +amusement of the party following. At last, however, he caught a glancing +blow from a mule foot that sent him rolling into the bushes. In a few +moments he was out again, circling mules and rider, barking his angry +protests, then dodging off the trail into the bushes where they heard +him barking with a different note in his voice. + +"There comes the bear!" cried Nora. "Look at him!" + +"Yes, and there comes Hindenburg bucking the line," added Hippy. + +The bear, followed by the dog, burst into sight just at the moment that +Hindenburg nipped the bear's hind leg. Henry whirled, made a pass at the +pup, and missed him. The bear then charged Hindenburg with mouth wide +open, and the battle was on. + +[Illustration: The Bear Advanced, Sparring Like a Prize Fighter.] + +"Call off yer dog," shouted Joe. + +"Call off your bear," answered Hippy Wingate. + +The guide tried to do so and failed. Hippy's efforts to draw Hindenburg +from the fray met with no better success. + +It was at this juncture that the bear scored first blood. With a well +placed blow of his paw he knocked the pup into the middle of the road, +and the lead mule, at whose heels Hindenburg had fallen, kicked him the +rest of the way into the bushes. + +"Sick 'im, Henry!" yelled Joe. + +"No you don't," shouted Hippy as the bear ambled across the road in +pursuit of the injured pup. + +"I'll learn that fresh pup to bite my bear," flung back the forest +woman. + +"And I'll kill that brute of a bear if he gets the pup," retorted Hippy, +galloping his pony to the point at which the two animals had +disappeared, and leaping from Ginger's back, regardless of the risk of +losing his mount. + +Hippy plunged into the bushes to the rescue of the bull pup. The dog's +yelps indicated that he was in further trouble, which Hippy discovered +to be the fact when he came in sight of the combatants. Henry was boxing +the unfortunate dog with both fore paws. Hindenburg, from whose mouth +and nose the blood was running, was staggering about weakly, but trying +his utmost to get a hold and hang on. + +"Let go, Henry, you brute!" commanded Hippy. + +Henry, however, instead of letting go, ambled at the dog with wide open +mouth, thoroughly angered and determined to finish with his teeth the +battle he had begun with his paws. + +Lieutenant Wingate sprang into the fray and delivered a kick on the side +of the bear's head with all the strength he could throw into the blow. + +Henry rose in his might, rearing on hind legs, and advanced on Hippy, +snarling and showing his teeth, and sparring like a prize fighter. + +"That's your game, is it?" jeered the Overland Rider. + +_Whack!_ + +Hippy planted a blow with his fist full on Henry's nose, the most tender +part of a bear's body. Henry reeled, backed away, followed by Lieutenant +Wingate who sparred skillfully, frequently planting other blows on the +tender nose of his adversary. + +Boxing with a bear was a new experience for him, but his success thus +far made Hippy careless, and in a particularly savage blow he threw his +body too far forward, missed the nose, and was obliged to spring towards +the animal to save himself from falling. + +Henry, despite his rage and aching nose, did not miss his opportunity. +Both powerful front legs closed about Hippy Wingate like a flash, and +the man and the bear went down together. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +CAMPING UNDER THE GIANT PINES + + +Tom Gray heard the two crash into the bushes, as he was on his way to +the scene followed by Joe Shafto and part of the Overland outfit. + +As he went down Hippy had the presence of mind to thrust both hands +under the bear's chin and press upward with all his strength, though, in +that tight embrace, it was difficult to do anything except gasp for +breath and wonder how long it would be before he heard the snap of his +ribs breaking in. + +With the bear's breath hot on his face, Lieutenant Wingate afterwards +remembered wondering why it was that Henry did not bite when the biting +was good. Never having bitten a human being and having no recollection, +in all probability, of any associates outside of human beings the bear +may not have been inclined to bite. + +On the other hand, the bear's temper appeared to be rising, for his +growls were growing more menacing with the seconds. + +"Hindenburg! Sick 'im!" gasped Hippy. + +He heard the pup, weak from loss of blood, give a feeble yelp, then a +snarl, and in the next second Hindenburg had fastened his teeth in +Henry's neck. + +A heavy paw swept Hindenburg away and left him quivering and moaning. +The respite had been sufficient, however, to enable Lieutenant Wingate +to roll out of the clutches of the beast, but his freedom was brief. +Hippy had hardly sprung to his feet when the bear rose and snatched him +again. + +It was at this juncture that Tom and the guide arrived, just in time to +see Hippy Wingate deliver another blow squarely on Henry's all too +tender nose. + +"Henry!" yelled the woman. "Let go, Henry!" + +Henry plainly was in no mood to let go, and it was evident that it was +now his intention to bite and bite hard, for the snarling mouth was wide +open when Joe Shafto sprang to the rescue. Joe carried a hardwood club, +which she evidently carried as a handy weapon. + +"Now will ye mind me!" she shrieked, bringing the club down with a +mighty whack on the bridge of Henry's head. "Take that, and that, and +that!" she added, delivering three more resounding whacks. + +Henry uttered a howl, released his hold on Hippy Wingate and rolled over +on his back, feet in the air, where he lay whining and plainly begging +for mercy like a child that was being punished. + +Hippy had quickly rolled out of the way and jumped up, his face bloody, +and his clothes showing rents where Henry's claws had raked them. Hippy +ran to Hindenburg whom he found whimpering and licking his wounds. + +"You poor fish! Why did you do it?" rebuked Lieutenant Wingate. + +"Git up!" commanded Joe Shafto, poking Henry in the ribs with her stick. +"Come with me and behave yerself, or I'll wallop ye till ye won't be +able to smell venison for a year of Sundays." The guide fastened on one +of Henry's ears and started for the trail, Henry ambling along meekly at +her side. "Lieutenant, keep that pup away from my Henry," ordered Joe. + +"Joe, keep that bear away from my pup," retorted Hippy, carrying +Hindenburg in his arms and gently depositing him in the saddle bag. + +"Oh, Hippy, what happened to you?" cried Emma. + +"I've been communing with nature," he answered briefly. + +"Darlin', let me wipe the blood from your face," crooned Nora. "Did the +naughty bear scratch oo bootiful face?" + +The Overlanders shouted and Hippy, very red of face, sprang into his +saddle with such a jolt that Ginger gave him a lively minute of bucking +in which poor Hindenburg got a shaking up that made him whimper. + +The forest woman with her mules had already started and was now some +distance in the lead, with her pet bear shuffling along at the edge of +the road abreast of the leading mule. + +"Ye git nothin' to eat to-day, Henry. I didn't bring ye up to brawl and +to fit with yaller dogs, ye lazy lout," scolded Joe. + +When the party halted for its noon rest and luncheon, Henry sat morosely +at one side of their camping place, now and then licking his chops, +while Hindenburg, performing the same service for his wounds, occupied a +position on the opposite side of the camp. Neither animal appeared to be +aware of the other's existence. + +"Behold the forest," said Tom Gray later in the afternoon, halting his +pony on a rise of ground, and encompassing a wide range of country with +a sweep of his arm. + +It was an undulating sea of deep green, almost as limitless as the sky +itself, that the Overland Riders gazed upon. + +"Them's the Big North Woods," Joe informed them. "We take a log trail +just beyond here, and to-night we'll be in the 'Pineys.'" + +"And to-morrow I shall be off and at work," announced Tom. + +They were soon picking their way along a shady fragrant trail, tall, +straight, noble pines about them seeming to be vieing with each other in +their efforts to reach the blue sky. The wind now bore a new fragrance, +and the air was heavily pungent with the odor of pine. + +"Emma, does your nature cult explain to you why the trees grow so tall +and so straight?" asked Tom, riding up beside Miss Dean. + +Emma shook her head. + +"Because they are fighting the battle of nature--fighting for existence, +for their very lives, just as all the world of humans is fighting its +battle. A tree must have light and air, or it dies. To get these it must +grow up, it must keep up with its competitors, the trees about it, and +forge ahead of them if possible, ever reaching up and up for sunlight +and air. Once let it fall behind and it is lost; it is overwhelmed by +the sturdier giants; it pales and pines and seems to lose its ambition. +The tree, knowing it has lost its grip, then seems to grow thin and +gaunt, and one day it goes crashing down, to rot and furnish +nourishment for the giants that overwhelmed it. The tree's life, like +ours, is a struggle for existence, with the survival of the fittest." + +"Were I a tree I think I should prefer to grow alone out in an open +field," decided Emma. + +"Not if you were a wise tree, you would not," laughed Tom. "Out there +you would be the plaything of the winds. Your body would be exposed to +the glaring sun, the full blast of every passing storm, and the bitter +cold of winter, which would, unless you were very hardy, have a tendency +to retard your growth and weaken your vigor. Trees, like humans, do not +enjoy a lonely life, but when they get together they immediately enter +into bitter competition. Isn't that quite human?" + +"Where are you heading, Mrs. Shafto?" interrupted Grace, as the guide +struck off, leaving the trail and entering the dense forest. + +"Goin' to find a campin' place while I kin see," she answered. Now and +then Joe would halt to examine an old blaze on a tree, occasionally +making a new blaze with her short-handled woodsman's axe on the opposite +side of the tree so that, upon returning along that trail, the new blaze +might be easily seen. + +"I fear that I was not born with a woodsman's sense," complained Anne. + +"No one is. That is why a woodsman blazes trees," answered Tom. "I do +not know whether you people are familiar with 'blazes.' Grace knows +something about them." + +"The only 'blaze' I know anything about is the blaze I make when I try +to start a cook fire," laughed Hippy. + +"You will need more knowledge than that if you stray a hundred yards +from camp in the Pineries," replied Tom as they rode along. "A blaze is +made by a single downward stroke of the axe, the object being to expose +a good-sized spot of the whitish sapwood, which, set in the dark +framework of the bark, is a staring mark that is certain to attract +attention." + +"Yes, but suppose the traveler tries to find the trail a year or so +later?" questioned the practical Elfreda. "Hasn't it grown up so high +that he can't see it?" + +"No. A blaze always remains at its original height above the ground, +because a tree increases its height and girth only by building on top of +the previous growth. There is much of interest that I could tell you +along this line, but I will merely describe the various blazes and their +meanings, leaving the rest until some other time. It is well to remember +that a trail blazed in a forest is likely to have been made either by a +hunter, a lumberman, a timber-looker, or a surveyor. A hunter's line is +apt to be inconspicuous. So is a timber-looker's, because he is +searching for a bonanza and doesn't wish anyone else to discover it. A +surveyor's line is always absolutely straight, except where it meets an +insurmountable object, when it makes a right-angle turn to avoid the +object, then goes straight ahead again. + +"All trees that stand directly on the line of a survey have two notches +cut on each side of them and are called 'sight trees.' Bushes on or near +the line are bent by the woodsman at right angles to it. + +"When a blaze line turns abruptly so that a person following it might +otherwise overlook it, a long slash is made on that side of the tree +which faces the new direction. There are other forms of blazes, such as +marking section corners, boundaries and the like, which it is +unnecessary for you to know now, but with which it might be wise for you +to familiarize yourselves as you go along. This is the end of your first +lesson." + +"There's the fork of the river that we are goin' to camp on," called +Joe, riding down a steep bank, followed by the Overlanders, their ponies +slipping and sliding until they had reached the more level ground near +the stream. + +"We camp here," announced the forest woman. "If ye don't like it, pick +out yer own camp. The bear and I stay right here." + +Dismounting, Tom strode over to the tree under which Joe had announced +her intention of making camp, and, placing a hand on it, gazed up along +its length, then at the adjacent trees. + +"She's stood here for a hundred years or more, and I reckon no wind will +blow her down to-night. All right!" announced Tom. + +"Get busy, girls," called Grace. + +The Overlanders, dismounting, inhaled deeply of the air, heavily pungent +with the odor of the pine, then set to work with a vim to pitch their +camp. Tom, in the meantime, climbed the bank to look at a huge pile of +logs that lay on a skidway above their camping place. + +"Someone got left last spring," he said upon his return to his +companions. "Those logs were cut last winter, but the water in the river +last spring was evidently too low to float them down, so they must stay +where they are until next spring awaiting the freshets. The blocks will +then be knocked from under the skidway and those hundreds of thousands +of feet of timber will go thundering down into the river. You will +observe that they have cut a channel or 'travoy,' as it is called, +through which the logs will roll after leaving the skidway, and pass on +to the stream. This 'travoy' is pretty well grown over with second +growth, but the logs will roll the growth down, and when they do you +would think that all the tremendous forces of nature had been let +loose." + +By this time the camp was nearly finished, and the tents of the +Overlanders looked like tiny doll houses under those giant pines, and in +this, the very heart of nature, in the silence and the grandeur of it +all, the girls felt a deep sense of something that they could not +define, which left them disinclined to laugh or chatter. + +Soon after dark the sky became overcast, the pines began dripping +moisture, and a gentle breeze was heard murmuring in the tops of the +trees. + +"Come, little nature child! What are the wild winds in the tree-tops +saying?" teased Hippy, breaking an awed silence of several minutes. + +"I--I don't rightly know," answered Emma, after listening intently to +the whisperings in the pines. "I--I think that the message they are +trying to convey to me--to us--is a warning of something to come, +something that is near at hand. I wish Madam Gersdorff were here. She +could read the warning and tell us what peril it is that is hovering +over us." + +Nora uttered a shrill peal of laughter. + +"Don't," begged Anne. + +"You've got a bad attack of the willies," groaned Hippy in a tone of +disgust that brought a half-hearted laugh from his companions, though, +had they been willing to admit it, they too felt something of the +depression that was reflected in Emma Dean's face and voice. + +Work on the camp finished, the Overland Riders put out the fire and +turned in, Henry rolling himself up into a furry ball, Hindenburg +snuggling down between Tom and Hippy. Only forest sounds, now faint and +far away, marred the solemn impressive stillness of the Big North Woods, +a stillness that was destined to be rudely interrupted ere the dawn of +another day. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +FELLED BY A MYSTERIOUS BLOW + + +When Grace awakened late in the night the feeling of oppression with +which she had gone to sleep still lay heavy upon her. The faint soughing +of a breeze in the tree tops, the light thuds of falling pine cones, +were the only sounds to be heard outside of the breathing of her +companions who were sleeping soundly. + +Suddenly her ears caught a distant roar, and a few drops of rain +pattered on the tent. + +"It is going to storm," murmured Grace. "I hope no dead limbs fall from +the trees on our camp." Pulling the blankets over her head to shut out +the sounds she tried to go to sleep, but sleep would not come, so Grace +uncovered her head and lay listening. + +The wind seemed to die down for a while, but it soon sprang up with +renewed strength, and was sweeping violently over the tops of the pines, +which were creaking and groaning under the strain. A distant crash told +of some forest giant that had gone down under the blast; then the rain +fell, a deluge of it, which finally beat through the little tents and +trickled down over the sleeping Overland girls. + +"Are you all right in there?" called Tom from the outside. + +"Yes, but we are getting wet. Is it going to last long?" asked Grace. + +"Not being able to get a view of the sky, I can't say positively. It +seems like only a shower to me." + +"Wait a moment. I'll join you." + +Grace hurriedly dressed and, throwing on her rubber coat, stepped out. + +"I don't just like the way some of these trees are acting," said Tom. +"Perhaps you haven't noticed how the ground is heaving." + +"Yes I have, but I did not know that it meant anything alarming." + +"It shows that the wind is throwing a great strain on the trees and that +there is too much play in the roots for the good of the trees--and +ourselves," he added. "I hope our supplies do not fall down under the +whipping they are getting." + +The provisions had been slung in sacks from a rope strung between two +trees, about ten feet above the ground, to keep them out of reach of +Henry and other prowling animals. + +"How long have you been up?" asked Grace. + +"Half an hour or so. I went up to the ridge to the rear of the camp, +thinking that I had heard something unusual going on up there, but +hurried back when the rain started. What I heard must have been the +trees creaking." + +They listened to the storm for several minutes, Tom Gray trying to +interpret the sounds. + +"Awaken the girls!" he directed, acting upon a sudden resolution. "Get +them out as quickly as possible." Tom had heard a sound coming from the +ridge that stirred him into quick action. "Tell them to fetch the +blankets and our rifles. We mustn't lose any of those things." + +"Will you call Hippy and Joe?" + +"Yes, yes. Hurry!" + +"Turn out!" shouted Tom at the opening of Hippy's tent. "Be lively. +Blankets and weapons with you." + +"Wha--at, in this storm?" wailed Hippy. + +"Better get wet than get killed," retorted Tom, springing over to Joe +Shafto's tent. Joe answered his hail with a sharp demand to know what he +wanted. + +"Pile out as quickly as possible. We are likely to have trouble. And +call your bear off." + +Henry was sniffing at Tom's heels and growling ominously, but he obeyed +the incisive command of his master and retired to his position in front +of her tent. + +The girls, he found, were already out of their tents, blankets over +their heads, all shivering in the chill rain, all too cold to speak +except Emma Dean. + +"I--I to-o-old you something was go-going to happen," she stammered. +"The v-v-v-voice of nature to-o-old me so." + +"N-n-n-nature is an old fogy," jeered Hippy mockingly. "Nothing has +happened and I don't know why we have been dragged out into this rotten +storm." + +"Follow me and watch your step," directed Tom tersely. He led the way to +the river and along its bank to the tethering ground. "Lead your ponies +to a safer place, further up the stream," he ordered. + +This hurried departure from their camp was a good deal of a mystery to +the Overland Riders. They did not understand why, nor did Tom Gray tell +them. + +"Hippy, help me tie the horses," he said, after having gone several rods +further up stream. "One at a time with the ponies, folks, then go make +yourselves as comfortable as possible under the bluff of the bank. The +bushes there will offer you more protection from the wind and rain than +the trees would." + +Shortly thereafter Tom and Hippy joined their shivering companions, and +the party, with blankets stretched over their heads, huddled miserably +as they sat on the wet ground under the blanket roof, Hindenburg on +Hippy's lap, and Henry outside in the rain licking the water from his +dripping coat of fur. + +"How are you, J. Elfreda?" teased Grace. + +"Saturated and satiated," answered Miss Briggs briefly. + +"I wonder what the voices of nature are saying at the present moment?" +mused Hippy. "If they feel anything like I do, their remarks are more +forceful than elegant." + +"Even if you were to hear them you would be mo wiser," observed Emma. +"Only persons with unusual minds can read the messages that nature +conveys." + +Someone under the blanket roof giggled, and Hippy articulated "Ahem!" + +"As I was about to say--What's that?" he exclaimed sharply. + +A boom, that reminded all who heard it of the explosion of a +high-powered shell at a distance, smote the ears of the Overland Riders. +Then a succession of resounding reports and terrific crashings shook the +earth. + +"Stay where you are!" shouted Tom Gray as, with single accord, the girls +sprang to their feet and started to run. They halted at sound of Tom's +voice. + +Something from the air struck the ground with a thud, and Hippy Wingate +toppled over against Elfreda Briggs and sank down, uttering a faint +moan. + +"Hippy's hurt! Something hit him. Quick, Tom! Show a light!" cried Miss +Briggs. + +Tom Gray flashed a ribbon of light from his pocket lamp and sprang to +his companion. + +"Hippy! Hippy!" he begged. + +Nora uttered an anguished wail, and in an instant her arms were about +Lieutenant Wingate's neck. + +"Let go and give him air," commanded Tom. + +Hippy lay as he had fallen, half on his side, one arm doubled under his +head. A red welt across his forehead showed where the blow that felled +him had fallen. + +The reverberating crashes that had shaken the earth were dying out and +now seemed much further away than at first. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THEIR FIRST DISASTER + + +"Oh, what has happened?" begged Anne tremblingly. + +"The logs went out," answered Tom briefly. + +"Di--did a log hit Hippy?" questioned Emma. + +"I don't know what hit him. Fetch water," directed Tom, who was fanning +the unconscious Hippy with his hat. + +Joe Shafto had run down to the stream and, at this juncture, came up to +them with a hatful of water, which she handed to Tom. Grace took Tom's +hat from him and did the fanning while her husband was bathing Hippy's +face. The rain had become a misty drizzle and the wind had died out +entirely, but the trees were dripping moisture that soaked into the +clothing of the Overland Riders more effectively than had the downpour +of a few moments before. + +It was nearly half an hour before Lieutenant Wingate regained +consciousness, and it was some little time later before he could hold a +sitting position, for his head was swimming. + +"Had we better not get him under his tent?" asked Grace. + +"If there is a tent left, yes. You folks will remain right here until I +return. I am going over to the camp," replied Tom. + +"Is there danger?" questioned Grace anxiously. + +"I think not. I shall not be gone more than a few minutes." + +Tom took his pocket lamp with him, leaving the Overlanders in the dark, +for their own lamps were in their packs in the tents. Tom, however, came +back inside of fifteen minutes. + +"How is the camp?" asked Elfreda. + +"There isn't any camp," answered Tom. + +"Wha--at?" gasped the Overlanders. + +"It hit me and went on into the river," groaned Hippy. "Voice of +nature," he added in a mutter, but no one laughed. + +"Our camp was pitched in the travoy way. The storm loosened the supports +of the skidway and let the logs down. Several hundred thousand feet of +them rolled over our camp and mashed it flat. A good part of the timber +went on into the river. The rest of it is scattered all the way along +the travoy." + +"What! All our provisions gone?" wailed Hippy. + +"No. They were strung up high enough to be out of the way," spoke up +Grace. + +"You are wrong, Grace," differed Tom. "A log must have ended up and +broken the rope. At least the rope is broken and most of our supplies +appear to have been carried away. We are now back to first principles. +We must either go back for fresh supplies or live as the forest wanderer +lives, rustling for our grub as we go along. The first thing to be done +is to build a fire." + +"Fine! I should like to see you do that with everything soaking wet," +laughed Elfreda. + +"We shall see," replied Tom. "What we need first of all is light so we +may see what we are about." + +After searching about, Tom found an old uptilted log which he proposed +to use as a "backlog" for a fire. He next roamed about with his lamp, +hunting for a dead pine tree leaning to the south. He explained that the +wood and bark on the under side of such a tree would be reasonably dry +and would make excellent fuel. He found one that had been shivered by +lightning, and from the south side of this he chopped off bark and +chips. The girls carried these to the fallen uptilted tree. + +In the meantime, the guide had searched for and found several pine +knots. From these Tom whittled shavings from their less resinous ends, +leaving the shavings on the sticks. He set these knots up like a tripod +under the fallen tree, small ends down and the shavings touching. + +"We will now strike a match and you shall see whether or not we know how +to build a fire under present conditions. Grace, how do you think you +would strike a match with nothing dry to strike it on?" he teased. + +"I do not believe I should strike it," answered Grace. + +"Hold your hat over me," he directed, getting down on his knees. Tom +placed the head of the match between his teeth and jerked the match +forward through the teeth, cupped the match in his hands until the flame +of the match ran up its stick, whereupon he applied it to the shavings. + +The pine knots flickered, then flamed up, snapping and shooting out +little streamers of reddish fire. Bark and splinters from the leaning +tree were placed about the knots, and in a few moments they had a +cheerful fire. + +"Cut two saplings and spread the blanket for a backing," said Tom, +nodding to the guide. + +Joe sharpened one end of each sapling and forced them into the ground +back of the log, and on the saplings she stretched one of the wet +blankets. + +"Girls, in all our campaigning we haven't learned much, have we?" +demanded Anne. "Had it not been for Tom we should have sat all night in +misery and wetness. I think we are going to learn something on this +journey." + +"It strikes me that we have already learned a few things," observed Miss +Briggs. + +Lieutenant Wingate recovered rapidly, and when able he began searching +about to discover what had hit him but could find nothing. + +The clothing of the party under the influence of that red-hot fire soon +dried out, and the spirits of the Overland