looked out he saw all clear before the cabin. He stole down to
the corner of the log structure, gazing at what was left of the shack
blaze. There was but little of that.

Then Prescott ran around the cabin.

"Nobody in sight," he reported. "The rowdy crowd has gone home--or
probably up to Hen's uncle's house. We won't see 'em again to-night."

"Let's go to bed, then," proposed Tom. "If they come back they can't get
in without making a noise that will wake us."

"Bed will be a first rate idea," nodded Dick, "as soon as we have got in
some wood and water."

This took barely ten minutes. The same space of time was devoted to
building up the fire for the night. Then, well tired, despite all their
excitement, all the members of Dick & Co. were soon sound asleep.

It was eight in the morning when the first one of them awoke.

"Well, we got through the night without having any more of either Ripley
or Fits," remarked Tom, as he dressed.

"Which is worse?" inquired Dave.

"Mr. Fits, by all means," Dick replied. "We can come very close to
thrashing Fred Ripley and his crew. And they can be scared away, too.
But Mr. Fits is downright dangerous."

"If all outsiders, intruders and enemies will only keep away from here
we can have a splendid time after this," sighed Tom.

"We're going to have a good time, anyway," Dick declared stoutly. "So
far, those who have tried to annoy us have succeeded only in furnishing
some excitement for us. Although we've been snowbound most of the time
here we've had anything but a dull time."

"Is it safe for us all to leave camp at one time?" inquired Greg.

"If you're asking me," Dick replied, "I don't believe it is. We can't be
sure that Fits, or Fred Ripley's crowd, won't swoop down here at any
moment. It is just the doubt that will make us feel unwise in leaving
the camp without any one to guard it. As far as Ripley is concerned, I
don't believe he's going to show up here again. The burning of the cook
shack, accidental though it was, has probably been enough to frighten
Fred Ripley so that he and his crowd will soon start for Gridley, if
they haven't headed in that direction already."

"Then suppose you and I stay here this morning," proposed Dave Darrin,
"and let the other fellows get out for this morning?"

"All right," agreed Dick.

"And you'd better keep the shutters over all but one window," suggested
Tom. "You can close and fasten that one quickly, at need. And, when
you'