nd Mrs. Brewster
joined him to give any assistance he might need. Polly went over to her
father to try and get more satisfactory information from him, regarding
that day's experiences.

"Did you say the miners who came up ahead of us to-day were in Bill's
custody, Daddy?"

"Ah didn't say anything; but now Ah'll _tell_ you-all that they are
shipped safely to a place where they can do no harm."

"Oh! Did Bill go down the Trail with them?" continued Polly.

"No, Bill's man went down-trail to watch in case of any new trouble."

"See here, father! Out with your secret! What are you-all keeping from
me?" asked Polly, anxiously.

"Good gracious, Poll! Can't a man feel riled after such a wearing day
and with nothing to eat, without his women-folks asking plaguey
questions?" cried Mr. Brewster, testily.

Polly was silenced for the moment, but she went out to the ledge where
her mother was helping Mike, and there she began again.

"Mother, I know something unusual concerns you-all, so you may as well
confide in me."

"I reckon the men are vexed because we lost all this day hunting up
those wretched miners who must have accidentally set the fire going on
the other side," was all the reply Polly received.

Mike glanced up to look covertly at Mrs. Brewster and the inquisitive
girl caught his expression.

"Even Mike is laughing at the poor way in which you are fencing with me.
Now treat me as if I were sensible--not like a baby, or like Bob!"
demanded Polly.

"Well, to tell the truth, Polly, I'm afraid to tell you everything. If
those girls know they will go clean daffy," sighed Mrs. Brewster,
passing her hand over a troubled brow.

"Mother! Did I go daffy when that blizzard carried Choko over the
ledge--and what did I do up on Grizzly when the snow and ice covered the
trail? Did I lose my nerve?"

At that moment Mr. Simms called out to Mike: "'Most done cookin', Mike?
Ah want you-all to go with me to ketch a grizzly afore it is too dark to
see him. Ah promised mah wife she should have a bear-skin rug this
trip."

Mike looked at Mrs. Brewster who nodded for him to go. She calmly took
the ladle and continued stirring the soup that the Indian had been
attending to, then Mike hurried after Simms.

"There now--I know it is something serious and it is much better for me
to _know_ what may happen than to have it come upon me like a
thunder-bolt," said Polly.

"Well, then, keep on stirring this broth while I busy myse