but if he was he had a dogged confidence
that was at least reassuring. At last when it seemed to the three city
lads that they simply could not push on another foot Pat stopped and
raised a warning hand. "Listen!" said he.

With straining ears they listened, but for a couple of minutes heard
nothing. Then seemingly out of the heart of the storm there came a faint
"Hello-o!"

"Alec," said Pat briefly. "He's getting worried."

Together they gave an answering shout, but the wind seemed to snatch the
sound from their lips and whirl it behind them. "No use," said Pat.
"Wind's the wrong way, and we better save our breath. We'll need it. It
isn't far now, and he'll keep yelling to guide us."

Once more they buckled down to the task in hand. The few minutes'
respite had eased the weary muscles, and the sound of Alec's voice was
wonderfully stimulating. Fifteen minutes later, panting and gasping,
powdered with snow from head to feet, they stumbled up to the cabin just
as Alec Smith threw open the door to renew his signals. For a second he
stared, then a look of intense relief swept across his rugged features.

[Illustration: ONCE MORE THEY BUCKLED DOWN TO THE TASK]

"Glory be!" he cried, springing forward and unceremoniously shoving the
exhausted boys into the cabin. "I was feared that ye would be having to
spend the night in a snowdrift. Did ye no hear me shouting?"

Pat nodded as he sank on to a stool, panting for breath. "We heard you
all right, Alec, but we couldn't make you hear us because the wind was
the wrong way. Besides, we didn't have any breath to spare."

But Alec wasn't listening. He was delightedly shaking hands with Walter
and Hal and helping them to strip off their mackinaws, not forgetting
Sparrer, whose presence was a surprise, Pat having sent no warning of
this addition to the party.

"My, but ye be a sight for sore eyes!" he declared as he bustled about
preparing hot chocolate and in other ways striving to make his guests
comfortable. "Saving Big Jim, who spent one night here, I haven't laid
eyes on a living soul since Pat left, and that was three weeks gone,
though I mistrust that there be others no so very far away."

Pat looked up quickly. "What's that?" he demanded sharply.

Alec's face clouded. "I've seen signs which I dinna like. I'll be
telling ye more aboot it after dinner," said he briefly.

"And the catch since I've been away?" asked Pat.

"Is no what it should be. There's na doot ab