Riders rose in proportion. +Acting upon Elfreda's suggestion that they make an effort to salvage +their supplies, Tom and Hippy prepared pitchpine torches, and all hands +repaired to the scene of their late camping place. + +"Look! Oh, look!" cried Emma, as they came within sight of it. Not a +vestige of the camp was left. Logs lay about everywhere, some almost +standing on end. Young trees were broken off short, bushes laid flat as +if a tornado had swept over the scene, and here and there the trunks of +giant trees were scarred where the bark had been torn off by logs coming +in contact with them. + +"Think what might have happened to us had we not got out in time," +murmured Anne. + +"We should have been mashed flat," agreed Emma. "How terrible!" + +"That is what comes from listening to the voice of nature," chuckled +Hippy. + +"Here are some of our provisions," called Grace, who had been clambering +over the logs, peering under them and feeling about among the pine +cones. She uncovered a dozen or so cans of food, all dented, some mashed +out flat, and while she was doing this Elfreda discovered some badly +battered mess kits. + +Hippy salvaged a chunk of bacon on the river bank, and others found +widely scattered remnants of their supplies, including some that had +been swept into the river which had not floated away. + +"This will keep us going until we can replenish our larder," finally +announced Grace. "After daybreak we shall undoubtedly find more of our +belongings. The tents, however, seem to have been destroyed. I found a +few pieces of canvas, but that was all. I am glad we saved our +blankets." + +"By the way, Mrs. Shafto, where is Henry?" asked Nora. + +"Henry!" cried Joe. + +"If Henry is wise he will be found up a tree," chuckled Hippy. + +"Henry! Henre-e-e-e-e!" called the forest woman. "Oh, Henre-e-e-e-e-e! +Here, Hen, Hen, Hen, Hen! Come here, I tell ye! Hen, Hen, Hen, Hen, +Hen!" + +"Crow! Maybe that will fetch Hen," suggested Hippy, and the Overland +girls shouted. + +"Don't ye make fun of me!" raged the forest woman, striding over to +Hippy and shaking a belligerent fist before his face. "I give ye notice +that Joe Shafto kin take care of herself and her bear, and she don't +need no advice from a greenhorn like yerself." Hippy backed away, the +woman following him and still shaking her fist, and the more the girls +laughed the angrier did Joe get. + +"That's all right, old dear. Don't get excited," begged Hippy, trying to +soothe the irate woman. + +"What? Old dear! Don't ye call me old dear. I ain't yer old dear nor yer +young dear. Ain't ye ashamed of yerself to speak to yer betters that +way, and 'specially to a woman of my years? I'll larn ye to be civil and +to mind yer own business!" Joe gave the embarrassed Hippy a sound box on +one ear, then on the other. "Take that, and that," she cried. "Next time +I'll use the club on ye!" + +Each blow jolted Hippy's head. + +"Mrs. Shafto! Please, please! We can't have any such actions in this +outfit," rebuked Grace. "Lieutenant Wingate did not mean to offend you, +and you must learn to be a good fellow and take as well as give if you +are going to stay with this outfit. If you think you cannot, now is the +time to say so." + +"Do ye want me to git out?" demanded Joe, glaring at Grace. + +"Indeed we do not. We wish you to remain, to be a good fellow, to share +in our pleasures and take the unpleasant features in the spirit of the +Overland Riders. Do you think you can do this?" Grace smiled as she said +it. + +"I reckon yer right, Miss Gray," decided the forest woman after a +moment's pondering and glaring through her spectacles at Grace. + +"Thank you. Nora, suppose you lead Hippy to one side--by the ear--and +read him a little lecture," suggested Grace. + +"I'll do that," agreed Nora Wingate. "Hippy, my darlin', you come with +me. I'll fetch a stout stick and I'll make you think of home and +mother." + +Even Joe Shafto laughed as Nora playfully led Hippy away by an ear. They +found them half an hour later sitting by the fire where Nora was still +lecturing her irrepressible spouse. + +"I've reformed, Mrs. Shafto," called Hippy as he saw them approaching. +"I was mistaken in thinking you were my dear. You aren't. Henry is your +dear." + +"I don't know whether he is or not. I'm afraid Henry loped away when the +logs came down. I'll track him when it gets light enough to see." + +All was peace in the Overland camp again, and, while they were waiting +for daylight, Tom and Hippy hammered their mess kits back into shape +with an axe, greatly to the amusement of their companions. As the +graying skies finally brought out in relief the tops of the trees, +Elfreda, who had been gazing up at them, uttered a sudden exclamation. + +"What is that up there?" she exclaimed. "It looks like an animal." + +"It's my Henry!" shouted the guide. "Come down here, ye beast! Come +down, I say. Henry, do ye hear me?" + +Henry plainly did, but he took his time about obeying, and it was not +until the light became stronger that he made a move to descend. After +reaching the last of the lower limbs of the tree, Henry slid the rest of +the way down, dislodging the bark with his claws, a little shower of +bark sifting over Joe, who was waiting at the base of the tree to +welcome her pet. This she did in characteristic fashion when he reached +the ground, by giving him a few light taps with her ever-ready club. + +Henry slunk away and sat down by himself to brood over his troubles, +Hindenburg from a safe distance eyeing the bear, a dark ruff showing +along his pugnacious little back. + +Mrs. Shafto began the preparation of breakfast immediately after +recovering her bear. While she was doing this, the light now being +strong enough to permit, Tom climbed the bank to examine the skidway +from which the logs had swept down over their camp. Tom remained up +there until the loud halloos of his companions informed him that +breakfast was ready. The forester returned to his camp slowly and +thoughtfully. + +"Find anything up there?" questioned Hippy, giving him a quick glance of +inquiry. + +Tom nodded. + +"The tents?" asked Elfreda. + +"Naturally not up there," he replied, sitting down on a blanket and +taking the plate of bacon that Elfreda handed to him. + +"Out with it," laughed Grace. "It always is reflected in your face when +there is anything weighty on your mind." + +"Having something on one's mind is more than all of us can boast," +chortled Hippy. "I might mention names were it not that I am too polite +to do so," he added, grinning at Emma, who flushed. + +"At least I did not get my ears boxed," she retorted. "Mrs. Shafto +served you just right, though I think we all regret that, while about +it, she did not make a finished job of it." + +"That subject is closed," reminded Miss Briggs. + +"Hippy, don't you say another word," warned Nora Wingate, and, after the +laugh had subsided, they looked at Tom. + +"I went up to examine the skidway," he said. "What I found there fully +confirmed the vague suspicions that were already in my mind." + +"Eh?" interrupted Hippy, leaning forward expectantly. + +Elfreda nodded, as if Tom had confirmed her own conclusions. + +"It was not wholly the rain that dislodged the supports of the logs, +folks," resumed Tom. + +"No--ot rain?" exclaimed Hippy, blinking at his companion. + +"Not rain," repeated Tom. "Human hands loosened the supports that sent +the great pile of logs down on the camp of the Overlanders," he declared +impressively. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +LUMBER-JACKS SEEK REVENGE + + +"Same old game," grumbled Hippy. + +"What makes you think that the skidway was tampered with?" questioned +Anne, after the exclamations following Tom's startling assertion had +subsided. + +"Because the evidence is there. Even a novice could read the signs left +there. In spots, I found the imprints of rubber boots. I also found four +canthooks, used for rolling logs." + +Hippy suggested that these might have been left when the lumbermen +stopped work in the early spring, but Tom shook his head. + +"No. They were new, which indicates that they were brought to this place +within a few days--probably within the last few hours, for the hooks did +not have a single point of rust on them." + +"But, Tom! I cannot understand how moving that tremendous weight in bulk +was possible for a handful of men," wondered Grace. + +"Jacks can do anything they wish with logs," answered Tom Gray. "In this +instance they called on nature for assistance, and fickle nature lent +them a hand by sending them rain. The ground too, I discovered, had been +dug out under the lower side of the skidway and the supports knocked +out." + +"The varmints!" growled Joe Shafto, who had been an attentive listener +to Tom's story. + +"The jacks shifted some logs around to act as a track to give the logs +on the skidway a good start down the bank; they further cleared a +channel lower down so that the water might undermine the skidway still +more, then, when the trap was properly set, undoubtedly gave the top of +the pile a start with their hooks. I can't describe it so you people, +unfamiliar with logging operations, can get the picture clearly." + +"I think you do very well," answered Emma wisely. "Of course, Hippy +could improve upon it, but fortunately he is not telling the story." + +"Do you know of any early lumber operations near here, Mrs. Shafto?" +asked Tom. + +The guide said she did not, but that the woods were often full of +cutters late in the fall and in the early winter. + +"Section Forty-three was goin' to start cuttin' on the first of this +month I heard, but I don't know whuther they did or not," she said. + +Tom Gray consulted his forestry map and nodded. + +"We will look in on them, so I believe I shall stay with you until the +day after to-morrow. In the meantime I shall have another look at the +skidway while you people are packing up," he said, rising. + +"What shall we do without tents?" questioned Anne anxiously. + +"Do nicely. When we make camp this afternoon Mrs. Shafto and I will show +you. I do not think it advisable to head directly for Forty-three, but +to camp in the vicinity of that section, as I shall wish to speak with +the foreman of the gang there." + +"Reckon ye know what ye wants to do," nodded the guide. + +When Tom returned from the skidway he smiled and shook his head in +answer to the question in Grace's eyes. + +"Nothing further," he said briefly. + +"You should have been an Indian," laughed Grace. + +"Should have been? He is," averred Hippy. + +Not a shred of canvas large enough to cover a mess plate was found in +the ruins of their camp, and, as soon as they had assembled and packed +what was left of their equipment, the party went on without tents. After +luncheon that day they turned off from the lumber trail and struck out +into the densely timbered land, Joe following her course by certain old +blazes on trees. Traveling there was much slower than it had been on the +open lumber trail, but the Overlanders made satisfactory time, and +covered nearly twenty miles before they halted to prepare their camp for +the night. + +It lacked three hours of nightfall then, so Tom Gray decided to go over +to Section Forty-three and have his talk with the foreman of that lumber +camp. It was an hour-and-a-half later when he returned, flushed and +angry. + +"Well?" questioned Grace. + +"I learned that a dozen jacks came in from Bisbee's Corners last night, +but when I asked that they be lined up to see if I could identify any of +them as belonging to the mob that attacked us at Bisbee's, the foreman +threatened to set the whole outfit of jacks on me. He said he was not +running a detective bureau and that he didn't give a rap what his jacks +did so long as they got out timber." + +"What's his name?" interrupted the guide. + +"Tatem, he said." + +"Feller with a wooden leg?" demanded Joe. + +"Yes." + +"That's Peg Tatem, the biggest ruffian of 'em all. He'd brain ye with a +peavey if you give him any back talk. I've always thought that Peg knew +the devils who killed my man. Oh, I hope the time comes when I get a +chance to set Henry on him. Henry'd make toothpicks of that peg-leg. I +promise ye that. His outfit ain't any better'n Peg himself." + +"Who is the contractor?" asked Tom. + +"It's the Dusenbery outfit. Dusenbery is always timber-lookin', peekin' +about the Pinies to find a cuttin' that he kin steal, and he's stole a +lot of it, Cap'n Gray. Ye lookin' for timber thieves?" + +"That is a part of my job up here," answered Tom smilingly. + +"Git Dusenbery and ye'll have the biggest stealer of these Big North +Woods, but have yer gun handy when ye git him or he'll git ye first." +With this parting admonition, Joe took a currycomb and brush from her +kit bag and began grooming Henry's coat, which, from contact with brush +and thorns, and the wetting he had received the night before, looked as +if it needed it. + +"The burning question of the moment is, do we sleep on feathers or firs +to-night?" inquired Hippy. + +"We will get at that right away. Mrs. Shafto, please show Lieutenant +Wingate how to pick a backlog and let him get spruce boughs for two +lean-tos and wood for the night's fuel," directed Tom. + +While this was being done, Tom selected the camp site; then cut and set +four poles, the rear pair lower than the front, and across these he laid +ridge poles. When the spruce boughs were brought in they were placed on +top of the framework thus erected, and in a few moments the roof was on. +The ends of the lean-to were closed by hanging spruce boughs over them. +The roof boughs were all laid in the same direction, butts towards the +front, tops towards the rear. + +This accomplished, a little green house had appeared like magic, but it +was not yet complete. Spruce boughs were brought and spread over the +ground under the lean-tos to the depth of about a foot, all laid one +way, smooth and springy and so sweetly odorous that the air in the +little house seemed intoxicating. + +Emma Dean dove in headfirst. + +"Stop that! This house is not intended to be a rough-house," protested +Hippy, coming up at this juncture with an armful of boughs. + +"I can't help it. It is so perfectly stunning. Do you know what its name +is? Why, Green Gables, of course, and--" + +"What are the wild birds saying?" mocked Hippy. + +"They will be crooning a good-night lullaby the instant I lay my weary +person down," declared Elfreda Briggs. + +A second lean-to, much smaller than the first, was erected. Then +preparations for the campfire were begun. This was laid on sloping +ground a little lower down than the lean-tos. First, a log was placed +and stakes driven behind it to keep it from rolling down the slight +decline, its purpose being to supply the backlog of the fire, which, +when started, would be almost on a level with the lean-tos, and about +four feet from them. Evergreen boughs were cut and laid lengthwise in +front of the lean-tos, to be planted between the houses and the fire, in +case the fire might be too hot for the occupants. + +Hippy was now bringing in the night-wood and complaining bitterly about +having to do all the work. + +"Why not harness up that lazy bear and make him draw in the logs?" he +demanded. + +"If ye'll harness the pup and snake in a log with him, I'll make my +Henry snake two logs," retorted the forest woman. + +Hippy went back for another load of wood, his shoulders jogging up and +down with laughter. + +"This is all very fine, Tom, but what are we going to do after you have +left us?" wondered Anne. + +"Grace knows how to build a lean-to, and I am positive that Mrs. Shafto +does," answered Tom. + +Joe nodded. + +"When you go into permanent camp you will require a different +construction to keep the rain out. Bark stripped from trees will answer +the purpose," Tom informed them. + +The small lean-to was for the guide, and another of about the same size +was later erected for Tom and Hippy, though further from the fire than +the little green houses for the girls and the guide. + +Night was upon them by the time they had finished, and Mrs. Shafto +already had built a small cook fire and was preparing supper. About the +time it was ready Tom put a match under the larger pile of wood, and a +cheerful blaze flamed up. + +"Try the house and see how warm it is, girls," suggested Grace. + +Exclamations of delight and gurgles of satisfaction followed their trial +of the lean-to. + +"Why, it is as warm as a steam-heated house," cried Nora. + +"That is because the rear side of the lean-to is closed and the front +open. The heat therefore remains in the lean-to. Even a low fire will +keep one warm in such a shelter in the coldest of winter nights," Grace +explained to her companions. + +In the meantime Tom and Hippy were discussing the attack of the previous +night, and Tom Gray was cautioning Hippy to be on the lookout all the +time and see to it that the Overland girls were protected. + +"We are getting into rough country. I don't need to tell you that," said +Tom. "Law is quite a way removed from us, and it takes time to get the +law operating in the Big Woods country. By the time it does get working, +the guilty ones generally are out of reach. I wish we had got in touch +with Willy Horse and hired him to join the outfit." + +"Leave it to Henry and Hippy," laughed Lieutenant Wingate. "What those +two 'H's' can't do, he couldn't. Then again, we have Hindenburg. Do you +think that fellow Tatem had anything to do with what happened last +night?" + +Tom said he knew of no good reason why the foreman of Forty-three should +have wished to injure them. + +"The attack looks to me like a lumberjack's revenge but I can't account +for it. I have decided to leave you in the morning. Grace has a +duplicate of my forestry map, and will know where I am most of the time. +I'll look in on you from time to time, and about the first of the month +I shall make my headquarters on the Little Big Branch where you folks +are going to camp for a few weeks. Be careful of fire, and if you are +visited by a fire warden tell him who you are. One cannot be too +particular about saving the forests, and a little carelessness might +cause a fire loss of thousands of dollars before the blaze could be +stopped." + +"We want to go to bed," interrupted Emma. "How are we going to do so +with one side of the house out?" + +"Hang two blankets over the front, please, Hippy. Take them down after +the girls have turned in. I will look after the ponies; then you and I +will hit the pines," directed Tom, rising. + +The forest woman was hanging up the mess kits to dry when Tom and Hippy +went out to water and rub down the ponies. She beckoned them to wait. + +"I been thinkin' 'bout what ye said of Peg Tatem, Cap'n Gray, and I +don't like it," she said in a tone low enough to prevent being overheard +by the girls, who were preparing for bed. "Peg must have been mad 'bout +somethin' and I reckon it would be healthy for us to git out of here in +the mornin' and camp as far away from Forty-three as we kin. What do ye +say, Cap'n?" + +"Don't worry about Peg. We shall be out of this in the morning, anyway. +I have to leave you to-morrow, so take good care of the girls and don't +let Henry eat the bull pup." + +"He had better not," growled Hippy. + +The two Overland men went to their lean-to laughing, Mrs. Shafto feeding +the night logs to the fire before seeking her own browse-bed, Henry +taking up his resting place a little distance from her in the shadows +and away from the fire. His fur coat was sufficient protection against +the evening chill, but Hindenburg's hair was short, and he was shivering +when he crawled in and nosed his way under Lieutenant Wingate's blanket. + +It did not seem to the Overlanders as if they had more than dropped to +sleep, though they had been asleep for hours, when they were startled by +a terrific explosion, an explosion that shook the earth and made the +forest trees above them tremble and a shower of pine cones rain down on +them in a perfect deluge. + +"Tree coming! Run!" shouted Tom Gray, at the same time firing his +revolver into the air to urge the Overlanders to greater haste. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +MYSTERY IN THE FALL OF A TREE + + +"Run to the river!" It was Hippy's voice, this time raised in warning. +He feared that the wide-spreading branches of the falling tree might hit +some of the party of Overlanders. + +A branch from a smaller tree, knocked down by the larger one in its +fall, gave Hippy a sidewipe and sent him flying down the bank. + +"Jump inter the river!" screamed the forest woman. "It ain't deep." Joe +led the way, shouting as she leaped for the water. Had there been light, +it would have been easy to see which way the tree was falling, but in +the darkness one could only guess from the sound the direction in which +the tree was falling. It landed with a mighty crash just as the Overland +Riders leaped into the river, and for a few seconds it sounded as if the +forest itself were going down. The girls listened to the crashings and +the reports in awesome silence. + +"All over!" announced Tom, in a tone of relief. + +"I--I don't see anything about a falling tree that necessitates scaring +a person out of a year's growth," complained Emma. + +"You don't, eh? Then you have something to learn," answered Tom rather +shortly. + +"At least there is nothing to prevent our going back and getting to +sleep, is there?" questioned Nora. + +"There is!" said Tom. + +"Wha--what do you mean?" demanded Hippy, but Tom made no reply. + +Grace found herself wondering what had caused the tree to fall. There +was no wind, other than a gentle zephyr; the ground was dry and the tree +was not a dead tree, as she discovered when she found that its foliage +had blotted out the campfire. Either she had not heard the explosion as +the tree burst from the ground, or else she had forgotten that +circumstance altogether in the excitement of the moment. + +"All right. We can go back now," said Tom. + +"And to bed for mine," promised Elfreda. + +"If my eyes serve me right, you have no bed," answered Grace laughingly. + +"I don't understand," wondered Miss Briggs. + +"From its position, I should say that the fallen tree pretty well covers +our camp," replied Grace. + +"Yes, it fell on the lean-tos," Tom informed them. + +The Overland girls groaned. + +"The voices of nature seem to be trying to tell us something. Perhaps +they are inviting us to get out," suggested Hippy whimsically. "What is +your interpretation of the tree's fall, you Nature-Cult Person?" he +questioned teasingly, nodding at Emma. + +"I think they are seeking to advise us to rid ourselves of one +Lieutenant Wingate if we expect to be permitted to proceed in peace," +answered Emma. "Why don't you go home?" teased the little Overland girl. + +"My wife won't let me. Of course you are not bound by any such +restrictions," reminded Hippy. + +Tom suddenly broke into a run. The others followed, calling to him to +know what was wrong, but the forester did not at first answer, as he +sped towards their camp, leaping logs and other obstructions in his +path. + +"Hurry!" he shouted, upon reaching the scene. + +"What is it?" called Hippy. + +"We have set the woods on fire!" answered Tom. + +What the party had supposed to be only the campfire blazing under the +tree that had fallen across it, in reality was a forest fire in the +making. In falling, the tree had scattered the burning embers of the +campfire, and set fire to the leaves and pine boughs that covered the +ground. By the time Tom Gray reached the scene the fire was running up +the little saplings, tracing out their limbs until they resembled +decorated Christmas trees, and leaping from tree to tree. + +"Isn't it beautiful!" exclaimed Emma enthusiastically, as the spectacle +burst into view. + +"You won't think so before many hours have passed," answered Grace, who, +as well as her husband, fully understood what this blaze with so good a +start might mean. + +"Grab those spruce boughs near the lean-tos and follow me!" shouted Tom. +"Every one of you get to work. Stamp out what is left of the campfire, +Hippy, so that it doesn't spread towards the river and get away from us +along the bank. Stir yourselves!" + +Through the smoke, the flying sparks and the pungent, almost +overpowering odors, the Overland Riders ran with their arms full of +spruce boughs. + +"What are we to do?" cried Elfreda. "I feel as helpless as a child." + +After they had hurried around the outer edge of the fire, which was +rapidly reaching towards them in little wriggling, snake-like streams of +fire, Tom directed the girls to spread out, each taking several rods of +front to protect. + +"Beat it out as fast as you can. When you see a wriggler reaching for a +tree, beat it out with your spruce boughs," he ordered. "Don't try to +put out a tree on fire. You can't do it, and may set yourselves on fire. +Grace, you take the lower end of the line and keep the girls at work. I +will look after this end. Should assistance be needed at any one point, +shout and we will all concentrate on it. All of you be careful that you +don't get burned." + +The girls quickly took up the positions assigned to them, and began +beating and whipping the "golden serpents," as Nora characterized them. +In a few moments each member of the party was coughing and choking, +their arms were aching and tears were running from their eyes. In spite +of their efforts, however, the advancing fire drove them steadily back. + +The big trees soon began to char, and, within an hour, were glowing +pillars of fire, as one after another broke into flames that mounted +higher and higher. Had there been leisure to view it as a spectacle, the +sight would have been a magnificent one, but the Overlanders had other +things to occupy their attention. While in no way to blame for the fire, +they felt that this was their responsibility, theirs the duty to stop +it, and so they worked and fought, gasping for breath, now and then +retreating for fresh air. + +"Lie down every little while!" shouted Tom. "The air is better near the +ground. Pass the word along." + +His orders were shouted from one to the other and so reached the extreme +end of the fighting front. + +What at first had seemed an easy task had grown to an almost +insurmountable one. Now they would check the fire at one point, only to +discover that it had leaped over the line at another. By the time they +had conquered the second one, the first blaze generally would be found +to have taken a new start. + +A canopy of fire and smoke covered the scene high overhead. Tom hoped +that a forest lookout might discover the blaze and send assistance to +them, though he knew that much territory might be burned over before +help could reach them. + +Leaving his own position for a survey of conditions, Tom ran along the +line of fire-fighters, giving an encouraging word here and there while +his experienced eyes sized up the situation. + +"How is it?" gasped Grace when he reached her end of the line. + +"Serious! We must fight as long as we have an ounce of strength or a +breath left in our bodies," he added, starting back towards his +position. + +"Keep it up! It's getting the best of you!" he shouted to each +Overlander in turn as he passed. + +"Can't we send to Forty-three for assistance?" called Hippy. + +"No. You or I would have to go. Neither of us can be spared." + +"We'll have to