ng it well,
ain't I?" retorted Don, making everyone laugh again.

"Dot and you always do the meal-work thoroughly," replied Mrs. Starr,
still laughing.

No one about the table that evening seemed to have a failing appetite,
for the wonderful pine-scented air and the unusual life made everyone
hungry for the brown bread, beans, baked potatoes, and slices of crisp
ham.

A huge log fire was built in the center of the clearing and,
immediately after supper, the crew and the bosses' families sat about
it in a circle while the "timber-children," as Mr. Latimer called them,
told the other children wild stories of adventures in the forests.

Don sat with wide-opened eyes and body leaning forward listening eagerly
to every word. These tales were stored away in his mind for some future
development or use.

At eight o'clock Mr. Latimer called out, "Youngsters' bedtime!"

"Why we never have to go so early as this," said Don.

"In a lumber camp every man goes to bed at nine o'clock, sometimes
earlier, if the day is long. We are up at five, you see, and work from
six. Just wait until you see us work some nights until long after your
tired eyes have closed," explained Mr. Latimer.

"Crickets! From five until night! I guess I wouldn't like _that_ life!"
announced Don, emphatically.

"No, indeed," added Meredith, while everyone laughed at Don's honest
confession. "Don loves his warm bed in winter."

As the children rose to leave the fire, they thanked the men for the
entertainment and said good-night. The engine-driver had been quite near
to Don all evening and now Don asked a question.

"'Most ready with that engine that I'm goin' to help you with?"

"Not yet, Mister Don; we have to break out that road before I can run my
engine in there, you see," whispered the man.

Perfectly contented to think that he wouldn't miss any fun on that
engine, Don said good-night to Jim and ran after the family who were on
the way to the bunks.

CHAPTER III

THE INDIAN TRAPPER

THE routine of life in a lumber camp never became tiresome, but it
systematized matters for the children. Every morning at five o'clock the
rising gong was beaten by the cook's helper, and at five-thirty the men
had breakfast. The families ate at six-thirty, and at seven-thirty an
hour was given to study of the daily lessons. Then an hour of freedom
came, followed by three hours of close application to school. The
classes met in one of the large rooms