e sense of being greater than all this, the
mountains, the lakes and the rivers, is, I reckon, because He makes us
feel that if He made all these things to last through millions of years
He isn't going to let His greatest work, man, perish in the little bit
of time that makes a man's lifetime."

The bell on the horse tinkled, the runners slithered over the snow and
no further word was spoken until the driver cried, "Yonder's the
clearin'. I reckon you fellers hev got just about time enough to look
the town over before the train comes."

An hour later farewells were said, and the three boys stood on the rear
platform of the Pullman waving to Pat as the train pulled out. For some
time after the straight form of the brawny young trapper and the dingy
depot of the little village had faded from view the boys stood watching
the panorama of frozen wilderness. Then, reluctantly it must be
confessed, they turned to the warmth and luxury of the car.

"Say, hasn't it been great?" exclaimed Hal as he dropped into his seat.

"Great doesn't express it at all," declared Upton. "It beats even the
hunt for Lost Trail."

As for Sparrer, he said nothing at all, but glued his face to the window
that he might drink in as long as he could the beauty of this land of
enchantment, where the test of a man was his ability to contend
successfully with the forces of nature and to live within the law when
beyond the watchful eyes of the law; this land where a man was gauged by
his moral strength no less than by his physical strength. These two
weeks in the heart of the wilderness had wrought a change in the lad's
whole attitude toward life. His inherent love of battle for battle's
sake had been given a new turn. His old ambitions to be a soldier or a
prize-fighter were forgotten in a new ambition--to be a woodsman; to pit
his strength and courage and skill against the elemental forces of
Nature instead of against his fellows. In short, Sparrer had resolved
that some day he would shake the dust of the city from his feet forever.
He would become a guide and lumber boss like Big Jim. And so he watched
the flying landscape and dreamed dreams, and they were wholesome.

It had been agreed that Pat and Alec should attend to the marketing of
the fox skin, Sparrer's share to be forwarded to him when the sale was
made. The day after they reached New York the operator at Upper Chain
received a message over which he puzzled long. It was addressed to Pat
M