be spared if this keeps up much longer. Do you think the +horses are safe?" + +"Yes. They are on the river side of the fire. The breeze is carrying the +fire the other way," answered Tom. + +Three hours after the discovery of the fire found the Overland Riders +still fighting, to all appearances, just as stubbornly as when they +began. Their faces were almost unrecognizable, blackened as they were +with smoke and streaked with perspiration. In places, their clothing +showed black where it had been seared or scorched. Emma Dean had, for +the time being, forgotten to listen to the voices of nature, even though +they were sizzling and roaring at her from the far-flung tops of the +giant pines. + +At the end of the fourth hour, a great tree came crashing down with a +ripping, rending roar. Another followed it soon after, and at intervals +still other trees lost their foothold and surrendered to their +implacable enemy, _fire_! + +It was an awesome sight and the air was full of thrilling sounds. There +was not one of that party of fire fighters that did not feel the awe. +Henry disappeared, and his mistress had no thought for him. She had +been through other forest fires, and, though she worked desperately, she +did so without emotion so far as external appearances indicated. +Hindenburg, on the contrary, was very much in evidence, running up and +down the line, barking at each individual fire fighter and sneezing as +he breathed in the pungent smoke. + +The graying dawn found the Overlanders still beating at the flames that +still kept them on the retreat, driving them deeper and deeper into the +forest. + +About this time Tom Gray made his second survey. What he found raised +his hopes and his spirits. + +"We've flanked it!" he cried. "That old cutting to the left has saved us +on that side." + +"Thank Heaven!" answered Grace in a choking voice. "Te--ell the others!" + +"We aren't through yet," reminded Tom, hurrying back to give the others +the encouraging news and to urge them to continue their efforts. + +Shouts, choking, gasping shouts, greeted the announcement. Then how they +did work, the girls with handkerchiefs stuffed in their mouths, and +Hippy Wingate with a piece of his khaki shirt gripped between his teeth +and partly covering his nostrils as an aid in keeping the smoke out of +his lungs. The throats of all were parched and aching for water, but +there was none to be had near at hand, and no time to go to the river +for it. + +At nine o'clock in the morning the forest fire was conquered, after +having burned over several acres of timber. Here and there little blazes +were fanned into life by the morning breeze, but alert eyes discovered, +and ready hands quickly whipped them out. + +"Done! But it will have to be watched. You girls go back to camp and +make some coffee. I don't believe that much of our belongings have been +destroyed," said Tom. + +Instead of starting for camp, the girls sank down in their tracks, and +dropped instantly into a sleep of exhaustion. Neither man made an effort +to arouse them. + +"I wish I might do that too. What do you say if we take just one little +cat-nap, Tom?" urged Hippy. + +"Can't be done. The fire might start again." + +"Oh, hang the fire!" growled Lieutenant Wingate. + +"It might 'hang' you; in other words, we should be in danger of being +burned, for we surely would sleep all day, once we permitted ourselves +to drop off!" + +"All right. Carry on! If I could have a nip of sleep I know I should +dream of food, which would fix me up all right. How long are we going +to let them sleep?" asked Hippy, pointing to the sleeping Overland +girls. + +"Until we make certain that the fire isn't going to break out afresh. We +will then shake the girls up and go back to camp. It doesn't look as +though I should get away to-day, does it?" grinned Tom. + +"We can sit down, can't we?" + +"Not yet! Not for another two hours." + +The men separated and began a steady patrol of the fire-line, dragging +themselves along wearily until the two hours had lengthened into three. +Hippy then declared himself and announced his intention of going +straight back to camp for something to eat and a sleep. + +Tom, after a final look about, agreed. It took some little time to get +the girls sufficiently awake to enable them to stand on their feet, but +finally the men had marshalled them all and the journey to camp began. + +It was blackened and cheerless acres of bare and fallen trees that their +swollen eyes gazed upon on the way back to camp. Thousands of feet of +virgin timber had been burned. Tom Gray, whose love of the forest was +almost a passion with him, gazed on the wreckage sadly. + +"Let this be a lesson to all of you. Always be careful with your +campfires," he warned. + +The girls were too tired to eat when they reached camp. All they desired +was sleep and rest. Hippy's crying need was food, and that was what he +proposed to get first, but Tom would not hear to either of them sitting +down until the horses had been looked after and watered. + +While they were doing that, the forest woman made coffee and fried +bacon, which was ready for Tom and Hippy upon their return. The Overland +girls had found their blankets, and, rolled tightly in them, lay sound +asleep on the bare ground. + +"Poor kids! Aren't you proud of each and every one of them, Hippy?" +glowed Tom. + +"Oh, I suppose so. That is, I presume I should be if I weren't +famished." + +Henry came ambling in at this juncture and, sitting down, began washing +his face with his paws, giving not the slightest heed to the tirade that +Joe Shafto was hurling at him. + +"Ye git no breakfast to-day," raged the forest woman. + +"Oh, don't be so hard-hearted," begged Hippy. "Give the poor fish a rind +of bacon at least. You don't know what it means to have an appetite." + +Hippy's urgings bore fruit, and Henry got his breakfast, as did Tom and +Hippy, and their appetites fully equalled that of the bear. + +"Come along, Hippy," urged Tom after they had finished breakfast. + +"Wha--at? Where?" + +"Let's have a look at the tree that so mysteriously fell on our camp." + +"Have a heart! Have a heart, Tom! I want to lie down and sleep." + +"So do I, but I cannot until I have learned why that tree came down as +it did, and what caused the report just before it fell. Come! The sooner +we start, the quicker we shall be in dreamland." + +Hippy followed his companion begrudgingly. + +"Look at that, will you?" demanded Captain Gray, pointing to the ground +about the hole which had so recently held the roots of the great tree +that had fallen on the lean-tos. The ground had been torn up for some +yards from the true base of the tree, and dirt and pieces of roots +hurled in all directions. + +Lieutenant Wingate was instantly galvanized into alertness. The scene +reminded him of France where he had seen so many similar holes, the +result of the explosion of shells. He was down on his knees in a second, +crawling about in the hole, feeling and smelling the ground. + +"Smell this, Tom," he said, handing up to his companion a bit of +cardboard. "What does it suggest to you?" + +"Powder, I should say," answered Tom. + +"Exactly. It is my opinion that our tree was dynamited. That's what +caused the explosion!" cried Hippy. "I wonder I didn't recognize it at +the time. Now what do you make of that?" + +"I suspected as much, old man. I knew when I heard it that there had +been an explosion, and I suspected the reason," answered Tom gravely. "I +am glad the girls are not awake. This is serious, and the end is not +yet!" + +Tom Gray's prophecy came true before the end of that already eventful +day. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE THREAT OF PEG TATEM + + +The shadows were heavy in the Big Woods when the two men awakened from +their afternoon's sleep, into which they had sunk while discussing their +discovery. Joe Shafto was getting supper, and it was the odor of her +cooking that aroused Lieutenant Wingate to full wakefulness. Hippy +routed out the rest of the camp without delay. + +They discovered Henry asleep high up in one of the virgin pines, +Hindenburg having found warmth and a less perilous position on the +blankets of the Overland girls. + +"I seen ye folks over by the hole in the ground yonder," the forest +woman confided to Tom as he greeted her and asked how she felt. "I took +a look for myself this evenin'. Fine kettle of stew, hey?" + +"Meaning what?" questioned Tom smilingly. + +"I reckon some varmint give that air tree a kick over, eh? Who do ye +reckon the varmint was who did that, Cap'n Gray?" demanded Joe, glaring +at him through her spectacles. + +Tom shrugged his shoulders. + +"I don't know, Joe. I wish I did," he replied. "Please say nothing about +it to the girls. I shall tell Mrs. Gray, of course. Being in charge of +the party she should be told of our suspicions." + +"Sure. What do ye reckon on doin' to-night?" + +"Make a new camp and watch it. Where was that bear of yours while all +that uproar was in progress?" demanded Tom. + +"Same place the Lieutenant's pup was at--sleepin'!" returned Joe dryly. + +Tom turned away laughing. He and Hippy rustled boughs for new lean-tos, +chopped wood for the night campfire, and began making a new camp a few +rods from the one that had been destroyed by the falling tree and the +forest fire. The girls volunteered to assist in the work, but Hippy +declared that they looked as if they needed sleep more than work. + +The work on the lean-tos had not been finished when the Overlanders were +summoned to supper. There was little conversation until they had dulled +the sharp edges of their appetites; then their drooping spirits revived +and they began bantering each other. + +Henry had come down to be on hand when the food was distributed and got +many morsels during the meal. + +The bear suddenly bristled, swayed his head from side to side, and +began to growl. At almost the same instant Hippy Wingate's bull pup was +galvanized into life. He began to utter deep growls and resentful +coughs. + +"Some varmint hangin' around, I reckon," nodded the forest woman in +answer to a look of inquiry from Grace. "Be still, Henerey!" + +"I hear something coming," declared Tom. + +Hippy fastened a hand on Hindenburg's collar, and Joe threatened the +bear with a club until he slunk away and disappeared, then, to their +amazement, Peg Tatem stamped into camp, followed by a group of +lumberjacks. + +The Overland Riders gazed questioningly at his scowling face. Tom Gray +was the only member of the outfit who knew him, but they instantly +recognized the foreman of Section Forty-three, from the descriptions of +him given by Tom and Joe Shafto, who now stood glaring angrily at him +through her big horn glasses. + +Tom greeted the newcomer cordially. + +"Won't you sit down and have a snack with us?" he asked. + +"Don't want nothin' t' eat with the likes of ye, thankee," growled Peg. + +"Oh, that's all right, old top," observed Hippy cheerfully. "We aren't +particularly eager to have a rough-neck sit down to mess with us." + +"Hold yer tongue, ye cheap dude!" snarled Peg, shaking the heavy stick, +that he carried as a cane, at Lieutenant Wingate. + +"Don't get rough," grinned Hippy. "What do you want here anyway?" + +The lumberjacks, who had accompanied the foreman, halted a few paces to +the rear of their superior, and neither their appearance nor their +expressions were reassuring. + +"What is it you wish?" demanded Tom. + +"What ye got to say about this?" snorted Peg, taking in the burned area +with a sweep of his stick. + +"As a forester, I am very sorry that this has happened, though it was +through no fault of ours," answered Tom. + +"Ye lie!" exploded the foreman. + +"Tatem, you will please drop that sort of talk here. Remember there are +ladies present. Besides, I don't take that word from anyone. I said, the +fire occurred through no fault of ours. A tree fell on our campfire and +scattered the embers, and, before we realized it, the forest was on +fire. We worked all night and all the forenoon trying to head the fire +off, which we finally succeeded in doing. Had we not done our part, this +whole section would long since have been entirely burned off. Why are +you taking it upon yourself to come here and interfere with us?" + +"Why? Ye bloomin' idiot! I'm talkin' because ye've burned off a few +hundred thousand feet of timber from our section. That's why, and yer +goin' to pay for every stick of it. Do ye git me?" + +"Oh, perfectly, perfectly," interjected Hippy. + +"Your section, did you say?" demanded Tom. + +"That's what I said," leered Peg. + +"You are mistaken. This is not your section. It is possible that you may +have intended to crowd your boundaries and steal a few thousand feet of +state timber, but so far as its belonging to you or to the people you +represent, I know better." + +"Ye--ye say I'm a thief?" demanded Peg, the words seeming to stick in +his throat. + +"No. You may intend to be one, but I have not said that you are. You may +be for all that I know. If you have nothing more sensible to say than to +accuse us of burning your property, move on! Before you go, however, I +wish to say that I believe that, if the truth were to come out, you know +more about what caused that fire, and how it was caused, than anyone +else. You know what I mean, Peg Tatem." + +Only Hippy understood to what Tom Gray referred. That Peg Tatem did, +Lieutenant Wingate had not the least doubt, for the foreman's face +flushed a violent red under his tan, and his eyes narrowed, as he +gripped his club-like cane. + +"Get out of here, you and your jacks!" commanded Tom savagely. + +"Yes, skip, vamoose, articulate your joints. In other words, shoo!" +jeered Hippy. "If I ever see you around our camp again I'll slap your +wrist. What!" + +Peg Tatem, throwing his weight on the clumsy piece of wood that did duty +as a leg, made an almost unbelievable leap towards Tom Gray and brought +his club-cane down with all the powerful strength that the man +possessed. + +"I'll kill ye fer that!" raged the foreman of Forty-three as his club +descended. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +A SHOT FROM THE FOREST + + +Tom leaped back and the stick hit the ground instead of the mark that it +was intended to reach. + +Before the foreman could recover himself, Tom Gray was upon him, and a +blow from the Overlander Rider's fist sent Peg Tatem reeling, but before +Tom could follow up his advantage, the lumberman collected himself and +began leaping around Tom, now striking with the club, then kicking out +with the wooden leg. It was impossible to get close enough to the fellow +to give him the knock-out blow that Captain Gray was hoping to land on +his adversary. + +Thus far neither side had made a move to interfere with the combatants, +but a movement on the part of the lumberjacks, a gradual edging up, +warned Hippy that his opportunity to get into the scrimmage was near at +hand. + +"Prepare to defend yourselves, girls," he said in a tone that carried to +their ears only. "If the worst comes, shoot! Tom and I may get knocked +out, for these fellows are tougher than the trees they cut." + +"Don't worry, Hippy. We will take care of ourselves," said Grace calmly. +"Trust us to defend ourselves." + +"With what?" questioned Elfreda. + +"There are plenty of good stout sticks on the ground. If you see that +these jacks mean to attack us, each of you grab a club and let them have +it on their heads. See! Joe is holding her club behind her." + +The forest woman was waiting grimly for an opportunity to crack a +lumberjack's head. That opportunity came sooner than she expected. Two +jacks, having crept around behind the lean-tos, suddenly lifted the rear +supports and turned the structures over into the fire. + +"Beat it, ye varmint!" screamed the woman, making a rush for the men. +One of them struck her, but fortunately for Joe it was a glancing blow, +and merely turned her around facing away from them. Joe kept on turning +until she was again facing the jeering lumbermen. + +"Take that, ye varmint!" The forest woman's club descended on a +lumberjack's head. "And ye, too!" she shrieked, hitting the other man +across the bridge of his nose. + +"Come on! Come on, and I'll wallop the whole pack of ye!" + +"Steady, Joe," warned Grace Harlowe. "Don't lose your head." + +Tom and Peg were still at it, the foreman growing more and more +ferocious as the moments passed and knowing that he had the Overlander +at a disadvantage, for Tom was fighting with his fists only, while Peg +was using his stick and his wooden leg, and it were difficult for any +person, no matter how skillful a boxer he might be, to get under those +two dangerous guards. Once Tom succeeded in doing so. His blow knocked +the foreman down, but Peg rolled away and was on his feet again with +remarkable quickness, and went at his adversary determined to brain him. + +"Ready, girls!" called Hippy. + +"They are going to rush us," warned Grace. "When I say 'Clubs!' you +girls grab sticks, keep together, and stand your ground. Don't run at +them." + +Each Overland girl carried an automatic revolver, and there were rifles +within easy reach, but it was not their intention to use either, unless +the necessity to do so became imperative. The rifles had been brought on +this journey largely because the party hoped to do some hunting in the +North Woods. The revolvers were, as on previous journeys into the wilder +sections of their native country, a part of their regular equipment and +for use in great emergencies only. + +The lumberjacks with one accord rushed at the Overland Riders, uttering +yells and jeers. They carried no weapons in their hands, but, as Grace +knew to be their practice, each jack wore a lumberman's knife. + +"Clubs!" + +At the signal, each Overland girl snatched up a stick and stood her +ground with set lips and a face from which most of the color had fled, +realizing fully the seriousness of the situation. + +Lieutenant Wingate waited until the lumberjacks were almost upon him, +waited lounging indolently, his face wearing a grin. + +"Oh, don't hurry, children," he admonished. "Save your wind for the +flight to the rear." Suddenly, Hippy bent forward and when he rose his +hand held a pine knot fully five feet long, the limb ablaze almost from +end to end. Not more than two feet separated the burning part from his +hands. + +The limb was heavy, but Lieutenant Wingate was far from delicate, and +when he swung the burning limb it had power and speed behind it. The +limb burned and bruised the faces of three lumberjacks in its first +swing. Hippy plunged at the mob and belabored them right and left with +the blazing torch. More than one jack had to stop fighting long enough +to put out the blaze that singed the hair off his head. + +Other jacks had run around one end of the camp to rush it from that +vantage point. Joe Shafto and her club met them, and so did the Overland +girls. Without uttering a sound they belabored the ruffians, beating, +whacking, prodding and swinging their clubs to good purpose. + +"Help! Oh, help!" screamed Emma Dean. + +A thrown club had hit her on the leg and felled her. Emma was out of the +fight so far as further defense was concerned, holding her aching limb +and moaning as she rocked back and forth. + +Hippy turned for a quick glance in her direction. + +"Look out, Hippy!" warned Nora, but her warning was too late. Several of +the attackers, taking advantage of his attention being drawn away from +them, leaped on him. They bore Hippy to the ground. He was mauled and +thumped, but not for many seconds, because the girls rushed to his +rescue and clubbed his attackers off. The jacks, returning, picked +Lieutenant Wingate up and tossed him into the campfire. + +Emma screamed at the sight, but Elfreda Briggs grabbed his protruding +feet and hauled him out, while Grace and her companions beat back the +jacks who had done the cruel thing. Elfreda put out the flames and +assisted Hippy to his feet. + +"Go in and fight!" urged J. Elfreda. "They're getting the best of us." + +At that instant, Tom Gray, turning his head to see how it fared with the +girls, was hit on the head by Peg Tatem's club and knocked unconscious. +As it proved later, the blow was a light one and Tom was not seriously +hurt. + +The foreman, uttering an exultant yell, aimed a kick at Tom's head with +his peg leg. + +Grace Harlowe hurled her club at the foreman's head, but missed the +mark. + +_Bang!_ + +A bullet hit Peg's wooden leg, and the leg went out from under its owner +like magic. Peg landed on the ground but he was up in an instant, raging +and springing for Tom. A second bullet hit the wooden leg and split it. + +The Overlanders were amazed. + +"Who shot?" cried Anne. + +"Don't know," panted Elfreda as she and Hippy charged two jacks who were +trying to reach Emma. + +Peg, frantic with rage, turned his attention to the others of the party, +apparently believing that one of them had fired the shots. He raised his +club to strike Grace who was bending over Tom. + +_Bang!_ + +The club dropped from Peg's hand, and the arm fell to his side with a +bullet hole through it. + +[Illustration: The Club Dropped from Peg's Hand.] + +"I'm hit! Kill 'em!" he screamed. Grabbing up the stick with his left +hand, the foreman again started for Grace, his eyes bloodshot, his lips +purple. + +Grace grabbed what was nearest to her hand, a pine knot, and hurled it +at the ruffian. It hit him full in the face, and the sharp protuberances +on the knot drew points of blood. + +A blow from a lumberjack's fist, at this juncture, knocked Joe Shafto +flat on her back. She was up with a bound. + +"Henerey! Henere-e-e-e-e!" There was a wild note in her voice, a note of +alarm and command. "Henere-e-e-e-e-e!" + +They heard Henry sliding down a tree--heard his paws raking the bark as +he slid. Joe heard it too. + +"Sick 'em! Sick 'em! Sick 'em!" she screamed, giving Henry a violent +prod with her club and driving the bear towards the lumberjacks. One of +them struck the beast with a club, hitting Henry over the shoulders. + +Henry made a pass at the man, bringing away a section of the fellow's +coat in his claws which dug into the jack's flesh with their sharp +points. The man howled and fled from the beast. + +Alternately prodding the bear with her club, and cracking a lumberjack +head wherever possible, the forest woman fought her way ahead, backed by +Tom and Hippy. + +Thus goaded, Henry rose on his hind legs and went through that party of +rough-necks like one of his kind cuffing its way through a flock of +grazing sheep. Henry bit where he could, but his greatest execution was +done with his powerful paws. + +The Overland Riders, though angry, weary and perspiring, unable to +resist the humor of the ludicrous sight, broke into shouts of laughter. + +"Henry has them on the run. Sail in!" bellowed Hippy. "Run, you +ruffians, before I turn the rest of our menagerie on you!" + +The lumberjacks were now giving ground rapidly, though Peg, wounded +and, judging from his expression, suffering, was not further punished. +When he saw his men running away, the foreman of Section Forty-three +hopped off as best he could, shouting angry threats. The victorious +Overlanders with the assistance of Henry chased the lumber outfit to the +river, into which the jacks plunged and waded across with all speed. + +"Don't you ever show your face in our camp again! Next time, if you do, +it will be bullets, not clubs," Lieutenant Wingate shouted after the +retreating attackers. + +Henry was restrained from following the lumbermen across the river only +by heroic measures. The forest woman headed him off and clubbed him back +towards the camp, her clothing torn, her hair down her back, her face +red and angry. + +"Splendid!" cried Grace Harlowe, running to meet her. "You are +wonderful." + +"I say, Joseph, if that's your name, may I address you as 'Old Dear' +without imperilling my life?" teased Hippy. + +"Ye kin call me anything ye like. After the talk of them varmints +anything would sound as sweet as the harps of Heving in a thunder +storm." + +"All right--Old Dear," answered Hippy solemnly. "I was going to tell you +that you are the apple of my eye, but, being a peach, you can't very +well be an apple, so we will let it go at 'Old Dear.'" + +Joe glared through her spectacles. The sharp lines of the rugged face of +the forest woman gradually melted into a smile, the first smile that any +member of that party had ever seen there. + +"Go on with ye!" she retorted laughing despite her attempt to be stern. +"I ought to sick the bear on ye, but I ain't goin' to." