and the chill of the
high altitude had struck clear to the marrow in his bones. He had been a
tenderfoot then, his only knowledge of woodcraft what little he had
gleaned from books. He remembered how the mystery of the great woods had
swept over him and engulfed him even as did the night mist, and how
insignificant he had felt. Even now, after three years of experience in
camp and on the trail he felt something of that same spirit of awe, and
he knew that it would always be thus. It was the tribute exacted by
nature from the true devotee entering her temples.

He glanced curiously at Sparrer, wondering what responsive chords might
be struck in the soul of this waif of the great city, but it was too
dark to see his features clearly, and he could only dimly surmise
something of the younger lad's feeling from Sparrer's quick intake of
breath as the dark, heavy coaches of the train rumbled off into the
night, leaving them standing between two walls of white. Overhead a
myriad of stars burned like jewels. Never had they seemed so near, so
brilliant, so alive. The snow thrown high on either side of the tracks,
for there was a siding at this point, was above their heads. The
stillness was almost oppressive now that the train was beyond hearing.

Pat stretched his arms and drew a long breath of the cold, rarified air,
then expelled it in an audible sigh of supreme content.

"Arrah now, 'tis me foist breath av real air in a week, and the two
lungs av me aching for ut," said he. "Shure 'twill make the likes av ye
grow to a man's size in a week, me bantam, and thot's more than Noo
Yor-r-k will be doing for ye in a loifetoime," giving Sparrer a hearty
slap on the back. "Hal, I thought those passes read to Upper Chain, and
here we be dropped in a snow-bank. I'll be after making complaint to
the management for inconveniencing four gentlemen and reducing them to
the ranks of common laborers."

The others laughed as they followed Pat's example and shouldered their
duffle to tramp the hundred yards up to the station, for they had been
in the rear car. In a few minutes they were in the bare little waiting
room, in the middle of which a big stove was radiating welcome heat, and
exchanging greetings with the night operator, who having wired the
arrival and departure of the train was preparing to go home, for there
would be no more traffic for many hours. He shook hands warmly with
Walter and Hal, whom he recognized at once as Woodcraft