-one of
'em was missing too,--and a river being near, the thing could be easy
managed.

"I'll allow that I raged tremendous. The losses were bad; but to be
robbed by your own chum, the man you had saved and stuck to, the only
being you had said a word to for months, was sickening. I swore I'd
shoot the hound if I found him. I spread the news at every camp and
farm-settlement through the forest country, and we had a rousing hunt
after the fellow; but he gave us the slip, though I heard of him
afterwards at a distant town, where he sold the furs."

"I suppose he left the State," said Cyrus.

"I guess he did. But for a big while I used to think he'd come back to
our camp some day, and let me have it out with him; for he wasn't a
coward, and we had been fast chums."

"And he didn't?"

"Not as I know of. The next year I gave up trapping, which was an awful
cruel as well as a lonely business, and took to moose-hunting and
guiding. I haven't been anear the old camps for ages."

"Perhaps you will come across him again some day," suggested Dol, with
unusual timidity.

"P'raps so, Kid. And, faith, when I think of that, it seems as if there
were two creatures inside o' me fighting tooth and claw. One is all for
hammering him to a jelly. The other is sort o' pitiful, and says, 'Mebbe
'twasn't out-an'-out his fault.' Which of them two'll get the best of
it, if ever I'm face to face with Cross-eyed Chris, I dunno."

Cyrus Garst rose suddenly. He kicked the camp-fire to make a blaze, then
looked the woodsman fair in the eyes.

"I know, Herb," he said; "the spirit of mercy will conquer."

"Glad you think so!" answered Herb. "But I ain't so sure. Sho! boys,
I've kept you up till near midnight with my yarns. We must go to roost
quick, or you'll never be fit to light out for Katahdin to-morrow."

CHAPTER XVIII.

TO LONELIER WILDS.

Before daybreak next morning Herb Heal was astir. Apparently even a
short night's sleep had driven from him all disturbing memories. He
whistled and hummed softly, like the strong, hopeful fellow he was,
controlling his notes so that they should not awaken his companions,
while he hauled out and overlooked the canvas for a tent, to see if it
was sound. Next he surveyed the camp-stores, and put up a supply of
flour, pork, and coffee in a canvas bag, enough for four persons to
subsist upon with economy during an excursion of six or seven days. For
he knew that his employers would follow h