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +A BLAZED WARNING + + +"Well, we gave them a run, didn't we?" crowed Hippy. + +"I reckon ye'd better pack and git out of here right lively," advised +the guide. + +Tom Gray agreed that Peg Tatem would miss no opportunity to take revenge +on the Overland Riders for what they had done to him, and it was decided +to break camp and move at once, the forest woman being confident that +she could keep in the right direction once she found a lumber road that +lay to the right of them a couple of miles away. + +Weary as they were, the Overlanders were quite willing to get away +without loss of time from the scene of their troubles. Their equipment +had suffered some, but none was left behind. While they were packing, +Tom, in order to make them understand that they had gained the ill-will +of desperate men, decided to tell them of the dynamiting of the tree, +and declared that it was his belief that Peg Tatem's lumberjacks had +done the deed, intending that the tree should fall on the camp while +they were asleep. + +"There are fellows in Forty-three's gang that were in the mob at +Bisbee's Corners," declared Tom with emphasis. + +"Are they likely to follow us?" asked Elfreda. + +"I don't believe they will stray far from their own camp, but they may +try to get us before we leave here. Therefore let's go. They have work +to do in their own camp, you see," reminded Tom. + +Packing and breaking camp were accomplished quickly. Ponies were +saddled, packs lashed on, after which the party started away, the guide +leading, carrying a kerosene dash-lamp to assist her in reading blazes +on trees and avoiding obstructions, for the lamp had a reflector that +threw a fairly strong bar of light. + +Daylight must see the Overland Riders some miles from the scene of their +fight with the men from Forty-three, and there must be as little trail +left as possible. For the latter reason, Joe Shafto kept to such ground +as was covered with a mat of pine needles. These, being springy, gave +way under the hoofs of the horses, leaving no hoof-prints, no trail. +Of the Overland Riders only two persons observed this--Tom and Grace, +for, in her brief trips with him into the woods where he, as a forester, +spent much time, Grace had learned a great deal about forestry work. + +No halt was made until midnight, when the forest woman reined in and +directed a ray of light against a huge pine tree. + +"A fresh blaze," said Tom, as he trotted up to her to see what the blaze +indicated. + +"A blaze with a bent arrow cut in it, the arrow smeared with dirt to +make it stand out. Clever, but what does it mean, Mrs. Shafto?" he +asked. + +"It's a warnin', Cap'n." + +"Of what?" + +"That I don't rightly know. The arrow, I reckon, points at the danger." + +"Is the arrow not pointed in the direction of our old camp?" asked +Elfreda. + +"Ye guessed it, Miss Briggs. That means we'd better be moseying along +right smart." + +"How long has that blaze been there?" asked Hippy. + +"An hour, mebby," replied Joe. "Come along, Henry." + +A few strokes of her axe obliterated the arrow on the blaze, and the +party pressed on. + +"I wonder if that arrow-blaze was intended for us," murmured Tom, as +they rode on in silence. + +Soon, the guide's lamp revealed another blaze, but this was purely a +direction blaze, which she mutilated and changed to mean a different +direction, then made a sharp turn to the right. Other blazes +encountered, all freshly made, led them straight to the lumber road for +which she had been searching and would have missed had it not been for +the friendly blazes that pointed the way. + +"What do ye 'low for that?" demanded the forest woman when they had +emerged on the road. + +"I believe now that the blazes were intended for us," answered Tom, his +brow wrinkling in perplexity. "It is very strange." + +"Why worry?" spoke up Hippy. "We are being led, but what's the odds who +is doing the leading so long as we are led?" + +"Pure logic," observed Miss Briggs. + +"From an illogical source," added Emma in an undertone. + +They proceeded along the lumber road for fully ten miles, fording two +streams, then halting at a sawmill on the banks of a river. The mill had +not yet started operations. Tom got off and looked the property over, +consulted his map, then the journey was resumed. Just beyond the mill +they came upon another of the now familiar blazes, directing them to +proceed to the right and follow the river bank. + +"The blazer fellow evidently knows where we wish to go. Do you know +where we are, Mrs. Shafto?" called Tom. + +"Yes, I know now. It's the Little Big Branch River, though it ain't much +of a river yit. We got a long ways to go before we git to the place +where ye folks are goin' to hang out for a spell. I reckon we'd better +make camp just before daylight." + +No one offered objection to her proposal. All were weary and cold, as +well as hungry and sleepy. Emma was swaying in her saddle, frequently +catching herself napping and straightening up just in time to prevent +falling from her horse, while the others, noses and lips blue, shivered +and made no effort to control the chattering of their teeth. + +"Oh, why was I ever induced to leave my happy home?" wailed Anne. "This +is the worst of all." + +Nothing more was heard from any of them until Joe Shafto finally +announced that they had reached the end of their night's journey. + +"Rustle something for the makin's, and we'll have heat and a hot drink +right smart," she called. + +While Hippy tied the ponies and fetched water for them, Tom gathered +firewood and started the fire for breakfast. Tea, being the quickest +drink to make, was brewed, and gulped down by the Overlanders almost as +fast as Joe could, pour it. + +"How fu--fu--funny you look," chattered Emma, nodding at Miss Briggs. + +"If I look as funny as I feel, I must be a scream," retorted Elfreda. + +"Here, here! Don't I get any of that?" cried Hippy, coming up at a run. + +Tea was served to him. + +"Ah-h-h-h! Nectar of the gods! Now if some one will kindly prepare a +little food, I shall offer deep and sincere thanks; then seek my downy +couch for sweet repose." + +"Hippy is the first to thaw out," chuckled Tom. + +"He always was soft, anyway," reminded Emma. + +"And we are all blue-noses this morning," added Nora laughingly. + +Under the warming influence of the tea, their spirits soon revived, and +when the campfire was laid and set going a little distance from the +small cook fire, sighs of relief were heard on all sides. + +Day was just breaking when the party laid down by the fire for a much +needed rest. Pine needles were their beds that morning. No one had the +ambition to help build a lean-to, nor did one care to wait for some one +else to make it. + +Noon found them still asleep, with the exception of Grace, who had risen +two hours earlier to get breakfast for Tom who was about to leave for +his work, perhaps not to return for some weeks. The Overlanders were to +make a permanent camp further down on the Little Big Branch, and, when +Tom Gray returned from his first "cruise," he was to follow the river +until he found them. + +"Rather indefinite," laughed Grace. "However, you aren't much of a +woodsman if you can't find us with such directions, though don't cut off +the bends in the river or you surely will miss us. We do not intend that +our camp shall be over-conspicuous." + +Tom said his good-bye and, mounting, rode away and disappeared in the +forest. Grace stirred up the fire and added fresh wood so that her +companions might have warmth, for the morning was chill, and then called +them. + +Spirals of smoke were rising above the trees from the campfire. Joe +Shafto looked up at it, and shook her head disapprovingly. + +"If there's one low-down jack within fifty mile of us on high ground, +he'll have us spotted for certain," she rebuked. "Great fire--great +smoke for Indian signaling." + +"Thank you. I had not thought of the smoke," answered Grace. "How shall +I stop its smoking?" + +"Pour water on it till it's out, then build a new fire. Never mind. Too +late now. The damage's done, and a little smoke more or less won't +matter no how." + +Breakfast, noon breakfast, proved to be so satisfying that no one felt +inclined to pack up and move on. + +"Girls, what do you say to the suggestion that we make camp here until +some time to-morrow?" questioned Anne. "We are in no hurry, except that +we do not wish to be overtaken by Peg Tatem's gang, which, it doesn't +seem probable that we shall be." + +"Yes! Stay!" cried the Overlanders. + +"Is that satisfactory to you, Mrs. Shafto?" asked Grace, turning to the +guide. + +"I kin stand it if ye kin." + +"We stay," announced Grace. "Let's build our sheds after we have settled +our breakfasts and are able to summon some ambition." + +Their sleeping quarters were finished before dark, and then the girls +rambled along the river, here and there startling a buck or a doe into +sudden flight. There were no man-made trails here, no sounds other than +the murmuring waters of the Little Big Branch and the voices of nature, +to which Emma Dean listened, nodded or shook her head as if she and +those voices were holding converse. The laughing teasing of her +companions failed to swerve Emma from her newfound hobby. + +That night, as they snuggled under their blankets, clear and cold out of +the silence pealed a mournful howl, long-drawn, strange and full of the +wild. + +Nora and Anne buried their heads under the blankets to shut out the +sound. + +"What was that?" cried Elfreda. + +"A wolf--an old she timber wolf--a varmint," answered the forest woman +from her lean-to. + +"And it bids us beware of perils near at hand," droned Emma in a +far-away voice. + +"Will you stop that?" demanded Elfreda. "You give me the creeps." + +"I think it is perfectly wonderful," breathed Emma. Then with greater +emphasis she exclaimed, "Such a voice in the wilderness is an +inspiration. How I wish Madam Gersdorff might be here to hear it. Girls, +you don't know, you cannot dream what a wonderful woman she is." + +"I'd like to see _anybody_ dream with you setting up such a chatter," +complained Anne. + +"Please, please, Emma, let the wolves howl if they wish. We can't stop +them, but that is no reason why you should keep us all awake. We need +sleep," begged Grace Harlowe laughingly. + +After a few muttered protests, Emma subsided, and only the faint yelps +of the dreaming bull pup and the noisy slumber of Hippy Wingate +disturbed the deeply impressive silence of the great forest. That he +might better guard the camp, Hindenburg had been tied out to a tree on +his long leash. Lieutenant Wingate had built a miniature lean-to for the +pup to crawl under in the event of rain, but Hindenburg was already +under it, stretched out on the yielding browse bed, one little brown ear +vigilantly erect to catch the slightest sound. Emma Dean declared that +the dog must be deaf in that ear, for he never seemed to hear with it. + +The bull pup's slumbers were not disturbed that night, nor were Henry's. +The bear lay at the rear of Mrs. Shafto's lean-to all night long, curled +up into a furry ball, but with the break of day he was off in the forest +for the choice morsels of food that he knew were there for him to pluck. + +After the campers awakened, the forest woman's shrill call soon brought +the bear ambling back to camp, but they observed that he was restless, +now and then lifting his nose and sniffing the air, punctuated with an +occasional throaty growl, but the bull pup, flat on his back, feet in +the air, was sound asleep on his browse bed. + +"Henry, what's the matter with ye? I reckon maybe ye smell some varmint +that's hangin' 'round waitin' fer the leavin's of the breakfast," +scolded Joe. + +The bacon was on the fire and the aroma of coffee in the air when a +loud hail warned the Overland Riders that they were about to receive an +early morning call. + +Lieutenant Wingate answered the hail. A few moments later they descried +a horseman riding through the forest towards the camp. + +The newcomer was dressed in khaki, wearing an army hat and high lace +boots. Grace recognized the uniform at once, having seen it before when +foresting with Tom Gray. Her identification was confirmed when she +caught sight of the bronze badge of the Forest Service, which the +stalwart rider wore on his left breast. His face was rugged and +weatherbeaten, and the strength of the wilderness was in his eye, though +the man's facial expression, at that moment, was far from pleasant. + +The forest ranger, or fire warden, halted and surveyed the camp with a +slow, searching gaze, narrowly observing the crackling campfire, then +suddenly bent a stern look on each member of the Overland party. + +"Morning, Buddy. You are just in time to sit in with us for a snack of +breakfast," greeted Lieutenant Wingate cordially. + +"Put out that fire!" commanded the ranger sternly, pointing a lean brown +finger at the cook fire that had grown into a lively blaze. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THEIR DAY AT HOME + + +"What is wrong about the fire, sir?" questioned Grace pleasantly. + +"Have you a permit to build fires in these woods?" + +"We have not," spoke up Hippy. "Why?" + +"Then put it out!" + +"Just a moment, old top. Who sent you here?" demanded Hippy. + +"The Dusenbery outfit that's cutting on Forty-three notified me by +telephone yesterday that a party of campers had set on fire and burned +off several thousand feet of timber. He said there were two men and a +party of women--that they were rough-necks, and a lot of other things. I +haven't anything to do with that, but I'm going to see to it that you +don't do any more damage to the forest." + +"Peg Tatem, eh?" reflected Hippy. "How did you find us? Did Peg tell you +where we were?" + +"I saw your smoke yesterday, but couldn't rightly place you till this +morning when I smelled your smoke and found I was close to you. Are you +going to douse the fire?" + +"I think not, sir," answered Grace. + +The ranger sprang from his horse and strode towards the campfire. Hippy +stepped between him and the blaze. + +"Don't do anything childish. Let the fire alone. When we want the fire +out we will put it out ourselves," reminded Lieutenant Wingate. + +The ranger drew back an arm as if about to strike at the Overland Rider +when a menacing growl at his side caused the forest man to spring back. +He had recognized that growl instantly. Henry, standing on his hind +legs, "arms" extended, was ready for fight, following a gentle prodding +and a "Sick 'im, Henry," from his mistress. + +The ranger whipped out his revolver. + +"Drop that gun!" yelled Joe Shafto. "That's my bear!" + +"Don't shoot! He is a pet bear," admonished Lieutenant Wingate. "That is +Henry. Oh, are you awake?" he added, as Hindenburg rolled over, blinked, +and then dashed out and began barking at the stranger. + +"What's this--a circus?" wondered the ranger. + +"I give ye fair notice it'll be a circus if ye don't let that bear be," +warned the forest woman in a shrill high-pitched voice. + +"Put away your gun, Mister Man. There's nothing to shoot here, unless +you get too confounded obstreperous," urged Hippy, now smiling. "My +name's Wingate, Lieutenant Wingate, late of the Army Flying Corps in our +late unpleasantness with the Hun. What's yours?" + +"Chatworth's my name. I'm the warden up here, and, not having a permit +to have a fire in the forest, you'll have to hit the lumber trail for +the open country." + +"Nothing doing! You will have to dope out something better than that to +induce us to leave," grinned Hippy. + +Grace demanded to know where the ranger got his authority for stating +that they should have a fire permit. + +"It's my authority!" he answered brusquely. + +"Who told you to assume such authority?" interjected Miss Briggs in the +calm judicial voice that was hers when trying a lawsuit. + +"I'm not answering fool questions. You heard what I said. Are you +going?" + +"Well--yes, of course we are going, but it may be a month or two before +we do go. If you will kindly give me your address I'll drop you a +picture card later on, telling you when we expect to leave the Big North +Woods," drawled Lieutenant Wingate. + +"Hippy, I do not believe that Mr. Chatworth fully understands who and +what we are," interjected Grace. "We take such trips as this one every +summer, sir, and we are not greenhorns in the forest. We realize the +danger of fire to the forests as fully as well as you do. For your +information, I will merely say that we were in no wise to blame for the +fire at Section Forty-three. A tree fell over and scattered the embers +of our campfire, thus starting the forest fire and--" + +"All the more reason why you're not fit to be in the woods," answered +the ranger roughly. + +"Cut the rough talk!" admonished Lieutenant Wingate severely. "Had it +not been for us that blaze would have swept the whole state. We fought +it all night and until nearly noon next day. Stop growling! If you keep +on growling the bear and my bull pup will think you are an animal and +sail into you for keeps." + +"As I was about to say," reminded Grace, "my husband is a forester and +is in the North Woods now on official business. He was with us when the +fire occurred, and will join us further along in a few weeks." + +"Eh? What's his name?" demanded the ranger sharply, eyeing Grace with +new interest in his eyes. + +"Tom Gray," answered Grace. + +"Is he the fellow that's cruising the timber up here for the state?" + +"Yes." + +"Humph! Why didn't you say so before?" + +"I presume because you did not ask me," returned Grace demurely. "Now +that you understand, won't you please sit down and have breakfast with +us? We have plenty and really shall be glad to have you." + +"Well, I reckon I might as well," decided the ranger, striding over and +tying his horse to a sapling. + +Hippy introduced him to the members of the Overland party, the ranger +bowing awkwardly, but with the quiet dignity so characteristic of those +who have learned their lesson from the heart of nature herself. + +"Sorry, folks, that I had to be up a tree with you, but we must do our +duty and protect this forest. There are not many of 'em left in these +United States, and what there is, are going fast. I'll have a snack with +you." + +"Peace has been declared," murmured Emma. + +"Keep that menagerie away! I don't like bears nosing around me any +more'n I do wolves." + +"Wolves!" exclaimed Nora. "We heard one last night." + +"There are lots of 'em up here and they kill the game. The state offers +a bounty of seven dollars and a half for every one killed--every +full-grown critter; ten dollars for cubs." + +"You say the state desires to get rid of them?" questioned Emma. + +"All states do. They're varmints," answered the ranger. + +"Why don't they try dynamite?" asked Emma. "Perhaps the wolves might eat +it and go off." + +"Call the bear," suggested Hippy after a brief silence. + +The Overland Riders shouted, and the forest ranger grinned, the bull pup +joining in the merriment by barking and dashing about the camp, taking a +gentle nip at Henry's flank as he passed that none too good-natured +beast. + +"I reckon this _is_ a circus after all," choked the guide, trying to +talk and eat a slice of tough bacon at the same time. "Tell me what +happened about that fire. I reckon you haven't told the whole of it." + +Hippy thereupon related what they had discovered after the fire, as well +as the experiences they had gone through preceding the fire, to all of +which the forest ranger lent an attentive ear. + +"Hm-m-m!" he mused. "Reckon you haven't heard the last of that outfit. +Tatem'll have it up his sleeve for you long as he lives. Keep your eyes +peeled. That Dusenbery outfit is the biggest set of timber thieves in +the North Woods and I hope we catch 'em. Do I understand that your +husband is looking for 'timber-lookers' who are looking for easy money +on the sly, Mrs. Gray?" + +"He may be," smiled Grace diplomatically. + +"Mebby I'll run across him. Thanks for the snack. Thanks to you, Miss +Dean, for the wolf suggestion. I'll pass it on to the Game and Fish +Commissioner at St. Paul. I'll be off now." + +"How about this campfire, 'Chatty'? Do you still insist that we put it +out?" questioned Hippy solemnly. + +"Well," answered the ranger, stroking his chin reflectively, "being as +its you and further, being that I've broken bacon with you and heard a +real funny joke from Miss Dean here, I reckon I don't. 'Bye, folks. See +you some other time." The ranger led out his horse, mounted and rode +away. + +"That obstacle overcome," announced Miss Briggs in a tone of relief, "I +wonder what next." + +"If you will kindly cast your eyes downstream I think you will discover +three more obstacles on the way to the Overland camp, and, from the look +of them, I am inclined to feel that they are not harbingers of delight. +Girls, this really seems to be our 'Day at Home,'" said Grace Harlowe +laughingly. + +"Good night!" exclaimed Hippy Wingate after a quick glance downstream. +"Give Henry a poke in the ribs, Joe. Here's more trouble!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE WAY OF THE BIG WOODS + + +Three horsemen were seen approaching as rapidly as the uneven going +would permit. Two of the trio were holding their rifles under their arms +at a position indicating readiness for instant action. + +The Overlanders were observing them narrowly, and especially Joe Shafto, +who, having seen them first, and being suspicious of the newcomers, had +run for her rifle and thrown herself down behind a log, commanding Henry +to follow. The only other member of the Overland Riders who had a weapon +handy was Lieutenant Wingate, who wore the heavy service revolver that +he had carried while a fighting air pilot in France. + +Hippy's hand was close to the butt of his revolver, but he made no +effort to draw it, even though he believed that he and his party were +about to have trouble. + +"Keep clear, girls, and give me room," he warned. "May have to shoot." + +As the three strangers, one leading the way, reached the edge of the +camp, the two rear riders threw up their rifles and covered the +Overland party with them. + +"Put up yer hands!" came the command, sharp and incisive. + +"Put up your own," flung back Lieutenant Wingate, and the newcomers +found themselves facing his weapon. "Tag! You're it. What is this, +anyway?" + +"Drop that aire gun or I'll let ye have a hunk of lead!" threatened one +of the strangers. + +"No you won't. You haven't the nerve. I'll tell you what I will do. I +will put my revolver back in its holster provided you put down your own +weapons. If you make a move to shoot I will draw and wing you before you +can pull a trigger. If you don't believe me, try it. At the same time, +old tops, I would advise you that, though you don't know it, you are +already covered by a repeating rifle, and further, that should you make +a false move, the rifle is likely to go off." With that Hippy Wingate +thrust his revolver into its holster. "Your move. What's the joke?" he +demanded, casting a quick glance at the log behind which the forest +woman was hiding, and observing that her rifle barrel protruded over the +log ever so little, though the woman herself was not visible. + +The men did not lower their weapons, but the rider in advance rode right +into the camp. + +"You carrying guns? I mean game guns--rifles?" questioned the man in a +tone of severity. + +"Yes." + +"Shot anything?" + +"Not yet, but I came near shooting two men just now," answered Hippy, +scowling as savagely as he knew how. + +"Let me see 'em!" + +"There's one of them. Look at it! On that log yonder," he added, +pointing to Joe Shafto's rifle. "Want to see the rest of them?" + +"I reckon that's enough," answered the stranger. "I've heard that ye +folks was a tough bunch, and up here for a big killing. I'm the game +warden. I don't suppose ye even went to the trouble to git a license to +hunt in this state. Folks like you think they can git away with most +anything, but ye can't do it in these parts." + +"Game warden, eh? You guessed wrong, old Santa Claus. I have a license. +We all have licenses and we propose to do some hunting when the season +opens, though that is not the main purpose of our journey up here." + +"Show me." + +Hippy handed his license to the warden, which that officer read with +frowning attention. Handing it back he demanded to see the licenses of +the others, which Lieutenant Wingate had had the foresight to procure +before the Overland Riders came west. + +"Reckon you're all right so far as licenses is concarned, but ye can't +carry guns up here till the season--the game season's open," said the +game warden, handing back the licenses. + +"It's always an open season for the kind of game we are going to hunt," +Hippy informed him. + +"Eh? What kind's that?" + +"Your kind," retorted Hippy sharply. + +"That's all I've got to do with ye. I'd make ye give up the guns, but +these gents have something to say to you folks. They'll take care of yer +rifles and such." + +The game warden backed his horse away. His two companions, taking their +cue from his move, rode to the fore. + +Hippy surveyed them narrowly. + +"Here comes the rub," Miss Briggs confided to Grace. + +"We're deputy sheriffs," announced one. + +"Charmed, I'm sure," greeted Hippy, bowing with much dignity. "Making +early calls seems to be the way of the Big Woods. What do you want? Let +me see. So far to-day we have had two wardens and two deputy sheriffs. +Speak your piece, but remember that you are covered. It's just as well +while talking to me to keep your muzzles pointed towards the ground." + +"Are ye the fellows that burned up part of Section Forty-three?" asked +the deputy. + +"No. The fire did that. We are the fellows that put out the fire, or +there would be nothing left of a good part of that section except +blackened stumps and dead tree toads." + +"Seeing as ye admit it, that's all right." + +Hippy nodded. Grace and Elfreda had stepped up, just to the rear of +Hippy, that they might miss nothing of what was being said. The second +deputy kept a watchful eye on them, presumably to see that they played +no tricks on his companion. + +"The owner of that section, Hi Dusenbery, reckons as ye've got to pay +fer the loss of the timber ye burned, and I'm here, fer one thing, to +serve the papers on ye in the suit. Do ye accept service?" + +Hippy reached for the papers that the deputy held out, and, without +looking at them, tore them and dropped the fragments on the ground. + +"You shouldn't have done that," rebuked Miss Briggs. "Grace, help me +gather up the pieces. The idea!" + +"Anything else?" demanded Lieutenant Wingate. "I have had about enough +of this nonsense." + +"I reckon there is something else. Ye're charged with bein' dangerous +characters. Information has been laid against ye by one William Tatem, +otherwise known as Peg Tatem, accusin' some person unknown, but +belongin' to this party, of shootin' him through the leg." + +"It was a wooden leg, and the shots were not fired by any person or +persons in this party. We do not know who fired them," interrupted +Hippy. + +The deputy sheriffs grinned. + +"Ye are further charged with causin' certain wild animals, to wit, a +bear and a big ugly dog, to attack Peg Tatem and his men and do 'em +injury, to wit, bites and scratches, not to speak of a bad scare." + +"Well? There must be something more," urged Hippy. "What do you want me +to do?" + +"Peg opined that if ye would settle with him for the damages to his leg, +and pay him for the scare ye give him, and settle with his jacks for +what ye did to them, he might be willin' to let ye off." + +Grace said something to Elfreda under her breath and Elfreda nodded. +Both saw that Lieutenant Wingate's good nature was slipping from him, +that his temper was rising. + +"Don't do anything rash, Hippy," urged Grace in a low tone. + +"If I refuse, what then?" he demanded belligerently, addressing the +man. + +"That's up to ye." + +"I refuse to pay one copper cent!" roared Hippy. "Go tell that +timber-legged friend of yours that if he bothers us again he will either +get a bullet through his real leg or land in jail or both. Put that in +your pipe and smoke it! I don't believe you are deputies at all." + +"Then yer under arrest. The whole pack of ye is under arrest!" shouted +the deputy, suddenly throwing up his rifle. + +_Bang!_ + +A bullet whizzed past the deputy's head, fired from the ready rifle of +Joe Shafto, who, with finger on the trigger, was glaring through her big +horn-rimmed spectacles, alert for a suggestive move on the part of +either of the three men, which would be the signal for another shot from +her rifle. