t was darkly hinted,
further, that this confederate was a well-to-do Sangerite who had many
farms and a wife and son and a little daughter, and his first name was
William, and his second name Ra---- "But never mind; and don't for the
world say I told you." Oh, it's easy to get rich--if you know how. Of
course, these rumours never reached the parties chiefly concerned.

Hennard had left Downey's Dump the evening before, and avoiding the
roads, had struck through the woods, to visit his partner, with
important matters to arrange--very important for Hennard. He was much
fuddled when he left Downey's, the night was cloudy, and consequently
he had wandered round and round till he was completely lost. He slept
under a tree (a cold, miserable sleep it was), and in the sunless
morning he set out with little certainty to find his "pal." After
some time he stumbled on the trail that led him to the boys' camp. He
was now savage with hunger and annoyance, and reckless with bottle
assistance, for he carried a flask. No longer avoiding being seen, he
walked up to the teepee just as Little Beaver was frying meat for the
noonday meal he expected to eat alone. At the sound of footsteps Yan
turned, supposing that one of his companions had come back, but there
instead was a big, rough-looking tramp.

[Illustration: "Well, sonny, cookin' dinner?"]

"Well, sonny, cookin' dinner? I'll be glad to j'ine ye," he said with
an unpleasant and fawning smile.

His manner was as repulsive as it could be, though he kept the form of
politeness.

"Where's your folks, sonny?"

"Haven't any--here," replied Yan, in some fear, remembering now the
tramps of Glenyan.

"H-m--all alone--camped all alone, are ye?"

"The other fellers are away till the afternoon."

"Wall, how nice. Glad to know it. I'll trouble you to hand me that
stick," and now the tramp's manner changed from fawning to command, as
he pointed to Yan's bow hanging unstrung.

"That's my bow!" replied Yan, in fear and indignation.

"I won't tell ye a second time--hand me that stick, or I'll
spifflicate ye."

Yan stood still. The desperado strode forward, seized the bow, and
gave him two or three blows on the back and legs.

"Now, you young Pup, get me my dinner, and be quick about it, or I'll
break yer useless neck."

Yan now realized that he had fallen into the power of the worst enemy
of the harmless camper, and saw too late the folly of neglecting
Raften's advice to have a bi