e soon."

Hal took the hand as he said:

"Look here, Stubbs, we don't like to lose you."

"I know, I know," said the little man, "but it will be better for all
concerned."

He approached Chester and extended a hand to him also.

"Come now, Stubbs," said Chester. "Drop those things back down there and
go to bed."

"Not much," replied Stubbs grimly. "I'm going to hunt a safer spot
than this."

He released Chester's hand and made his way to the door. There, just
before moving away, he turned and spoke.

"Boys," he said, "we've been pretty good friends, the three of us,
haven't we?"

"You bet we have, Stubbs," returned Chester warmly.

"We certainly have, Mr. Stubbs," Hal agreed.

"All right, then," said the little man. "You both have been good enough
to tell me once or twice that I have been of some service to you."

"You certainly have, Mr. Stubbs," declared Hal, "and anything we can do
to repay you--"

"Never mind that," said Stubbs with a wave of the hand. "All I want to
say is this: If, at any time, within a day or two or within a month or
two, I do anything you don't like, anything that puts you to some
inconvenience--you will know that I am doing it for your own
good--because I am fond of both of you and don't want to see you get
in trouble."

"Say, Stubbs, what on earth are you talking about?" asked Chester in
great surprise.

"Never mind what I'm talking about," returned Stubbs, half angrily. "I
just want you to remember what I am saying."

"We'll remember, if that will do you any good," said Chester, "but I wish
you would tell me what it is all about."

"I may not be talking about anything, and then I may be talking about a
whole lot," was Stubbs' enigmatical response. "Time will tell."

"Time will tell what, Mr. Stubbs?" demanded Hal.

"Oh, rats!" said Stubbs. "I haven't time to stay here and talk to you
fellows all night. Just remember what I said. That's all."

He stepped out the tent and was gone.

Hal and Chester gazed at one another in the utmost surprise.

"What in the time of the Czar do you suppose he was talking about?"
asked Chester.

"I'm not good at conundrums," replied Hal. "He's got something on his
mind, all right."

"Providing he has a mind left," agreed Chester.

Hal smiled.

"From the way he talked that fact is open to doubt," he replied.

"I didn't think he was a drinking man," said Chester.

"Oh, he was sober enough. By the way, did you notice his hesitati