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +WILLY HORSE SHOWS THE WAY + + +Elfreda laid a hand on Lieutenant Wingate's arm, then stepped between +him and the deputy, who had lowered his rifle a little, hesitating, it +appeared, whether to shoot and take his chances or to adopt the safer +course. The fact that he chose the latter, and made no further effort to +intimidate them with his weapon, was significant to Miss Briggs. + +"Mister Man, I am a lawyer, and I will speak with you. I believe you +just said that we are all under arrest," reminded Elfreda in an ordinary +conversational tone. + +"Ye are that, unless ye settle up," blustered the fellow. + +"Then, of course, you have warrants. Have you?" + +"Well, well, no, I reckon I hain't. Don't need none. I'm an officer of +the law. This is my warrant," he said, tapping the rifle. + +"We have similar arguments, arguments that are fully as potent," replied +Miss Briggs significantly. "We decline to recognize any authority +unless backed by proper credentials. What county are you from, may I +inquire?" + +"St. Louis County," grumbled the deputy. + +"And your companion--is he from the same county?" + +"Yes. Come! I ain't got time for per-laverin' around. Are ye goin' to +pay up or go with us?" + +"Neither! You have no warrant; you have no proof that you are officers +of the law, and you admit that you are from St. Louis County. Grace, +what county are we now in?" + +"Beltrami County," replied Grace Harlowe, who had been consulting her +map. + +Miss Briggs nodded. + +"Out of your jurisdiction, Mister Deputy! It might be in order for me to +suggest that you remove your persons from our camp," finished Elfreda in +the same even tone with which she had carried on the conversation +throughout. + +"I'll see whether ye'll go with us or not!" raged the deputy. + +"Joe!" called Hippy sharply. "If these rough-necks don't go _instanter_, +trim 'em right." + +"Don't set Henry on them. They might hurt him," called Grace. + +"Get out!" commanded Hippy. + +The three men got, but before going they warned the Overland Riders that +they would have the law on them for shooting at officers in the +discharge of their duty. + +In reply, Hippy waved a hand and grinned, and the men rode away rather +more rapidly than they had come into the camp. + +"Great thought of yours, J. Elfreda," complimented Lieutenant Wingate. + +"Elfreda uses her head, Hippy. How much better than flying into a rage +and threatening your enemy with dire things," reminded Grace. + +"You don't always do that yourself," retorted Hippy. "Thanks, Joe. Had +it not been for you we might have had a disturbance." + +"Aren't we ever going to have peace?" wailed Emma. "I know I shall have +nervous prostration at this rate." + +"Cheer up. Let the voice of nature soothe your troubled spirits and rise +above such common things as mere officers of the law," comforted Hippy. +"What next?" + +"Suppose we break camp and move," suggested Grace. + +"Yes, yes; let's do so," urged Anne. + +"Do you think they will come back, darlin'?" questioned Nora anxiously. + +"Not before it is time for the swallows to build their nests under the +eaves." + +Joe, muttering to herself, went out to fetch in her pack mules, June and +July, preparatory to loading the equipment on them for the start. Joe +was a little rougher with the animals than usual, and their ears, tilted +back at a sharp angle, indicated their resentment, but the guide was too +angry to notice this danger signal. A sharp slap on June's thigh to make +the animal step over was followed by a lightning-like flash of two tough +little mule heels, and Joe Shafto was lifted from her feet and hurled +against July, and then July began to kick. + +The Overlanders, frightened for the safety of the guide, ran to assist +her, when, out of the mix-up, leaped the forest woman, her hair tumbled +down her back, and eyes blazing through the big horn-rimmed spectacles, +she having rolled under July and out of the way with amazing agility. + +"I'll larn ye, ye beasts!" she shrieked, running for her club. + +June felt the sting of it, and July grunted as the club descended on the +fleshy part of her hip, at the same instant shooting both hind feet into +the air; but this time Joe was out of reach. + +"Here, here!" cried Hippy, springing forward to interfere. "We don't +permit any one to beat animals in this menagerie," he chided, grabbing +the woman's club. + +"Leggo!" shrieked Joe, wrenching the club from his hands. "No man ain't +goin' to tell Joe Shafto what she kin do. Git out of here!" she raged, +advancing threateningly on Hippy. "I'll paste them mules when I want to, +and--" + +"That's all right, old dear," soothed Hippy, backing up laughingly, but +Joe followed him, shaking the club before his face. + +"Don't ye 'old dear' me. Mules is swine, and no better'n some men, and I +give ye notice no man ain't goin' to come 'tween me and my mules. I'll +paste 'em when I like, and I'll paste 'em like they did me, the +varmints, and I won't have no animile that walks like a man interferin' +'tween me and the mules and tellin' me what ter do. Git out of here +afore I give ye a wallop on the jaw, fer I'm goin' ter finish what I +begun on June, and her name'll be December when I git through, and don't +ye fergit it." Joe grabbed the mule by an ear, gave the animal a prod +with her club, then slapped June's face. + +"Consarn ye, ye pore insect that's tryin to look like a hoss, but that +ain't even got the skin of one, I reckon ye'll be good arter this," she +finished, and threw a pack over the back of the now thoroughly subdued +pack-mule. "Git started, ye folks, and don't say nothin' to me, for I'm +li'ble to git mad arter the stirrin' up them mules give me." + +"_Alors!_ Let's go," suggested Elfreda after the laughter of the +Overlanders had subsided. + +They were on their way a short time later, laughing as they headed for +the section on which they hoped eventually to meet Tom, and make +permanent camp. The forest woman had never been in that part of the +woods, but, knowing the general direction, thought she could hold to it +and come out somewhere near the spot they desired to reach. + +That night they lay down to sleep in the open, wrapped in their +blankets. For the week following the Overland Riders camped out in the +same way, and nothing occurred to mar the life of freedom and happiness +that they were leading. + +The river had been left to the right of them, for the sake of what Joe +said might be better going, and a fairly direct course was followed for +several days more. One night, however, they suddenly found themselves on +the banks of the Little Big Branch where it had taken a deep bend. Hippy +declared that it had made the bend to be near Emma and murmur sweet +nothings in her ear. + +"Listen well, little one," he admonished. "Tidings from the frozen +north, as well as messages intended for our ears alone, may be borne to +us through you. It is mighty fortunate that we have you with us." + +The bank of the river was their camp that night. The party slept just +under the bluff, protected by it and lulled to sleep by the gently +rippling waters of the forest stream. Early on the following morning +they were aroused by an uproar in the camp. Out of the uproar came the +shrill voice of their guide. + +"Get out of here, ye lazy good-for-nothin'. Think this 'ere is a +lumberjack hotel? Sick 'im, Henry! Sick 'im!" raged Joe Shafto. + +Grace, hearing the bear growl, sprang up and ran out. Her companions +were not far behind her. + +Sitting crouched over the campfire, which he had built, calmly cooking +his breakfast, was the Indian, Willy Horse, wholly undisturbed by the +uproar that his presence had created. + +"Call off the bear!" commanded Grace sharply. "The man is our friend." + +"He's a lazy good-for-nothin' and he's stole yer breakfast," protested +the forest woman, as she headed off Henry and drove him back with sundry +prods of her foot. + +"Good morning, Mr. Horse," greeted Emma. + +"Mornin'," answered the Indian briefly. + +Grace by this time was shaking hands with him; then the Overland girls +surrounded him and demanded to know why he had not been to see them +before. + +Emma started to tell Willy what a lot of trouble they had been in when +Grace interjected a remark that caused Elfreda to wonder. + +"Perhaps Willy Horse knows more about our late unpleasantnesses than you +do, Emma," said Grace. + +"Hello, old man. How are you?" cried Hippy, striding forward with +outstretched hand. + +"How do! You Big Friend. Me make breakfast fire here." + +"Help yourself," urged the girls. + +"All yours," added Hippy with a wave of the hand that encompassed the +entire camp. + +"Not includin' the guide," differed Joe Shafto. + +Grace told Willy to wait until their breakfast was ready and eat with +them, but the Indian shook his head and stolidly continued preparing his +own breakfast. When it was ready he ate it, then sat back and smoked his +pipe. + +"See other Big Friend," he finally vouchsafed. + +"Tom Gray?" questioned Grace, instantly divining who Willy meant. + +The Indian nodded his head. + +"Him say all right," he added after an interval of puffing. "Say him +come along bymeby. Say Willy Horse show you place to camp. Me show." + +"That will be fine. Did my husband say when he expected to join us?" +asked Grace. + +"Say him come along soon. You see other white men?" Willy bent a steady +look on the face of Hippy Wingate. + +"I should say we have. Deputy sheriffs, game wardens and a forest +ranger." + +"Yes, and we saw a fellow named Peg Tatem. We had a fight with him," +Emma informed their visitor. + +"So?" + +"Yes, we did, Mr. Horse. And some one shot a hole through his wooden +leg. Who do you suppose could have done that?" + +"Big Friend, huh?" he questioned, looking up at Hippy. + +"Not guilty," answered Hippy with a shake of the head. + +"How come?" demanded the Indian. + +Emma Dean told him the story, Willy listening gravely, puffing slowly at +his pipe, eyes fixed on the campfire. He smoked on in silence for some +time after the conclusion of her narrative. + +"Mebby Willy find out," he grunted. + +"You suspect, don't you?" demanded Elfreda, who had been narrowly +observing the Indian. + +"Make breakfast. We go soon. Willy show where make camp." With that the +Indian rose, turned his back on them and loped into the forest. They saw +no more of him for fully two hours, and were already packed up and on +their way when they saw him standing with shoulder against a great tree, +watching their approach. + +"You come along. Willy show," he directed as Hippy came abreast of him. + +"How long will it take to reach this camp?" asked Lieutenant Wingate. + +"Long time. Next sundown." + +"To-morrow's or to-day's sundown?" demanded Emma. + +"To-morrow." + +Willy resumed his Indian gait, shoulders leaning forward, toes pointed +inward, his center of gravity well forward, and in this position he +trotted along for hours. The party halted at noon, but Willy Horse +jogged on ahead and was soon out of sight. He rejoined them after they +had resumed their journey and did not again stop until just before dark +when he announced that they would camp where they were. The Indian then +made browse-beds in the open for the Overland girls, and again +disappeared. + +"What's the matter with that pesky savage?" demanded the forest woman. +"He's wuss'n the bear." + +Hippy suggested that perhaps the Indian had gone off by himself to +listen to the voices of nature. + +"Perhaps he has gone away to shoot somebody's wooden leg," suggested +Emma demurely. + +Elfreda nodded, and said she too was convinced that Willy Horse had +fired the shots that shattered Peg Tatem's wooden leg, and the girls +agreed with her. They never got any nearer to the truth of that +occurrence, for, when questioned later about it, Willy Horse seemed +unable to understand what they were talking about. + +The Indian did not reappear until the following morning. That day he led +them a long chase and kept the Overlanders at a fast jog. How he ever +stood up under it they could not imagine, and when they stopped he was +breathing naturally, and did not appear to be in the least fatigued. + +"Come camp to-night," he told them when asked how near they were to +their destination. + +The woman guide had little to say, but her sour expression told the +Overlanders that she was not pleased that the Indian was leading them. + +The skies clouded over late in the afternoon, and later a drizzling rain +set in, but they continued on, well protected by their waterproof coats, +the hoods of which covered their heads. Henry, however, was a +disconsolate-looking object, but Hindenburg, riding in Hippy's saddle +bag, was dry and cosy, sleeping soundly as the rain pattered on his +sleeping quarters. + +Night found the party still some little distance from its destination, +and Willy Horse was appealed to for encouragement. Emma wanted to camp +where they were but the others outvoted her, so on they rode. + +From then on the journey was an unpleasant one. The shins of the riders +were barked from contact with trees. Low-hanging limbs of small +second-growth trees slapped their faces and deluged the riders with +water, and altogether they were experiencing about the most unpleasant +ride that they had ever taken, except possibly that across the Great +American Desert earlier in their vacation riding. + +Grace, perhaps, was the only exception, in that she found herself +enjoying the unusual experience and the excitement of it, for the +stumbles of the ponies were frequent; here and there a tree was heard to +fall crashing to earth, and, high and piercing on the soggy night air, +they occasionally heard the mournful howl of a wolf. + +"There goes seven dollars and a half," Emma would wail every time a wolf +howled. + +Willy Horse finally shouted and indicated by a gesture, which was +revealed to the riders in the rear by Hippy's lamp, that he was about to +change his course. The Indian turned sharply to the right, proceeded in +a direct line for half a mile, as nearly as the Riders could judge, then +threw his arm straight up into the air. + +"Be we there?" yelled the forest woman. + +"We be. That is, we're here, but whether here is there or somewhere +else you will have to search the Indian for the answer. I don't know," +answered Hippy. + +"Wait! Me make fire," directed Willy. + +The Overlanders, having sat their saddles so long, were literally +sticking to the leather, but wrenched themselves loose, slid off and +leaned against the steaming sides of their ponies, while water from the +trees filtered over them and ran in rivulets down their coats. + +The flame of a cheerful campfire showed through the mist and was greeted +with a hoarse cheer by the cold Overland Riders. + +"Is this the place where we are to stay until Mr. Gray joins us?" called +Grace. + +"Yes," answered the Indian. + +"Land sakes! I never could have found it," exclaimed the forest woman. +"Leastwise not in the dark. Reckon I might a follered the river and got +here somehow, but not the way that pesky savage took us, and ter think I +had ter be showed by a heathen how to get here." + +The fire flamed into a snapping blaze, and then to the delight of the +party, they saw near at hand a large lean-to and two smaller ones. + +"Willy, did you make them for us?" wondered Anne. + +"Yes. Me make 'em." + +"But, they must be soaked through," protested Nora. "How shall we be +able to sleep in a lean-to on a night like this." + +"No leak. Bark on roof," the Indian informed her. + +"Come, girls. Let us stake down and get close to that fire. I am +shivering," urged Elfreda. + +"I expect my pup is too," said Hippy. "And the bear. Oh, where is he?" + +Henry had disappeared and his master was too busy to bother about him. + +After building a cook fire, Willy ran out into the forest, returning +soon thereafter with several large slices of bear meat, from stores that +he had safely cached, which he proceeded to fry over the fire while Mrs. +Shafto was boiling water for tea and opening cans of beans. The girls +threw off their wet garments and sank luxuriously into the browse floor +of their lean-to. + +"Oh, girls, this is worth all the discomforts we have been through, +isn't it?" cried Anne enthusiastically. + +"I don't know whether it is or not," answered Emma sourly. "Any port in +a storm, you know." + +Hippy came in wet and dripping after caring for the ponies, with +Hindenburg tucked safely under his coat. + +"Reminds me of France," he exclaimed jovially. "Say, children, may my +Hindenburg sleep in your quarters to-night? It will be warmer and more +comfortable for him than in mine." + +"No!" shouted the Overland girls. + +"He may sleep in the attic," suggested Emma. "Otherwise, on the roof. +Hippy, why do you keep that animal around? What is he good for except to +eat and sleep?" + +"Don't you malign my bull pup. He is a watch dog, the best ever, and--" +Hippy's remaining words were lost in the shout of laughter that +interrupted him. + +"Oh, Hippy, you are a scream," exclaimed Grace. "You know very well that +the only thing Hindenburg has watched since we started, is the food, and +always he has watched for us to throw some of it to him. Yes, he is a +wonderful watch dog." + +All were now crowded into the lean-to, except Willy, who, after cooking +the bear-meat, said "Bye," and went away. + +Good-nights were said early that evening and all hands turned in after +Mrs. Shafto had fed what was left of the supper to Henry. The bear had +come in immediately after getting the odor of one of his relatives being +cooked over the Overland Riders' campfire. + +Rain roared on the bark roofs of the lean-tos all night long, but the +girls, dry and cosy, slept the night through without once awakening, +with Henry on guard out there sitting under a tree in a disconsolate +attitude, now and then wearily licking the water from his coat. +Hindenburg, more favored, slept cuddled between Lieutenant Wingate's +feet. + +The present camp, it was understood between the Overlanders and Tom +Gray, was to be a permanent camp for some time to come, and it was here +that some of the most exciting scenes of their journey through the Great +North Woods were to be witnessed by them. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +IN THE INDIAN TEPEE + + +The rain had ceased, when Grace, the first of her party to awaken, +looked out as she lay on her browse bed. The river was shining in the +morning sun, glassy, save here and there where its waters rippled over a +shallow of gravel. + +"Turn out!" she shouted. "This is too wonderful to miss. Oh, look!" + +A canoe, with an Indian crouching in its stern wielding a paddle, was +skimming across the stream, not a sound or splash of paddle, nor hardly +a ripple from it to be heard or seen. + +"It's Willy Horse. Hurry, girls! Don't miss this wonderful nature +canvas." + +Exclamations were heard from all the girls after they had rubbed the +sleep from their eyes. By then Willy was nearing their shore, and the +bow of his canoe, a real birch canoe made by himself, landed on the +beach, whereupon, Willy threw out a mess of speckled trout, sufficient +for breakfast for the entire party, amid little cries of delight from +the girls. + +"Hey there, Thundercloud! Are those all for my breakfast?" called Hippy +from his lean-to. + +"Hippy!" rebuked Nora. + +"Oh, send him out in the woods to eat with Henry," advised Emma. + +While the Overland girls were washing at the river, Willy cleaned the +fish and handed them to the forest woman who already had the cook fire +going. And such a breakfast as the Overland party had that morning! +Following the meal they made Willy take them for a ride in his canoe, +two at a time; then Hippy and the bull pup took a skim up and down the +river with Willy at the paddle. + +"All we need now to make us feel like real aborigines is an Indian +wigwam or a tepee," suggested Grace to her companions. + +"What is the difference between them?" asked Miss Briggs. + +"A tepee is a temporary home; the wigwam is the Indian's permanent +abiding place." + +"Me make," announced Willy. + +"Oh, Mister Horse! Will you really?" giggled Emma. + +Willy grunted, and, shoving off his canoe, paddled swiftly away. He +returned an hour later, the canoe loaded with strips of birch bark which +he carefully laid on the shore. The Indian then trotted off into the +forest. On this trip he fetched an armful of "lodge"-poles. After +trimming them, he tied three together with a long deerskin thong, about +eighteen inches from the tops of the poles, carrying the thong about +them a few times and leaving the end of it trailing down. The rest of +the poles he stood against the sides of the tripod at regular intervals +all the way around. + +"Oh, it's an Indian house!" cried Emma. "It really is." + +Thus far the work had been quickly accomplished, and now came the +enclosing of the structure. This Willy did by laying strips of bark on +the sloping "lodge"-poles, carrying the leather thong about them to hold +the bark firmly against the poles. The entrance, formed by spreading +poles apart, faced the waters of the Little Big Branch. + +The tepee was finished shortly before eleven o'clock that morning, when +Willy hung a blanket of deerhide over the doorway. As yet, none of the +Overlanders had been permitted to look in and when they asked if they +might do so, "You wait. Me fix," answered the Indian, ducking into the +house he had created, and in a few moments they saw wisps of smoke +curling up from the peak of the tepee through the opening left by the +tops of the "lodge"-poles. + +"You come," announced the Indian as he stepped out. + +The girls lost no time in crawling into the tepee. Cries of delight rose +with the smoke of the lodge-fire that Willy had made with a few sticks +and pieces of bark, as they found themselves in a circular room fully +ten feet in diameter, in the center of which crackled a comforting +little fire, the draft carrying the smoke straight up and out of the +tepee. + +"What if it should rain?" questioned Emma apprehensively. + +"Me put cover over top," answered the Indian, whose stolid +expressionless face was peering in at them. "No rain come along. You +like?" + +Miss Briggs got up and offered her hand to him. + +"We do, Willy. But why do you do so much for us?" she asked. + +"Willy's Big Friends," he answered gruffly, and started to back out, but +the girls would not let him go until each had shaken hands with him and +thanked him. + +"By the way, where do you live?" wondered Nora. + +"Summer time live on reservation. Hunting time live up here in tepee. Me +show. Me go hunting, too. Mebby shoot deer, mebby big moose. Bye!" + +[Illustration: Grace Got One Spill and Essayed Another Attempt.] + +"Oh, don't go away," begged Grace. "We like to have you here, and I +wish, too, that you would let me paddle that beautiful canoe. It is the +first bark canoe I have ever seen. I know how to paddle a modern canoe, +but I saw this morning that the bark boat is an entirely different +craft. Will you teach me?" + +"Me show. Go meet Big Friend now." + +"Bring him back with you, Willy," urged Grace, but the Indian already +had withdrawn, and when they looked out he had gone. + +"Hey, you folks!" called Hippy, who was grooming Hindenburg with a horse +brush. "Where is the dinner?" + +Grace said she had forgotten all about it, and that Mrs. Shafto had gone +out to try to shoot a duck. + +"In the meantime we starve, eh? Hindenburg is so hungry that his sides +are caving in, and the bear has gone out into the woods to eat leaves. +By the way, Willy Hoss's canoe is down yonder hidden under the bushes. +He said you were to use it, Grace. He has gone away." + +After dinner, which was more in the nature of a luncheon, Mrs. Shafto +came into camp with three ducks which she had shot, and promised her +charges that they should have stuffed roast duck for supper. + +That afternoon Grace tried the canoe. She got one spill and was soaked +to the skin, but crawled back to shore laughing at her mishap, and +essayed another attempt. + +"I thought my canoe was cranky, but this beats everything," she called +to her companions as she again floated out on the stream in the bark +canoe. The Overland girl practiced for half an hour, during which she +got the hang of the cranky bark canoe and did very well paddling it. + +"Let me try it," begged Emma. + +"You will not," objected Hippy. "Think I want to plunge into that cold +water and rescue you?" + +"Do you think I am simple enough to fall in?" demanded Emma indignantly. + +"Yes, and as often as I could pull you out. Then again, you would lose +yourself listening to the voices of nature and get into a fine, wet +mess. That nature stuff makes me weary." + +Emma did not paddle the canoe that day, nor did any of the others +express a desire to do so. They saw no more of the Indian that day, and +that night the girls spread their blankets in the tepee. + +"We must have a fire in here for the sake of cheerfulness," urged Anne. + +"Yes. And burn ourselves up," objected Emma. + +"There should be no danger unless we roll into the fire in our sleep," +answered Miss Briggs. + +A small fire was kindled in the tepee, and, for a long time after they +had gone in for the night, the Overland girls sat with feet doubled +under them, enjoying the novel sensation of having for their use a real +Indian tepee, and listening to Joe Shafto relate some of her experiences +in the Big North Woods. + +The conversation was interrupted by Henry who poked his nose into the +tepee and sniffed the air inquisitively. A slight tap on his nose by the +guide sent the bear scampering away. After a hearty laugh at Henry's +expense, the girls rolled up in their blankets and went to sleep not to +awaken again until sunrise, when they were jolted out of their dreams by +a loud halloo. