t, the man felt
considerably better.

Asked how he had been caught by the trap, he explained that while he was
walking through the woods in search of a partridge or squirrel, mainly
more for the pleasure of hiking than in hope of shooting anything, he
had stepped into the trap, which was carefully covered.

"It had evidently been there for some time, for the ground over it
looked quite natural as though many successive rains had beaten down
upon it, or else I would have noticed that the covering was only
artificial. By the way, let me introduce myself. My name is John
Everett, and I used to be the Customs officer here, until Uncle Sam
decided there was no need for one, and moved the station some
twenty-five miles up the border, where another man, a politically
influential fellow, was appointed to the new office. Since then I have
been living in retirement with my granddaughter. I wonder if it is going
to impose on you to ask one of you to go to Hobart, it's only about four
miles from here, and get help to take me home, for although my leg does
not seem to be broken, I cannot stand on it, much less walk," he
concluded.

"Don't worry about getting home. We'll have a snack of food and then
make a stretcher and have you there in no time," said Garry.

"I am afraid that will be too much of a task for you," remonstrated
Everett.

"Oh, it's nothing at all, sir," Garry hastened to say.

When the man had mentioned that he had been a Customs officer, Dick had
given Phil a significant glance. There was every chance that good
fortune in being able to do a great favor for the old man might redound
to their aid.

A hasty lunch of bacon and spiderbread was made, the man watching
admiringly the efficient and speedy manner in which the boys went about
preparing the meal.

"You boys act as though you had been born and brought up in the woods.
Were you?" he inquired.

"No, although we have always liked woodcraft and forest lore, and have
read about it and practiced it in a small way. We are in the Forest
Ranger service, doing some special work, and so we have to know
something about it," answered Garry.

Lunch over, the effect of the food on the old man being to cheer him up
and strengthen him, the fire was stamped out, and then Phil and Dick
proceeded to make a litter while Garry cut two strong, tough saplings to
make the handles.

They made the litter by taking off their coats and buttoning them
securely. Then the coats