f dominoes.

After playing several games, Don made a remark.

"Those rafts will make fine play this spring."

"We won't be here when the river thaws," replied Dot.

"Maybe--who knows how long Daddum'll have to stay."

"Well--s'pose we do, what then?" asked Dot, curiously.

"They're chained fast to the logs--can't break away. We can have heaps
of fun playin' on them and paddlin' them back and forth to the shore."

"Ye'es, I s'pose so! But I won't play on 'em until I see for myself
whether the chains are rusty or good," retorted Dot, thinking of all the
other scrapes her twin had led her into, in which she generally got the
worst of the bargain.

CHAPTER VII

CHRISTMAS AT THE LUMBER CAMP

CHRISTMAS was seldom made much of among the timber-jacks, but this
winter they were to have such a celebration as they had never dreamed of
before.

Mr. Starr had held several secret meetings with his wife and the
Latimers, and the result was that one day in the early part of December,
he took the fastest team and the sleigh and drove to town.

Mr. Starr went directly to the express office of the little station and
made inquiries.

"Has any box come for me from Grand Forks?" asked he.

"Yaas, guess that's what you're lookin' fer," replied the man who was
ticket-agent, baggage-master and express agent, all three in one.

"That's it!" smiled Mr. Starr, taking his money out to pay the charges.

"All paid, and nuthin' to c'lect," laughed the man.

"Ho, that so? Well, then, just keep this and buy the kiddies some
Christmas," said Mr. Starr, handing the man a dollar.

A whole dollar for a present meant more to this man out in the
wilderness than a hundred dollars would to one in the city.

The box was set up in front of Mr. Starr's feet in the cutter, and the
horses pranced away with sleigh-bells jingling like a veritable Santa
Claus!

Several stops were made at stores where candy, pop-corn, trimmings for
trees, fruit, and toys were sold. Mr. Starr then drove his team to the
stable and left word to be called for an early start in the morning. He
went into the house, greeted the hotel keeper who had never before had a
transient guest in the winter, and had supper with the family. Early
that night he went to bed, leaving orders to be called at five.

By six o'clock the next morning, Mr. Starr, with all of his shopping
piled in the back, under the seat, and in front of the sleigh, was
flying back to the lumber ca