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE TRAIL OF THE PIRATES + + +"Tom's here!" shouted Grace. "All right, Tom. We will be out as soon as +we can find our way out of this roundhouse," she laughed, feeling for +the opening that, in the subdued light, looked like all the rest of the +tepee wall. + +Tom was bronzed and happy, and after greeting the girls he inquired for +Henry and Hindenburg. + +"The bear's out lookin' for his breakfast," answered the forest woman. + +"And the bull pup is asleep. He keeps bankers' hours instead of +attending to his business," complained Emma. + +After breakfast Tom told them of his work in the forest, adding that he +had observed evidences of the recent presence of timber-pirates. + +"That is, I have found their blazes, secret cuttings on trees in remote +sections. This discovery I have marked on the map, and will inform the +authorities after I have finished 'cruising' the Pineries. This +afternoon I shall work north to look over some virgin forest ground +near here. Come along with me, won't you, Hippy?" + +"Sure thing. We'll take Hindenburg for protection," agreed Hippy. + +"Why not take the rest of the party?" suggested Grace. + +"This is a business trip," replied Tom. "Of course you can go if you +wish, but it were better not, for we shall have to rough it in the real +sense of the word. Willy wants to go out with me, and may join us up +river sometime to-day." + +"Where is the measly redskin, Cap'n?" demanded Joe. + +"He has gone downstream. Willy has a camp a short distance below here. +That Indian is a real man." + +"We have found him so," agreed Elfreda. + +Joe Shafto grunted disdainfully. + +Tom remained at the camp until after dinner, replenished his supplies, +including a stuffed duck which the forest woman prepared for him; then +he and Hippy set out on their ponies for up-river points. + +"What is in the wind, Tom?" questioned Lieutenant Wingate after they got +under way. "I know you had some good reason other than merely desiring +my company, or you would not have asked me to go with you." + +Tom laughed heartily. + +"A little of both, Lieutenant. I hear that timber-pirates have been +making some cuttings above here, and I wish you to go along as a witness +to what I may find. That's all." + +"No scraps in sight, eh?" + +"Oh, no." + +Hippy sighed. + +"Tell me about it." + +"Timber thieves seek the remote places and look for suitable plots that +can be cut off and floated downstream to the mills. There the logs are +thrown in with other logs, and branded on one end to correspond with +such logs as have been procured in a legitimate way. Should the pirates +be discovered, they frequently buy the plot, if they represent a big +concern, and nothing more is done so far as the authorities are +concerned." + +"You don't mean to say that reputable lumber companies go in for +anything of that sort, do you?" wondered Hippy. + +"I did not say 'reputable.' Of course not. All big concerns are not +necessarily reputable in the sense you mean, but there is many a man +to-day who holds his head high in the world, though the foundation of +his business was stolen timber." + +Hippy uttered a low whistle of amazement. + +"Look there!" exclaimed Tom Gray late in the afternoon as they rode into +a "cutting" from which the timber had been removed. Several acres had +been cut off, and skidways built up for more extensive operations, +probably for that very season. + +Upon consulting his map, the forester found, as he had expected, that +the timber was not charted as belonging to private individuals. Tom +pointed to a man-made dam in the river. It had been constructed of +spiles--small logs, driven in like posts, set so that they leaned +upstream. The water gates were open, and, upon examination, showed that +logs had been floated there, for the marks of the logs were visible on +the sides of the gates and on the tops of the spiles. Added to this, the +floor of the dam was covered with last season's logs, hundreds of them. + +"Will you please tell me why a dam is necessary to lumbering?" +questioned Lieutenant Wingate. + +"To provide a good head of water on which to float logs down to the +mills when the river is low. The logs are dumped into the dam until it +is full; the gates are then opened and the logs go booming down towards +the mills. To be fully equipped there should be a second dam above this +one to wash down such timber as fails to clear. We will go on further +and see what we find." + +They found the second dam, constructed across the river at a narrow +spot. It had been quite recently built, as Tom Gray found upon examining +the spiles and comparing their age with those of the lower dam. + +"This looks to me like a fine piece of timber," he announced with a +sweeping gesture that took in the great trees that surrounded them. "We +will cruise as far as we can before dark and go over the rest of the +section to-morrow." + +"And you believe 'pirates' are trying to hog all they can of it, do +you?" questioned Hippy. + +"There can be no doubt of it. We have evidence of that." + +"Suppose some one should step in and buy the section--what then?" + +"It would serve the robbers right," declared Tom Gray with emphasis. + +"What is the section worth?" + +"Too much money for us. Say fifty to seventy-five thousand dollars, or +even more if it is owned by private persons. If the state owns it, the +latter figure probably would be about what one would have to pay for the +timber rights." + +"At the latter price how much could a fellow expect to clear on the +deal?" persisted Hippy. + +Tom said it would depend upon whether one sold the logs delivered at the +mill, or worked them into lumber at his own mill. It was his opinion +that the holder should earn a profit of a hundred thousand dollars or +more, in the latter instance, provided he had proper shipping +facilities. + +"Of course, here you have the river on which to float your logs down to +the mill, which should be located at or near the lakes," added Tom. + +"Look it over carefully to-morrow. I am getting interested to know more +about the lumber business. One can't have too much knowledge, you know. +Now that we have sold our coal lands in Kentucky, you and I are +interested in high finance. Eh, Tom?" + +"Thanks to you, Hippy, we are." + +The coal lands to which Hippy referred were part of an estate that had +been willed to him by an admiring uncle while Lieutenant Wingate was a +member of the United States Army Air Forces in France. The Overland +Riders had made the Kentucky Mountains the scene of their summer's +outing the year before their present journey, and there experienced many +stirring adventures. Hippy, at first, decided to work the mines himself, +with Tom Gray as his partner, but that winter they received an offer for +the property and sold it outright for a large sum of money, which +Lieutenant Wingate insisted they should share equally. + +The two friends, after sitting about their campfire until a late hour +that night discussing the subject that had taken strong hold of Hippy's +mind, lay down to sleep in the open. + +Immediately after breakfast next morning Tom and Hippy started out to +make a thorough "cruise" of the pine trees in the section from which a +few acres of logs had been cut. They finished their work late in the +afternoon, but Tom did not venture a further opinion on what he had seen +until they were on their way to their camp, where they had decided to +remain another night. + +"Well?" demanded Hippy finally. "Speak up! How about it, Tom?" + +"Hippy, you have looked upon the finest plot of virgin timber to be +found anywhere outside the states of Oregon and Washington. I wish +someone would buy it and beat those pirates out. It is a burning shame +to let them get away with it." + +"Where would one have to go to find out about it?" + +"St. Paul, possibly. Why?" + +"I was just wondering, that's all," answered Lieutenant Wingate +thoughtfully. + +Hippy asked who owned the timber adjoining the section, but Tom did not +know that any individual owned it because the map showed that it was +still a part of the state forest reserve. + +"You see these maps were issued some months ago, and many changes may +have taken place in that time, though they are really supposed to be up +to date." + +"Is Willy likely to be up here to-day, Tom?" + +"No. I asked him to keep within easy reach of the Overland camp at night +while we are away." + +Willy, being a man of his word, guarded the Overland camp jealously for +two nights, but on the morning of the next day, just before daybreak, he +started to go upstream and look for the two absent men, his +understanding being that they were to be away but one night. He was +hiking along the river bank when Hippy, who had remained with the horses +while his companion went into the forest for a final brief survey before +starting for home, discovered the Indian who hailed him. + +"How do?" greeted the Indian. + +"Nothing wrong at camp, is there?" questioned the Overland Rider +anxiously. + +"No. Me come see where Big Friends go." + +"That is fine. You are just the man I wish to see. Who cut off this +timber, Willy?" indicating the cutting that he and Tom had first +discovered. + +"Not know. Somebody steal um." + +"That is what Captain Gray says. Perhaps it was cut by a new +owner--someone who has bought this plot, Willy." + +The Indian, gazing on the stumps in the clearing with expressionless +eyes, shook his head slowly. + +"This section belongs to the state, I think," ventured Hippy. + +"No belong state." + +"Who, then?" + +"Belong Chief Iron-Toe. Him Chippewa chief--Big Chief." + +Lieutenant Wingate became instantly alert. + +"Are you positive of that, Willy?" + +The Indian nodded. + +"Do you know the gentleman with the iron toe?" + +"Him my father." + +Hippy was a little taken back by the answer, but his eagerness for more +information overcame what might have become embarrassment. + +"Your father! Do you think he would sell the section?" he asked eagerly. + +"No sell." + +"But I wish to buy it, Willy." + +"You buy?" questioned the Indian, regarding Lieutenant Wingate +thoughtfully. + +"Yes." + +"You Big Friend. Me fix." + +"Do you mean it?" + +"Me fix." + +"Good. When?" + +"Next sun-up. We go Chippewa Reservation." + +"How far?" + +"Two sun ride." + +"Say nothing to anyone about this. I'll say whatever is necessary to my +friends. You wake me when you think best to start for the Chippewa +Reservation to-morrow morning and we will be off. Want a horse, Willy?" + +"Me take pony." + +It was settled, and on the way back to the camp of the Overlanders +during that afternoon Hippy confided his plan to Tom Gray, but Tom was +doubtful of its success. He said he already knew what Hippy had had in +mind, and that if he were able to buy the section for anything within +reason there would be a fortune in it. + +"Will you go in on the deal with me?" asked Hippy. + +"Yes, if you keep within my resources. Thanks to you for letting me in +on your coal land deal in Kentucky I have some funds that I can use. +That was like giving the money to me, and I have been ashamed of myself +ever since for letting you drag me into any such deal." + +"Chop it, Tom. As Willy would say, 'You Big Friend.' Say nothing to any +of the folks, unless you wish to confide in Grace. I shall, of course, +tell Nora where I am going and why." + +During the rest of the journey back to the Overland camp, the two men +discussed the plan of action that Hippy should follow--provided he got +the timber plot--the hiring of men and the purchase of equipment, and, +by the time they had reached the Overland camp, all details were +settled. Nothing was said to either Grace or Nora until that evening, +when the two Overland men confided their plans to their wives. + +Next morning, before the camp was astir, the Indian had awakened +Lieutenant Wingate and the man and the Indian had ridden away in the +dark of the early morning. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL + + +"What ye moonin' 'bout?" demanded Joe Shafto, giving Nora Wingate a prod +with a long bony finger. + +"I am worrying about Mr. Wingate, Mrs. Shafto. He was to have been back +in two days, and here it is nearly two weeks since he and the Indian +went away." + +"Indians is all varmints, anyway, but don't ye worry 'bout that man of +yers. Ain't worth it. None of 'em is." + +"Don't you say that about my Hippy," rebuked Nora indignantly. "I love +my husband, just as you loved yours." + +The forest woman laughed harshly. + +"Ain't no such thing as love. A man's just a man, kind of handy to do +the chores and bring home the venison. Henry's worth a whole pack of +husbands, and I kin wallop Henry when he don't mind. Best thing 'bout +Henry is that he can't jaw back at me." + +"He can growl at you, can't he?" returned Nora, laughing in spite of her +worry. + +"He kin, and he kin git a clip on the jaw, like I give my man once. No, +sir. Bears is better company than is men. I know for I've tried 'em +both. Take my advice and when ye wants to git another husband, jest git +a bear instead." + +"But bears are beasts," laughed Grace, who had joined the two in time to +hear Mrs. Shafto's advice. + +"So's men. Bears growl--so does men. Mules kick, like June and July--so +does men. Animiles live for nothin' but to git fed and sleep. So does +men. What's the difference?" + +The girls laughed heartily. + +"Your logic is excellent, but your philosophy is not sound," replied +Grace. "There is such a thing as companionship and helpfulness, and the +finer things of human association." + +The forest woman sniffed. + +"Ain't no such thing," she retorted. Joe stalked away to attend to her +duties, and in a few moments the Overland girls heard her berating the +bear. + + +Tom Gray, during the period of Lieutenant Wingate's absence, had made +frequent trips to the section that Hippy wished to buy, and now knew to +a certainty that it was a prize plot of timber. Tom was in the Overland +camp on this particular day, mapping out the timber tract in detail, +though with little idea that it could be purchased at a price within +their means. He was at work on the map when he heard Hindenburg barking +excitedly. + +"Something unusual must be on to make the bull pup raise such a +disturbance," muttered Tom, tossing his map aside and crawling from the +tepee. + +He saw Nora was running, crying out that Hippy had returned. + +"Hooray! Meet me with food!" shouted Hippy. "I've been living on iron +rations for two days because bears ate up our fresh stuff and tried to +eat the mess kits too. Hulloa, Tom!" + +"What luck?" asked Tom, after shaking hands. + +"The best. We have met the enemy and he's 'ourn,' as Mother Shafto would +say. Don't ask me a question until my stomach begins to function." + +A luncheon was quickly prepared, and Hippy had plenty of attention, all +the girls standing about while he ate, ready hands passing food until +Hippy could eat no more. + +"Where's that pesky Indian?" demanded the guide, frowning. + +"He is coming along with a bunch of men and supplies to show them the +way to our claim. Twenty jacks, a cook and a fiddler will be here late +this afternoon, together with a knock-down bunk-house, sufficient food +supplies for two weeks, tools, and I've got a supply of cash to pay the +hands. Now what have you to say for yourself, Tom Gray?" + +"I was waiting to inquire what sort of a deal you made." + +"Say, folks! Had it not been for Willy Horse I should not have got the +property at all. That chief with the iron toes is a shrewd old duffer. +He has owned the property for some years, and all that time the Hiram +Dusenbery Company has been trying, by fair means or otherwise, to buy it +of him, but Old Iron-Toe put the price so high that they preferred to +wait, hoping that when he got hard up he might be willing to sell for +less." + +"Did he know that timber-thieves had been helping themselves to trees?" +questioned Elfreda. + +"No. Willy told him. Willy saw the chief first and the deal really was +made before I even saw the old fellow. Well, we smoked a pipe of peace +together and he didn't say a word for a whole hour after I was +introduced. Finally he grunted: + +"'You Big Friend Willy Horse. Big Friend me, too. What you give?' + +"I told him to make his own price and I would consider it--that I wished +to take no advantage, nor did I desire to pay a price that would not +leave me a profit. Well, we sat and the chief smoked for another hour. + +"'You give ten thousand money. You give one-eighth what you make to +Chief Iron-Toe. You Big Friend.' + +"'It's a bargain!' I said, just like that. Old Iron-Toe handed me his +pipe again. I took another pull at it. Bah! It was awful. It nearly +strangled me, but it sealed the compact. We went to the county seat +where the property was transferred to Wingate & Gray and the deed filed, +after which I gave him my check for ten thousand dollars." + +Tom, who had been doing some rapid figuring while Lieutenant Wingate was +speaking, glanced up, smiling. + +"I don't know how you did it, but you have a wonderful bargain. There is +a fortune in those trees." + +"I didn't do it at all. Willy Horse did it, and he is going to have the +best job that can be dug up for him, provided my influence has weight +with the firm of Wingate & Gray. Tom, it's up to you, now. You are the +brains of this establishment. Go to it. I've done my share so far as it +has gone." + +"You have, indeed. How is the equipment being brought in?" + +"By mule teams. I reckon, too, that they will have a fine tune getting +in here on the trail that leads to the Dusenbery Company's works above +our section and--" + +"I say, Mister Lieutenant, do I understand ye to say that a pa'cel of +lumberjacks is comin' here?" interrupted Joe Shafto. + +"Yes." + +"Then I quits right now. Don't want no truck with them critters." + +"That's all right, old dear. You just keep right on with the outfit, and +if a lumberjack so much as looks at you, set the bear on him. I know +what Henry can do in that direction, having had a run-in with him +myself." + +"Don't ye 'old-dear' me!" growled Joe. "Started that agin, have ye? Miss +Wingate, if ye don't tame that husband of yers with a club, I will." Joe +winked at Nora as she said it. + +"Leave him to me, Mrs. Shafto. Hippy, go wash your face. You are a +perfect sight. I'm positively ashamed of you." + +"That's all right, Nora. That relieves me of the necessity of being +ashamed of myself. Joe, you merely imagine that you dislike lumberjacks. +There are some good fellows among them. They aren't all so bad as you +paint them," said Hippy soothingly. + +The forest woman flared up. + +"I hate the whole pack and pa'cel of 'em! I-hate 'em wuss'n a scalded +pup hates vinegar on his back. I'll stay, of course, but I'll sick Henry +on 'em if they bothers me; then I'll turn my back and fergit that +Henry's chawin' up a human bein'. So there!" + +The Overland girls laughed merrily, and Grace linking an arm into the +guide's led her down to the river where the two sat down, Grace to give +Joe Shafto friendly advice, and Joe to accept it as she would from no +other member of the Overland Riders. + +In the meantime Tom and Hippy were discussing their plans. They spent a +good part of the day doing so. After dinner Grace and Elfreda paddled up +the river in the bark canoe, returning just before suppertime, faces +flushed from their exercise, and eyes sparkling. + +Early next morning Willy Horse and the advance guard of the timber +outfit arrived on the scene, as was evidenced by sundry shouts up-river. +Tom and Hippy hurried upstream to meet the party, and later in the day +the Overland girls came up to watch the work already in progress. A +knock-down bunk-house was rapidly going up, and the cook with pots and +kettles over a brisk fire in the open was preparing supper for the +lumberjacks. + +The jacks were a hardy two-fisted lot of men, Swedes, Norwegians, French +Canadians, half-breeds and a few sturdy Americans, though the latter +were greatly outnumbered. Tom was bossing the gang and doing it like a +man who had handled lumberjacks before. + +"Why so rough with them?" remonstrated Grace. + +"Because I know the breed. Be easy with jacks and they think you are +afraid of them, and will promptly take advantage of you. One must, not +for a moment, let them feel that he is not master of the situation and +of them. You will discover that sooner or later." + +By night the bunk-house was ready for occupancy, though the bunks were +not yet in place and the men would be obliged to sleep on the floor for +one night at least. After a hearty supper, well cooked under the +observant eyes of Tom Gray, the lumberjacks retired to their shack, and +the sound of the fiddle and the shuffle of dancing feet, accompanied by +shouts and yells, rose from the bunk-house, which was located near +enough to the Overland Riders' camp to enable them to hear, and to see, +if they wished, what was going on. + +Willy Horse was the guest of the Overlanders, though he refused to eat +with them, and sat all the evening by the fire saying never a word, +which is the Indian's idea of friendly conversation. + +On the following day, under Tom Gray's supervision, the construction of +the dam for the new owners was begun across a narrow part of the river, +a little upstream from the Overland camp. In order to lower the water in +the river while they were driving the spiles, Tom had the men put the +gates in place in the dam built further up the stream by the +timber-pirates. This, in the low condition of the river, would keep the +water back for several days and give Tom's men a better opportunity to +build his dam. + +Henry had made several cautious visits to the scene of operations, which +he viewed from the high branches of a tall pine, and, upon descending, +soundly boxed the ears of a lumberjack who attempted to make friends +with him. + +"Tom," said Grace one evening after a few hours spent by her watching +the work, "who is the short, thick-set lumberjack with the red hair?" + +"The one with the peculiar squint in his eye?" + +"Yes. That is the man." + +"The men call him Spike. I don't know what the rest of the name is. +Why?" + +"I don't like his looks. Then again there is something about him that +reminds me of someone that I have seen--I mean in unpleasant +circumstances." + +"I fear our guide has prejudiced you against lumberjacks, and I know +that she has taught Henry to hate the whole tribe. One shouldn't look +for drawing-room manners in a lumberjack. We have a loyal gang of men, +men who will fight for us, if necessary, and who certainly can work. +That, it appears to me, is the answer." + +"Very well. I shall keep my eye on him, just the same. Hark! I thought I +heard someone coming." + +Tom and Grace were sitting by the campfire. The others of their party, +with the exception of Mrs. Shafto and the bear, were listening to the +fiddle and the thudding of the hob-nail boots of the lumberjacks as +they danced away the early hours of the evening. + +"Never mind. The pup will take notice." + +"The only thing the pup takes notice of is, as Emma Dean says, food!" +laughed Grace. "Someone _is_ coming, Tom." + +"Hindenburg!" commanded Tom Gray sharply. + +The bull pup, sleeping by the fire, roused himself, wiggled his stubbed +tail, and, rolling over on his side, yawned and promptly went to sleep +again. Tom Gray glanced quickly towards the shadows that lay to the rear +of them, and, as he did so, a figure appeared. + +"Willy, is that you?" he demanded, as a familiar movement revealed the +identity of the figure. + +"Yes." + +Grace asked the Indian where he had been. He mumbled an unintelligible +reply, then turned to Tom. + +"Two men come. They watch shack. Me want to shoot, but not do." + +"Certainly not," rebuked Tom. "What do you think they want?" + +"Come spy on camp. I spy on them. Fix guns and creep up. Look in windows +and whisper. Bah! No good. What do?" + +"Have they rifles? Perhaps they are hunters," suggested Tom. + +"No hunt. Me watch." Willy Horse melted into the shadows. + +"Who can it be?" wondered Grace. + +"Hunters, of course. Willy Horse's zeal has run away with his judgment. +I think--" Tom paused. Protesting voices were heard back in the forest, +voices raised in angry resentment. Two men suddenly burst out into the +light of the campfire, followed by Willy Horse close at their heels, his +rifle pressed against the back of a panting man. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +PEACE OR WAR? + + +"Here, here! What's this?" demanded Tom Gray, springing up. "Willy!" + +"This is an outrage!" panted the man against whose back Willy Horse held +the rifle. The stranger's red hair fairly bristled as he cautiously +removed his hat and mopped the perspiration from face and forehead. +"I'll have the law on you, you low-down redskin!" + +"Easy there, pardner. This Indian is not low-down," retorted Tom Gray in +a warning tone. "Willy is our friend. What is it you wish, sir?" + +"Am I on the section recently purchased by Wingate & Gray?" + +"You are, sir. I am Tom Gray. Mr. Wingate will be here shortly. Won't +you sit down?" urged Tom. "That is all right, Willy. Please ask +Lieutenant Wingate to come here," he added, nodding and smiling to the +Indian, who backed away into the shadows. + +"I am Chet Ainsworth, timber agent," said the stranger. "This is my +guide, Tobe Skinner. I'm here to talk a little business with you. Tobe +thought he knew the way, but we got a thousand miles out of it. While we +were trying to decide whether this was a lumber camp or a state's prison +colony that Indian ruffian got the drop on us and drove us in. Tobe +would have shot him on the spot if the Indian hadn't beat him to it by +getting the drop on him. I'll see the Indian agent 'bout that when I go +back. I'll--" + +"Hippy!" called Tom as he saw Lieutenant Wingate and others of the +Overland outfit strolling towards camp. "Meet Mr. Ainsworth, and his +guide, Mr. Skinner. They are here on a business matter, the nature of +which I do not know. We are ready to hear what you have to say, Mr. +Ainsworth." + +Grace rose and said she would have Mrs. Shafto prepare food for the two +men. + +"I'm ready to hear the story, Ainsworth," announced Hippy, nodding. + +"Are you the party that bought Section Seventy-two, Mr. Wingate?" asked +Ainsworth. + +Hippy nodded. + +"Without wishin' to be personal, may I ask what you paid for it?" + +"You have my permission to ask anything you wish. I reserve the right to +answer or not. The answer is _not_! in this instance," replied Hippy. + +"No offense, no offense," answered the agent, assuming a jovial tone. "I +represent certain interests that have been negotiating for this very +property, parties that already have large holdings in this vicinity, and +who wish an uninterrupted stretch of timber and river to the lakes." + +"Yes?" questioned Hippy. + +"Of course they knew you bought on speculation, because you ain't +lumbermen, and they reckoned they'd buy it from you so as to give you a +fine profit on your investment. That's why I asked you what you paid for +the property." + +"Yes?" repeated Hippy. + +"No man can say that ain't a fair offer. Now we'll get right down to +business, Mister--Mister--" + +"Wingate," assisted Tom. + +"We'll get right down to business, Mr. Wingate. You will sell?" + +"Sure thing. I'll sell anything I have except my wife and the bull pup." + +"Good! I reckoned that was about the size of it," chuckled Ainsworth, +passing a hand across his face to hide his expression of satisfaction. +"What's your figger?" + +"Half a million." + +"Feet?" + +"No. Dollars." + +"Are you crazy?" + +"Yes." + +"Ha, ha! I see. You're one of those funny fellows," laughed the agent. +"That's all right, Pard. Have your little joke, and now let's get down +to business. What'll ye take cash down, balance ninety days, for the +section?" + +"Half a million. What will you give?" + +"Twenty-five thousand," answered the agent quickly. + +"The deal is off," said Hippy, rising. + +"Wait a minute! You're too confounded sudden. I want to argue the +question," urged the visitor. + +"No. You have made your offer; I have made my offer. The subject is +closed. Come, have a snack. I see the girls have it ready for you, and +let's talk about the weather. I think it is going to snow." + +Tom, though he had with difficulty repressed his laughter, offered their +guests every attention, and so did the Overland girls, but the subject +of the sale of the claim was not again referred to that evening, except +just before bedtime. None of the girls was favorably impressed with +either Mr. Ainsworth or his guide, and during the meal the forest woman +glared threateningly at the pair through her big spectacles. Near its +close, the visitors got a shock that nearly frightened Chet Ainsworth +out of his skin, and at the same time sent the Overland Riders into +unrestrained peals of laughter. + +Henry, who had been out of sight ever since the arrival of the two men, +had ambled into camp observed only by Emma Dean who hugged herself +delightedly when she saw the bear's intention. + +A yell from Chet Ainsworth when he felt the hot breath of the beast on +his neck, as Henry sniffed at it, brought every one, including Chet, to +their feet. Tobe Skinner whipped out his revolver and would have fired +at the animal had not Tom Gray gripped his wrist. + +"He's tame. Don't be frightened," soothed Hippy. "All the animals in our +menagerie are halter-broken and milk-fed. Sit down. Go away, Henry! The +gentleman's nerves are a little upset after his sprint with Willy +Horse." + +Mr. Ainsworth sat down, but the guide did not do so until Mrs. Shafto +had called off her animal and made him lie down. + +"That was the voice of nature whispering to you, Mr. Ainsworth," +suggested Emma demurely. "Henry had a message for you. You should have +listened. Did you ever have the birds of the air, or the beasts or the +trees, tell you their secrets, sir?" Emma's face wore a serious +expression. + +Chet and Tobe gazed at her with sagging jaws, then glanced at Hippy. + +Hippy Wingate tapped his own head with a finger and sighed. + +"They do get that way sometimes. We have others in our outfit who are +similarly affected," he said sadly. + +"So I have discovered," articulated Ainsworth. "I reckon we'll be +going." + +"Certainly not," interjected Grace. "Don't mind Mr. Wingate. He too is +somewhat queer at times. You will stay here to-night, both of you. We +could not be so inhospitable as to permit you to start out at this hour +of the night. In the morning you will have breakfast and, if you wish, +an early start." + +"Sure," agreed Tom. "We have a lean-to that is not occupied. You can +bunk in there." + +"Thanks, but chain up that bear or I won't be responsible for what +happens. Think over my offer to-night," he urged, turning to Hippy. +"After you have slept over it you will see that it is to your best +interests to accept." + +"Thanks," answered Hippy. "Good-night." + +After the visitors and the Overland girls had turned in, and the +campfire was fixed for the night, Tom and Hippy had a confidential talk, +their visitor and his proposals being the subject of the discussion; +then they too sought their browse-beds. + +Yells and a shot, punctuated by screeches from Joe Shafto, awakened all +hands in the gray of the early morning. + +"Is it peace, or is it war again?" mumbled Anne, sitting up and rubbing +her eyes sleepily. + +"It certainly does sound like war, but I think it is only the beginning +of it," answered Grace, hurriedly throwing on her clothes and running +out to see what the uproar was about. What she saw caused Grace and her +companions, who had followed her out, to utter gasps of amazement. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +A WISE OLD OWL + + +"What's the trouble, Tom? Oh, stop them!" cried Grace. + +"Let her finish it," answered Tom briefly. + +"Sick 'em, Henry!" shouted Hippy Wingate, who saw the black bear humping +himself across the camp, not yet having discovered what the uproar was +about. "What's this? What's this?" he cried, suddenly comprehending. + +Tobe Skinner, with streaming face which Joe Shafto had hit with a pot of +hot coffee, was sprinting for the timber, after having taken a shot at +the bear with his revolver. Following him came Chet Ainsworth puffing +and raging, with Henry on his hind legs in close pursuit, making +frequent swings with his powerful arms and soundly boxing the head of +the fleeing man, and Joe Shafto prodding the bear to urge him on to +further effort. + +Neither Tom nor Hippy made a move to interfere, but Grace sped forward +and placed a firm hand on the forest woman's arm. + +"Stop him!" commanded Grace sternly. "Stop him, I say! He will kill the +man." + +"Serve the houn' right if the bear did. I'll larn 'em to mind their +business, the sarpints! Henry!" A sharp rap over the bear's shoulder +slowed the animal down. A second tap brought him to all fours, with his +mistress's hand fastened in the hair of his head. + +"That'll do, Hen. These soft-hearted folk ain't goin' to let ye chaw the +gentleman up to-day, but, if ever I set eyes on either of the scum agin, +I'll give the varmints what's comin' to 'em, and I'll do it sudden-like, +and I'll do it so it stays done, and there won't be nobody to stop me +next time. If ye don't believe it, jest give me the chance. And to think +I had to waste a perfectly good pot of coffee on that timber-robber's +head. He's a skin and a tight-wad, and I'll bet my month's wage that he +robs the birds of their eggs to save the price of keepin' a hen of his +own." + +"Please! Please," begged Grace laughingly. "Which one of the pair do you +mean?" + +"Both of 'em. They ain't here for no good. Wait till I tell ye what they +did and ye'll see--" + +"Just a moment. Tell it to all of us," urged Grace, leading the irate +woman and her tame bear up to her companions. + +"Why did you stop them, Grace?" growled Hippy. "First fun we've had +since Emma discovered the animal under the table. What's the joke, old +dear?" + +The forest woman was so angry over her recent experience that she forgot +to chide Hippy for his familiarity. + +"Matter? Matter enough. As I was sayin' to Miss Gray, them varmints +ain't here for no good, and ye ain't heard the last of 'em by a long +shot. They'll be back. Take Joe Shafto's word for that, and they won't +be back alone, 'cause they're too big cowards. Yaller streaks in both of +'em. I'll bet the pair of 'em was trying to get this timber lot away +from ye. Don't ye have no dealin's with 'em. Don't want no truck with +them kind of cattle, and I'll tell ye right now that if they show their +yaller faces 'round here agin, I'll set my Henry on 'em for keeps." Mrs. +Shafto gasped for breath preparatory to entering on a fresh tirade, when +Tom Gray, embracing the opportunity, got in a question. + +"Suppose you tell us what the row was about. What was it?" he asked. + +"The varmints tried to bribe me, that's what." + +"Bribe you!" exclaimed the Overlanders in chorus. + +"That's what I said." + +"Why didn't you take it?" demanded Hippy. "That was easy money." + +"To do what?" questioned Elfreda, her professional interest instantly +aroused. + +"To find out what ye paid for the section and just what ye opined ye'd +do with it. They reckon ye're holdin' it on 'spec' and that they kin git +it fer a little mor'n ye paid for it. If they can't do that, I opined +from what the varmints said, that they'd git the property some other +way. Wanted me to find out just what yer plans was and to writ' 'em down +and leave 'em in a holler log up next the dam above the one ye're +buildin'." + +"What did you say to that?" questioned Elfreda. + +"I sicked Henry on 'em and soaked the guide feller with part of the +breakfast. I'd a done a heap more if I'd had the time." + +"How much did they offer you?" inquired Emma interestedly. + +"Two dollars and a half, and said they'd leave as much more after they +got what they wanted." + +"Two dollars and a half!" exclaimed Hippy. "And you refused two dollars +and a half? Why, old dear, that's a fortune. I am amazed that they +should have been so liberal. Positively reckless, I should say. Discard +such riches? It is unbelievable." + +"When were they to call for this information?" questioned Miss Briggs. + +"They didn't say. I was to leave it there, that's all," growled Joe, +stalking to her breakfast fire and resuming her operations there. + +"Would it not be a good plan to have Willy Horse watch the log and see +if he can give our 'friends' a scare?" asked Grace. + +"Yes, but Willy is inclined to be violent," laughed Tom. "You saw what +happened to Ainsworth and his guide when they sneaked up to our camp +last night, didn't you? Next time the Indian might do something rash. +What do we care, who or what? The property is ours and we are going +ahead with our plans. We shall soon put in a portable mill at the mouth +of the river, float our logs down and saw them there where the lake +steamers can pick up the lumber. Let the disappointed ones rage if they +wish." + +The forest woman, having pressed the dents out of her damaged coffee pot +and prepared a fresh supply of coffee, now summoned the Overlanders to +breakfast, which was a somewhat hurried meal, for Tom and Hippy were +eager to get out to direct the work on their dam, which already was +moving along satisfactorily, and which they hoped to finish in about +another week. + +Following breakfast, the girls saddled their ponies, packed luncheons in +their mess kits and started down the river for a day's outing by +themselves, leaving Joe Shafto at home. The party returned just before +dark, Elfreda Briggs proudly exhibiting a duck that she had shot on the +lower river. After supper, for which all hands had keen appetites, Hippy +announced that Willy Horse had been appointed official hunter for the +lumber outfit at seventy-five dollars a month, which meant riches to the +Indian. It would be Willy's duty to provide fresh meat for the +lumberjacks. Added to this, the Indian would shoot wolves and collect +the bounty, and, when not otherwise engaged, act as the faithful +watchdog for the Overland Riders. + +"You Big Friend," was Willy's only comment when informed of his new job, +but they observed that he puffed more vigorously at his pipe, and gazed +more intently into the fire than usual. + +"Do you see things in the fire?" questioned Emma, sitting down by the +Indian. + +He nodded. + +"Tell me what you see," she urged in a confidential tone. + +"See white girl fly like bird." + +The girls broke into a merry peal of laughter. + +"He has your measure," laughed Tom. + +"See owl up tree. Mebby come see white girls," added the Indian, and +then, to their amazement, the raucous voice of an owl was heard in the +branches high above their heads. The owl continued his hoarse night +song, the Overland girls interestedly watching Emma Dean's rapt +expression as she listened. + +"He is trying to say something," she half-whispered, holding up a hand +for silence. "He is speaking, perhaps, of the mysteries of the +universe--our immediate universe." + +"Yus-s-s-s," observed Hippy solemnly. "Tell me, I prithee, little +bird-woman, what is the wise old owl saying? Has he a message for me?" + +"Yes. And I can tell you what it is. He says, 'you simp, you simp, you +simp, you simp-simp.' Interpreted freely, this means, in addition to the +truth of the owl's wise assertion, that you have gathered all the +ingredients of a calamity, but you don't know it. Beware, Hippy Wingate, +of dire things to come!" finished Emma, amid a shout of laughter. The +Indian puffed on his pipe in stolid silence. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +WHEN THE DAM WENT OUT + + +In the two weeks that had passed since Wingate & Gray started their +operations on the Little Big Branch, wonders had been accomplished. A +modern camp for the lumberjacks had been constructed, and the dam had +been completed to the extent of permitting them to close the gates and +let water accumulate there. + +On the day that marked the completion of the work, the Overland girls +arranged to show their appreciation of what the jacks had done by giving +them a surprise party. This party, first suggested as a dinner, after +much discussion was changed to an old-fashioned dancing party, which the +girls thought the men would enjoy more than they would a dinner. + +Just before they sat down to their supper, the lumberjacks were +"tipped" to finish the meal as quickly as possible and slick themselves +up, because the Overland party was coming over to call, and Captain Gray +to give them a brief "spiel," as Hippy expressed it in telling the men +to get ready. The jacks received the word without comment; in fact they +received it somewhat sullenly. Hippy, however, knew the lumberjack +tribe by this time--knew their peculiar ways--and told the girls to go +ahead with their plans. + +Darkness had settled over the Big North Woods when Hippy rallied his +flock for the party, each girl spruced up for the occasion, Emma Dean's +face wreathed in smiles in anticipation of the good time that was in +prospect. The only member of the outfit who remained behind was the +forest woman, who flatly refused to associate with "them varmints," +meaning the lumberjacks. Henry, laboring under no such scruples, +followed the Overlanders as they set out for the lumberjacks' shack. +Any unusual activity, especially one that gave promise of food, +instantly aroused Henry's curiosity, so, in this instance, he was close +at the heels of the party when they filed into the bunk-house, where he +nosed about smelling of the bunks, of the tables and sniffing the air, +following which he sat down where he could command a view of the entire +room. + +The lumberjacks shook hands awkwardly with their guests, except that +Spike merely made a move to do so, then quickly withdrew his hand and +shoved it into the pocket of his Mackinaw. Hippy acted as master of +ceremonies, and, after waving jacks and guests to seats, cleared his +throat, and made a complimentary speech. + +"Captain Gray got stage fright at the last minute and told me that I +must tell you what he wished you to know," he said. "I'm not going to +make a speech, but what I am to say is, that when we get through with +this job Mr. Gray and myself have decided to declare a dividend. That +is, we are going to give each one of you men who started out with us, +and who have done such fine, loyal work, a good-sized cash bonus. I +perhaps don't need to tell you that I never made a speech in my life--so +my friends say--but money is a loud talker; so, at the end of the +season, we'll let money tell you how much we appreciate the good work +you fellows have done." + +Henry, who sat blinking at Lieutenant Wingate, at this juncture rolled +over, and, curling up, went to sleep. + +"You see," cried Hippy. "Even the bear goes to sleep when I talk." The +men gave three cheers for Wingate & Gray, and three more for the +Overland girls. "Help us get these tables out of the way, you fellows. +We are going to have some music. Speech making is ended." + +Nora Wingate was already conferring with the "fiddler." Then, as the +tables were moved to one side, Nora launched into a lively song that she +had sung to the doughboys in France, the fiddler accompanying her on his +violin. There were rough spots in the fiddling, but these Nora submerged +in the great volume of her fine contralto voice. The song finished, the +men howled for more and stamped on the floor. Nora sang again. + +"We will now have a dance," announced Grace. "You boys will please act +natural, and for goodness sake don't step on our toes with those hob-nail +boots. Choose your partners." + +Not a jack moved. + +"Help me haul 'em out, Tom," cried Hippy, yanking a big Canadian to the +floor and standing him up beside Nora Wingate. Tom did a similar service +for another one, and in a few seconds five lumberjacks, red of face, +shifting uneasily on their feet, were standing beside their partners on +the dance floor. + +"Hit it up, Mr. Fiddler," called Tom, whereupon the fiddler began sawing +the strings of his violin and calling off for the dance, a square dance, +and soon the crash of hob-nail boots on the board floor made the shack +tremble, the fiddler beating time with his foot. + +Had it not been that the Overland girls knew the dance they never could +have followed the fiddler's calls. + +"Shinny on the corners," "Gents all forw'd," "Sling yer pardner," "Up +and down the travoy," "Dozey-dozey," "Smash 'em on the finish," was the +way he called off, the latter call bringing the feet of the lumberjacks +down in a series of bangs that threatened the collapse of the floor. +Outside, hovering over a little Indian fire, Willy Horse smoked +stolidly, his ears attuned, not to the music and the shuffling feet, but +to the sounds of nature, and to sounds that did not belong in nature's +scheme of things. + +"Let's have a waltz," cried Hippy exuberantly. + +Grace shook her head. + +"No waltzes," she answered. "Square dances will do very well. The +dancing is rough enough as it is without our being spun to dizziness," +she added in a lower tone. + +"What do you want, Hippy Wingate?" demanded Anne. "This surely is rough +enough work, isn't it? The fellows are doing the best they can, but they +are not used to dancing with women. It is a great party, just the same." + +"Can't be beat," agreed Hippy. + +"I think Willy is trying to attract your attention," interrupted Miss +Briggs, as she swept past Hippy in the dance. + +Glancing towards the door, Lieutenant Wingate saw the Indian framed in +the open doorway. Willy Horse made no sign, but his intent gaze was full +of meaning. Hippy strolled leisurely to the door. + +"Evening, Willy. Come in and have a dance or something to eat," greeted +Hippy cordially. In a lower tone he asked, "Anything wrong?" + +"Mebby! You come. No speak here." + +The Indian turned away, and Hippy followed him casually until well out +of sight of the dancers. + +"Now what is wrong?" demanded the Overland Rider in a brisk tone. + +"You hear big noise?" + +Hippy shook his head. + +"Can't hear anything above the smashing of the lumberjacks' boots." + +"Me hear. Big noise up river--boom--boom--boom! Listen! What you hear?" + +"It sounds like wind in the tops of the trees," answered Hippy after a +moment of listening. + +"No wind. Willy know." + +"What is it, then?" + +"Water! Dam up-river go out. Water come down! Mebby logs come down, +too!" + +"What! The dam built by the timber-thieves? It isn't possible. There is +not enough water in the dam to cause the roar I hear." + +"Plenty water. You fix gates so dam fill up. You know." + +"That's so." Hippy ran down to the river to listen, still doubting +Willy's assertion that the timber-thieves' dam had burst out. + +The Indian had followed and stood silently beside his listening +companion, his own ears listening to the distant murmur. Willy, however, +did not need to listen. He knew! + +"I don't believe it is water that we hear," muttered Lieutenant Wingate. + +"Him water," muttered the Indian. "Moon come up. Good!" + +The moon at full, after being hidden from view for nearly a week, rose +above the tops of the trees, thinning the darkness that lay heavy on the +river, the full light not yet having reached the Little Big Branch at +that point. Hippy shaded his straining eyes and gazed upstream. All +seemed peaceful in that direction, but he suddenly realized that the +sound he had heard was increasing in volume. He could now hear a +succession of hollow reports, the meaning of which he could not fathom. +He asked his companion what it meant. + +"Logs him jump up in water. Knock together and make big noise." + +Hippy suddenly visualized the scene that the Indian's brief words had +pictured. + +"Watch it! I'm going for help!" cried Hippy, sprinting for the shack. As +he neared it the familiar sounds of the earlier evening greeted his +ears. The fiddler was still sawing away; the bang of hob-nailed shoes on +the floor of the shack resounded rhythmically, and Hippy thought, as he +ran, of the weariness that the Overland girls must feel after their +strenuous evening of constant dancing with the rough and ready +lumberjacks who knew neither fatigue for themselves nor for their +entertainers. + +Reaching the doorway, Hippy caught Tom Gray's eye and beckoned to him. + +"Yes?" questioned Tom eagerly as he stepped over to Lieutenant Wingate. + +"Willy says the dam has gone out. I can't tell whether it has or not, +but it sounds that way." + +"What dam?" demanded Tom Gray. + +"That up-river dam of the timber-pirates. You remember we shut the gates +to keep the water below it low while we were driving the spiles for our +dam." + +Tom ran out into the open and stood listening. A moment of it was all +that was necessary to tell him what had happened. + +"Quick! The gates. We must get our gates open or we're lost!" + +The two men sprinted for the river, Tom in the lead, Hippy a close +second. He wondered why he had not thought of the gates, and chided +himself for his stupidity. + +"Come fast!" called Willy, referring to the rushing flood that now had +become a sullen roar. + +"Call out the jacks. Hurry!" ordered Tom. + +Willy flashed away. Tom paused only for an instant to listen and +estimate how much time they had before the flood would be upon them. + +"Are you game for it, Hippy?" he demanded. + +"For what?" + +"To help me get the gates up?" + +"Yes." + +"Come on then, and watch your footing," shouted Tom, running out on the +top log that formed the cap on top of the spiles. The footing was +slippery, but not ordinarily perilous. Now, in the face of that which +was hurtling down upon them, their undertaking was a desperate one. +Neither had on his spiked boots, which, in a measure, would have aided +them in keeping their footing, and they slipped and stumbled, and +sprawled on all fours again and again. + +Being so familiar with the operation of the gates that they had planned +and built, they had no difficulty in finding the gate-levers, but these +were heavy, necessarily so, operating somewhat after the manner of a +sweep in an old-fashioned well. + +Tom and Hippy threw themselves upon one of the two big levers that +operated the gates, and began tugging with all their strength. In the +meantime Willy Horse had reached the lumberjacks' bunk-house. + +"Dam go out! Water come down!" he shouted to make himself heard. "Big +Boss say come quick." + +The fiddler ceased playing, and the dancers gazed at the Indian, not +fully understanding. + +"Water come down! Come quick! Run!" + +This time they understood. Uttering a shout the jacks burst out through +the narrow doorway, and ran for the river, followed by the Overland +girls on flying feet, and meeting Joe Shafto on the way to the scene of +the disaster. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE RIOT OF THE LOGS + + +"We'll have to be quick!" shouted Tom to make himself heard above the +roaring of the waters. "Beardown hard!" + +"I can't. I'm slipping!" gasped Hippy. + +"The gates are moving! Keep it up!" + +The two men struggled and fought, gaining a few inches at a time but not +enough to permit the jam of logs that was rushing down the stream to +pass through the gates in the flood. + +At this juncture the Overland girls and the jacks came running down the +bank. They saw the two men struggling with the gates, and at the same +instant they saw something else. In the reflected light of the moon, +they saw a white crest sweeping around a bend in the river, hurling logs +into the air, which came tumbling and shooting ahead like huge black +projectiles. A warning scream from the girls was unheard by either of +the struggling men. A dozen lumberjacks leaped to the cap-log to go to +the assistance of Tom and Hippy, who they knew were in great peril. + +"Come back! Boys, come back! You can't help them now," cried Grace in an +agony of apprehension. + +"The fools! Why don't they run?" raged Joe Shafto, and the pet bear +growled in sympathy with her at the unusual sounds. + +It was a terrifying moment for those who could do no more than stand +helplessly watching. The jacks by this time were well out on the +cap-log, with Willy Horse in the lead and red-headed Spike close at his +heels. They were suddenly halted by a report that sounded like an +explosion of heavy artillery. + +An advance log, rushing straight towards the gates, swerved when within +a few feet of them, and, rearing half its dripping length, hurled itself +against the gate-lever at which Hippy and Tom were tugging. + +Both saw the giant rise from the boiling flood. + +"Too late! Save your--" Tom did not finish. Hippy and Tom at that +instant were catapulted into the air, hurled by the gate-lever, and fell +into the river below the dam with a splash. + +Without an instant's hesitation, Willy Horse, followed by Spike, leaped +to the rescue, knowing well that only a few seconds lay between them and +the cataract of logs that was about to tumble over into the Little Big +Branch below the dam. + +The rest of the jacks hesitated only for an instant, then they too +leaped into the river and made their way towards Tom and Hippy, both of +whom were unconscious. Willy Horse grabbed up Hippy with apparent ease, +and raised him to his own back just as he would shoulder a dead deer. + +"Git Big Boss!" he shouted, and began struggling shoreward with his +burden. + +In the meantime Spike had sprung to Tom Gray, but despite his great +strength he did not succeed in shouldering Tom. + +"Give a hand here!" he bellowed. + +The lumberjacks reached him at this juncture and, together, Spike and +his companions brought the unconscious man towards the shore. + +Then the spiling gave way under the strain that for several minutes had +been put upon it, and the dam went out with a crash and a roar, +accompanied by a series of terrifying explosions. + +It would have been an awesome sight to the Overland Riders had not their +attention, at that moment, been centered on the lumberjacks. The jacks +reached the shore only a few seconds before the structure gave way and +the logs, hurtled into the air, fell splashing into the flood below the +dam. Hippy and Tom were borne up the bank and laid on the ground. + +"Are--are they dead?" gasped Emma. + +"No," answered Miss Briggs, who had placed a finger on the pulse of +each. + +"Please carry them to the bunk-house," directed Grace in a strained +voice, after Willy Horse had run quick fingers over the heads of the two +victims. + +"Big Friends bump heads! Much all right soon, mebby," he grunted, +walking along beside Hippy as the jacks started with him and Tom towards +the house. + +It was but a short time after their arrival there, however, when both +regained consciousness. Neither Tom nor Hippy knew whether they had been +hit by the log that struck the gate-lever, or whether they had been made +unconscious by their fall into the water. Both came to in a severe chill +and were put to bed in the bunk-house, warmed with hot drinks and +blankets, and soothed until they fell asleep. + +The lumberjacks stood about awkwardly, and the Indian hovered near, his +stolid face reflecting no emotion. Spike was the only jack present who +apparently was indifferent to the scene. At midnight Willy motioned to +the girls to go. + +"Me watch. Big Friends wake up morning. No sick," he said. + +"Willy's suggestion is a good one," agreed Elfreda. "There is little the +matter with either except shock and exhaustion. Let's go!" + +Grace nodded. + +"Boys, we thank you very much," she said, turning to the lumberjacks. +"Mr. Wingate and Mr. Gray would have lost their lives had it not been, +for you and Willy. They will not forget. Neither shall we. Good-night." + +At dawn when Hippy awakened, Willy Horse was still sitting by him, +puffing his pipe. + +"Dam go out," observed the Indian between puffs. + +"So I heard it rumored," yawned Hippy. + +"Big Friend go out." + +"Seems to me that I heard something about that too. How is Captain +Gray?" + +"Other Big Friend all right." + +"Are the jacks awake?" asked Hippy. + +"Git up now." + +"Tell them to come here." + +When the half-dressed lumberjacks came over to his cot, Hippy eyed them +sternly. + +"You're a fine bunch of ladies' men, aren't you? Dance the light +fantastic while your bosses are trying to save the dam." + +The jacks grinned sheepishly. + +"What are you loafing around here for? Why don't you get out and start +work on a new dam? You needn't think a little thing like a busted dam is +going to stop Wingate & Gray. Go on now! You know what to do. We two are +the only ones who've got a right to be lazy this morning. Wait a +moment! Come back here!" commanded Hippy as his men started to go away. + +"I take back what I said. You aren't ladies' men at all. You are a bunch +of confounded rough-necks. Shake paws!" Hippy put out a hand, but was +sorry for it afterwards, for the bear-like grips of the lumberjacks +left it a "pulp," as Hippy Wingate expressed it. + +Work on a new dam was begun that very day. Tom and Hippy, though lame +and sore, and, at odd moments, a little dizzy, were at the dam all day +long directing the work of clearing away the wreck while part of their +force cut fresh spiles in the woods. The lumberjacks, wet to the skin, +worked with tremendous force and to good purpose, for the organization +that Tom Gray had developed and systematized, was as near a perfectly +working machine as it was humanly possible to make it. + +Day after day the work progressed, but despite their best endeavors two +weeks and a half had passed before the gates were again lowered to test +the new dam's power to resist a full head of water. Several days more +were required to fill the dam until the surplus water toppled over the +"dashboard." + +For another twenty-four hours the dam was watched for indications of +weakness, but none developed. Now that the big work was completed Tom +and Hippy journeyed to the wrecked dam of the timber-pirates. They +examined what was left of it with great care. Finishing their +investigation, the two men looked at each other with eyes full of +meaning. + +"Well, what do you think of it?" questioned Hippy. + +"I think, Hip, that it was something more than structural weakness that +caused this dam to go out," answered Tom. + +"What do you think did it--I mean how was it done?" wondered Lieutenant +Wingate. + +"Dynamite!" The word came out with explosive force. "The pirates don't +like our presence here, so thought they would put us out of business. +They didn't know us, did they, Hippy?" + +"No. I wonder what they will think now--or do?" + +"Nothing in the way of damaging our property, for we shall have our +works watched after this. They might blow the upper dam, of course, but +there are no logs being held there and the water would simply flow over +our construction without doing damage. We must tell Willy what we +suspect and assign him to guard duty. An Indian can sleep and yet be on +watch." + +"Like Hindenburg, who always sleeps with one ear awake," suggested +Hippy. + +"But never hears anything with it," laughed Tom. "We'll see." + +Later in the day when Tom spoke confidentially with the Indian about +what the Overlanders suspected, Willy evinced no surprise. He nodded in +agreement with Tom that the new dam must be guarded. + +It was. Willy slept near it in a lean-to down near the river. For +several nights nothing occurred to indicate that there was anyone within +miles of the camp. By day Willy hunted, often not coming in until after +dark. It was on a Saturday night, however, that Willy failed to reach +camp until nearly midnight. On his back he bore the carcass of a young +deer that he had shot and dressed miles from the Overland headquarters +on the bank of the Little Big Branch. He was nearly in when suddenly he +raised his body to an erect position, listened for a few seconds, then +dropped his burden and sprinted for home. + +The Overlanders long since had turned in and the lumberjacks were in +their bunks, comfortable, and as happy as a lumberjack permits himself +to be, when suddenly their bunk-house seemed to be lifted free of the +ground. It swayed and trembled as a terrific crash rent the air. The +tepee toppled over at the same instant, leaving the Overland girls lying +in the open. Tom and Hippy, at the time asleep in their lean-to, which +was a few yards nearer the river, never were able to decide whether they +had been hurled from their beds or had leaped out before they were fully +awake. At least, they found themselves outdoors, and some yards from the +lean-to. + +"For the love of Mike, what now?" gasped Hippy. + +Hindenburg was running about in circles, uttering dismal howls, and the +pet bear was scrambling for the top of the highest tree in his vicinity. + +"It's the dam!" shouted Tom Gray. "They've got us this time!" growled +Tom, starting down the bank, followed by Hippy and the yowling bull pup. +Hippy saw a figure running from the bank of the river a little further +upstream. It was a man, and he was running in short hops, as if he were +using a stick or cane to assist him in covering ground rapidly. + +Behind the fleeing man Tom and Hippy discovered a second figure. It was +Willy Horse. The first figure, as the two Overlanders started for him at +a run, had dashed out over the broken and bent spiles of the dam, +hopping from one spile to another with remarkable agility, with Willy +Horse in close pursuit. + +The hopping man, reaching the end of the spiles at the middle of the +dam, halted, hesitated, and the Indian was upon him. + +"It's Peg Tatem!" cried Hippy. "He's the scoundrel who did this thing." + +A knife in Peg's hand flashed in the moonlight, another appearing in the +hand of the Indian, and out there on their precarious footing the men +stood, thrusting and parrying, with their two-edged blades, watched with +breathless interest by the entire Overland party, who had rushed to the +river's edge. + +A sudden uproar was heard in the direction of the bunk-house. The +lumberjacks having discovered that a fight was in progress were running +towards the river to see if they too could not get into the fray, for a +lumberjack loves nothing in the world so violently as he loves a fight. + +"Keep out of it!" ordered Tom as he saw that the jacks were headed for +the path that Peg and Willy had taken. + +"Tom! Do something!" begged Grace. "Don't let those two men kill each +other." + +"We can do nothing. Even to call to Willy would take his attention from +the battle. You know what that would mean." + +"Oh-h-h-h-h!" moaned Emma, toppling over in a faint. + +"Oh, Heavens! Look!" wailed Anne. + +One of the combatants staggered and swayed. An arm was thrust out at +him, but the blade that had been driven against him did not flash in +the moonlight, for the body of the wielder was between it and the +spectators. Even the jacks stood silent, they having halted at Tom +Gray's command, but their breathing was heavily audible. + +"He's killed! It's Peg!" cried Grace. + +The Indian's victim, following the last thrust, had toppled over into +the river below the dam. With a bound, Willy Horse cleared the spiling +and leaped to the river bed to finish his victim. + +"Willy! Stop!" Grace Harlowe's voice rang out shrill and penetrating, as +Willy, the savage instincts of his race having taken possession of his +soul, raised his knife-hand above Peg Tatem, who lay on his back on the +river-bed. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +CHRISTMAS IN THE BIG WOODS + + +Willy Horse, brought suddenly to his senses by Grace's scream, +hesitated, got slowly to his feet, and stood narrowly watching his +opponent who lay, nearly covered with water, moaning faintly. There was +ferociousness in the heart of the Indian, but Grace's voice had stayed +his hand. + +Lumber-jacks, with Tom and Hippy, had plunged into the shallow stream +the instant that Grace cried out, and were running towards Willy, now +standing calmly awaiting them. + +"Did you kill him?" shouted Hippy. + +"No kill. Mebby kill bymeby," answered Willy Horse briefly as Tom and +Hippy came puffing up to him. + +"You have done enough. Let him alone!" commanded Tom, lifting the head +and shoulders of the wounded man. "Fellows, carry this man ashore, but +don't hurt him!" + +Emma, having regained consciousness, was assisted up the bank by Anne +and Nora, while Peg was being taken to the bunk-house by the +lumberjacks. Elfreda, after a brief examination, did not believe that +Peg's wound would prove fatal, but Hippy advised her not to tell the +foreman of Section Forty-three of this, saying that he wished to make +the man talk, which Peg probably would not do were he to think that his +wounds were trivial. + +The lumberjacks were ugly, and, had they had their way, they would have +promptly finished the job begun by Willy Horse, believing, as they did, +that Peg Tatem was responsible for the present and previous disasters +that had befallen the Overland Riders in the Big North Woods. + +Peg Tatem regained consciousness after Elfreda and Tom had worked over +him for more than an hour. + +"Did the Redskin git me?" he demanded weakly. + +"You're right he did," agreed Hippy. "You might as well tell us all +about it now before it is too late. We know what you have done, and +that's good and plenty, but you are now going to make a confession and +swear to it." + +Peg went into a violent rage at the suggestion and pounded the cot with +his wooden leg until he was exhausted. Waiting until the fellow had +quieted down, Hippy then informed him that in case he recovered, and had +not confessed, they would see to it that he went to prison for a long +term. After hours of urging, the foreman of Section Forty-three gave in +and made a full confession. Elfreda wrote down his statement and made +Peg swear to it, after Hippy had promised that, in the event of his +recovery, there would be no prosecution. + +Tatem declared that he had acted wholly under the orders of Hiram +Dusenbery, of the Dusenbery Lumber Company; that it was his jacks who +had turned the skidway loose on the Overland camp, and that it was Tatem +himself, acting under orders, who had dynamited the big pine and tumbled +it over on the Overlanders. He said that Dusenbery and Chet Ainsworth +were partners in the business of timber-stealing, and that the +dynamiting was Ainsworth's scheme. + +"Why did they wish to be rid of us?" asked Miss Briggs. + +"They reckoned they'd spoil yer game. T'other reason was that they +wanted this 'ere section fer themselves." + +"Good! We will send both to jail," promised Elfreda. "Now what I wish +are the names of witnesses who can verify at least part of your story." + +After some thought Peg named several lumberjacks, fellows who were still +in the employ of the Dusenbery Company. The Overlanders then ceased +their questioning to give Peg a much-needed rest, and left him in the +care of two jacks, with the reminder that they would be held fully +accountable for the safety and good care of the prisoner. + +Willy Horse was started that night for the nearest fire warden's +station, there to have the warden telephone for a doctor, and also for +the sheriff of the county, as it was thought best to hold Tatem as a +material witness. The doctor and sheriff arrived late next day. Peg's +injuries were found to be quite serious, and it was a full week later +before he could be moved to the county jail where he was a prisoner +under treatment for two more weeks. + +Hippy accompanied Peg, and while at the county seat swore out warrants +for Dusenbery and Chet Ainsworth. At the December term of court both men +were found guilty and sentenced to serve terms in prison. Peg Tatem, +according to agreement with the complainants, was released and advised +to seek other fields, which he did. + +In the meantime a new dam had been built by Tom and Hippy, and a sawmill +established twenty-five miles further down the river. The sounds of the +"swampers'" axes and the "saw-gangs" were now heard in the forest from +daylight until dark, where huge logs were being felled, trimmed, +skidded and rolled down into the new dam, to be "boomed," and released +after every thaw in early spring, and sent on their way to the mill. + +The Overland girls still lingered. After some discussion they had +decided to remain in the woods until after Christmas. By Christmas time +the ground and the trees were white with snow, and Tom closed his +"cruising" for the season. Willy Horse was absent much of the time, +trapping for himself and hunting game for the table of the lumberjacks. +The girls were now living in a real log cabin which the jacks, hearing +them express a wish that they might have one, had built. Logs blazed in +the fireplace, and there the Overland girls, after long hikes in the +forest, and occasional rides on their ponies, spent many happy hours. + +At Nora's suggestion, an elaborate Christmas celebration, including a +Christmas tree, was planned by the girls for the jacks and themselves. +Tom, obliged to go to St. Paul on business, more than a week's journey +in itself, was commissioned to purchase the supplies and Christmas gifts +for the celebration, and returned in a sleigh from Bisbee's Corners, +reaching the Overland camp by way of a new trail that his men had cut. +He was a regular Santa Claus, except that he rode "behind mules instead +of reindeers," as Emma Dean expressed it. Then began the real +preparations for Christmas, with many conferences in the log cabin. + +Two Christmas dinners were to be laid Christmas evening, one in the new +modern bunk-house that had been recently erected, where the old original +gang of lumberjacks and a few selected newcomers were then living. Many +additional men had been taken on during the early part of the winter +when the lumbering operations began on a large scale, and efforts were +made to instill into the new men the spirit of the Overland outfit, +which the old men long since had absorbed. + +The great day arrived. The old and faithful jacks were to sit down with +the Overlanders to the spread that was in preparation all that day, Joe +Shafto, after much grumbling, laying aside her feud against all +lumberjacks and helping the regular cook in his work of preparing the +dinner. This was supervised by Grace and Elfreda, while their companions +attended to laying the tables and decorating the bunk-house with greens +brought in by the jacks. + +At seven o'clock that evening, the jacks, who had been put out of the +new bunk-house without ceremony, were told to enter. They thumped in, +and gazed in amazement at the transformation of their home, at the +festoons of pine cones and greens, at the gaily colored lanterns, at the +red, white, and blue candles on the table, and at the big American flag +suspended from the rafters at the lower end of the room. + +The girls disposed themselves about the table so that they might sit +with their guests. Hippy took the head of the table, with Spike, who was +known by no other name, at his right. Grace had never been able to +banish the disagreeable impression that she felt on first setting eyes +on the big red-haired lumberjack, and that feeling now seemed to take +hold of her more strongly than ever as Spike, shoulders slouched forward +and eyes lowered, shuffled to the seat assigned to him. + +"Sit down!" ordered Hippy, and all hands sat, Tom taking the seat at the +lower end of the table. + +There was real turkey, with cranberry sauce, squash, creamed onions, +mashed potatoes, celery and a variety of other vegetables, brought from +the city by Tom. Willy Horse acted as waiter, Mrs. Shafto declining to +unbend to the extent of waiting on "them varmints." + +"I'll fodder white folk, and I'll sling a bone to a bear or a bull pup, +but no timber houn' of a lumberjack's goin' to git 'chuck' from the +paws of Joe Shafto, and that's the end of the argefyin'," she declared, +challenging the girls with a threatening glare through her big +horn-rimmed spectacles. + +There were only a few jacks present, outside of the "original" crowd, as +Tom called them, all the others having a dinner of their own in the old +bunk-house. + +The "talk" at the table was mostly confined to the Overland Riders, +their efforts to make conversation with their partners, the +lumberjacks, eliciting little more than grunts. The jacks were busy, +very busy, and when the time came for dessert, every platter and every +plate was empty. + +"Pudding! Fetch on the pudding," cried Hippy. + +There followed a few moments of waiting while the girls were clearing +the table of used dishes, then Willy Horse was seen entering, bearing a +huge platter, on the platter a great mound of blazing plum pudding. + +The jacks gasped. + +"Fire!" yelled a lumberjack. + +Every jack in the room leaped to his feet and the next instant they were +blowing great, long-drawn breaths at the blue flame that, as they +thought, was consuming something that was good to eat. With strong +breaths, and vigorous slaps from ham-like hands, they soon put out the +"fire," Willy Horse, in a rage, kicking out with his feet at every shin +within reach. The Overland Riders were convulsed with laughter, as the +jacks solemnly filed back to their seats at the table. + +"That's plum pudding, you poor fish!" groaned Hippy. + +"Ain't nothin' now," grumbled Spike. "Purty nigh burned up." + +Grace composed her face and tried to explain that burning the plum +pudding was an old English custom, and that, instead of destroying the +pudding, it added to its flavor, but the jacks shook their heads, +probably thinking that she was saying this to make sport of them. After +the pudding had been served, the jacks tasted it gingerly, then smacking +their lips they quickly devoured it. Coffee and nuts followed, and the +meal came to an end. + +"We will now view the Christmas tree," announced Hippy. "Outside there +are millions of Christmas trees, all dolled up with fancy spangles, but +they aren't like this tree, as you will see. Pull the string, Emma!" + +A real Christmas tree was revealed as Emma Dean draped back the flag, a +tree decorated with lights and spangles, its branches bending low under +the weight of gifts. A beautiful repeating rifle for Willy Horse brought +a grunt from the Red Man, but nothing more. From the base of the tree +Emma then picked up a bag, opened it and advanced towards the table. + +"A little Christmas gift from Mr. Gray and Mr. Wingate," she said, +depositing a ten-dollar gold piece before each lumberjack. Their +amazement left them speechless. Some quickly slipped their gifts into +their pockets, others merely sat and gazed at the shining pieces of +metal for a moment before picking them up. + +"Fellows, this is not the bonus we promised you," said Tom. "This is a +Christmas present, just a little gift of appreciation on our part. There +are socks and boots and other things on the tree for you, and when we +have gone you will divide the stuff equally between you. Spike, what's +the matter?" he demanded. + +Spike had not touched his gold piece, but sat looking at it, drawing in +deep labored breaths. + +"It's real, better grab while the grabbing is good," urged Hippy. + +Spike shook his head and shoved both hands under the table. + +The Overland Riders saw instantly that the man was agitated. + +"If you don't wish to accept our gift, you need not do so, Spike," said +Tom. "We shan't lay it up against you if--" + +"It ain't that!" exploded the lumberjack. + +"Then what is it, old man?" questioned Hippy. + +Spike, rising awkwardly, swallowed hard several times and essayed to +speak. + +"Talk, if you feel like it. It will do you good," urged Tom kindly. + +"It's 'cause I ain't fit ter touch it, that's why," blurted Spike. "Yer +wants me t' talk. I'll talk. I ain't fit 'cause I ain't fit, that's all. +I'm a thief, and I'm a skallerwag, and I served a term in Joliet prison. +I ain't never had nuthin' but kicks and cuffs and dodgin' perlice afore +I got inter this outfit. First off, I thought it was soft here--that ye +folks was easy, but somehow it warn't. There was somethin' else in the +kind o' treatment yer give me that I couldn't git through my haid." + +The hair of Spike's head was now a bristling flame of red. + +"You're excited. Hook your canthook on the other side and stop the log +from rolling before it mashes you flat," advised Hippy. + +"I got ter talk now, and then I'll quit and git out fer good. I took +money fer ter do ye an inj'ry. I took it from that houn' Ainsworth. I +was to tell him 'bout things that was goin' on here and--" + +A low, rumbling, menacing growl, at first coming, it seemed, from the +very boots of the lumberjacks, startled the Overland Riders. The growl +suddenly burst into an angry roar. Acting upon a common impulse, every +jack in the room sprang to his feet and made a savage rush for the +red-headed Spike. + +"Sit down, you rough-necks!" bellowed Hippy Wingate. "This is Christmas. +Sit down unless you want me to give you a clip on the jaw!" + +The jacks hesitated, drew back, then slouched to their seats, scowling +threateningly. + +"It'd serve me right if ye fellers beat me up," resumed Spike. "I'm no +good. I never was and I'm goin' ter quit onless ye fire me afore I've +got through speakin', but I wants ye folks t' know that I throwed that +dirty money away, I did. It burned me like no money I ever filched did; +it burned me inside and out and I slung it inter the river. I meant ter +do ye a measly trick, ye folks, and I did, but I wants ye ter know +partic'lar that Chet Ainsworth and that gang of his'n didn't git no +information outer me. That's more'n I ever done for anybody afore. Ye've +treated me white, ye have, Boss," he said, looking at Tom, "and +I've--I've--" Spike gulped and swallowed hard. "I've opined ter do ye +dirt." + +Spike struggled for more words, and then, to the amazement of his +fellows, sank into his seat with tears rolling down his cheeks. + +A jack laughed. Hippy fixed him with a stern look. Tom Gray rose +gravely. + +"Don't laugh, fellows," he admonished. "You have seen one of your own +bare his soul, if you can understand what that means. It takes a brave +man to do that, boys, a man of wonderful courage. I wonder how many of +you would have the courage to do the same. I'll have more to say on the +subject of Spike in a moment. First, I want to thank you for your +loyalty to us. We could not have won out if you hadn't been loyal. We +are going to make money, as I have told you before, and you boys who +have helped to make it are going to get your share." + +"Give 'em a little rough stuff. They'll understand that better than they +do this soul business," suggested Hippy, and the jacks grinned. + +"As for Spike, he forgot to carry out his threat to resign--" resumed +Tom. + +"I quit, and I--" interrupted Spike, flushing hotly. + +"Sit down!" commanded Hippy, forcing him back into his seat, from which +Spike had started to rise. + +"Mr. Wingate and I have had several talks about affairs here," resumed +Tom. "Among other things, we have decided that we have need of a +foreman, a foreman who can get out the work with the new men--you +fellows do not need a foreman--and carry out our orders in other +directions. Before coming here for this little party, we had already +decided on a man for the job of foreman, and I, for one, am glad we +picked the man we did, but I want you boys to approve of our +appointment. What you say _goes_. Stand up!" commanded Tom Gray sternly, +fixing his gaze on the red-headed jack, who, from sheer force of habit, +obeyed that tone instantly. + +"There's the man I've picked," announced Tom, pointing to Spike. + +A dead silence greeted the announcement, a silence broken only by the +heavy breathing of the lumberjacks, and the shrill voice of Joe Shafto +back in the cook-house abusing Willy Horse. + +"What do you say, fellows?" urged Tom quietly. + +Something seeped slowly into the brain of those rough and ready +two-fisted lumbermen. To advance a confessed crook to foreman, a man who +had bargained to do a traitorous thing to his Big Boss--it was big, it +was unheard of in their rough lives. Even the girls of the Overland +party, not one of whom had known of Tom's and Hippy's purpose, felt a +thrill, but no one spoke. + +"Well, fellows?" urged Tom gently. + +"_Yes!_" The word was uttered in a roar, a mighty roar that was heard in +the cook-house and by the lumberjacks at their Christmas dinner in the +old bunk-house. + +Nora Wingate, carried away by her emotions, sprang to her feet and threw +wide her arms. + +"Boys! Boys!" she cried almost hysterically. + +"You're rough, but you're men--loyal, splendid fellows, and I love you, +every one of you!" + +Spike, with burning face, bolted for the door. + +"Come back here!" bellowed Hippy Wingate. "You've forgotten something," +pointing to the gold-piece that lay where Emma Dean had placed it before +Spike's plate. "I never did see anyone so careless with money." + +The red-headed lumberjack returned slowly, picked up the gold-piece and +opened his mouth to speak, but no words came. + +"Never mind. Don't say it," smiled Tom. "You may go now." + +"Thankee," mumbled Spike, and made a hurried exit. Reaching the door, he +broke into a run, never pausing until he had plunged deep into the +forest, not to return until long after the jacks had turned in for the +night. + +Following the new foreman's departure the gifts for Overlanders and +jacks were quickly distributed, and, half an hour later, on their way to +their own camp, the Overland Riders stepped out into the sparkling +night, where, as Hippy Wingate had said, every tree was a Christmas +tree, dressed with snapping reflected lights from the moonbeams on the +snowflakes. Elfreda Briggs called attention to a dark object at the top +of a great pine. It was Henry--Henry in disgrace--Henry who had stolen +a turkey from the cook-house and felt the sting of his master's club +across his sensitive nose. + +June and July disturbed the serenity of the night with two long-drawn, +throaty brays. + +A snow-bird chirped in the foliage somewhere above the Overlanders. + +"What is the little birdie saying, Emma girl?" teased Hippy. + +"What is he saying?" answered Emma thoughtfully. "I think, Hippy, that +he is wishing us all a merry, merry Christmas and a happy, successful +new year." + + +On the following morning Spike entered the office of the company where +Tom Gray was at work on the books. + +"Boss," he said, "it ain't right this thing that ye said last night. I +been sittin' out thar in the woods all night thinkin'--" + +"About being made foreman?" questioned Tom. + +"Yes. An' 'bout that other thing. When the fellers laughed an' ye said I +was 'barin' my soul,' I didn't have no such thing. But Cap'n! Out thar +in the woods, an' God Almighty lookin' down and seein' me thar in the +moonlight, I found one. Mebby ye told him to give it to me, but I got +it. I didn't un'erstan' then what ye meant. I do now, an' wanted ye to +know it. Cap'n! I got er soul!" + +Without giving Tom Gray opportunity to make fitting reply, Spike squared +his shoulders and shuffled out and called his gang together. + +Spike's confession and his new job worked a transformation in him. He no +longer wore the surly, hang-dog expression of former days; he walked +more erectly and his gray eyes boldly met those of any person who +addressed him. The manner in which the red-headed foreman drove the work +along throughout the winter, overcoming obstacles and winning and +holding the respect of the men, confirmed the judgment of Tom and Hippy +that Spike was the right man for the job. + +The girls of the Overland party, with Joe Shafto, Henry and the mules, +started for home two days later, leaving Tom, Hippy and the bull pup to +remain in the woods until spring. + +All that winter the big circular saws in the mill far down on the Little +Big Branch sang their way through millions of feet of huge logs, cutting +them into lumber, and piling up profits for the firm of Wingate & Gray, +while the jacks toiled and abused each other, and all bosses--especially +their own--and fought with the jacks from rival lumber camps until the +end of the season. Each man then received a cash bonus that brought from +him a gasp of amazement and a growl of appreciation. Willy Horse and +most of the "original" party of jacks were kept at work on the section +all during the next summer, again to resume lumbering operations in the +early fall. + +The further adventures of the Overland Riders will be related in a +following volume, entitled "Grace Harlowe's Overland Riders in the High +Sierras," the story of an eventful summer's outing. The hold-up of the +Red Limited, the capture of an Overlander, strange adventures in the +Crazy Lake section, the bowling game above the clouds, the battle with +the mountain bandits, and the solving of the mystery of Aerial Lake, +make a story of unexcelled interest and swift action. + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Grace Harlowe's Overland Riders in the +Great North Woods, by Jessie Graham Flower + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OVERLAND RIDERS *** + +***** This file should be named 20341.txt or 20341.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/3/4/20341/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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