. Then she took her way down
the wood road into the bush. She found the camp road easily, and after
a quarter of an hour's ride, she heard the sound of an ax, and soon
came upon the sugar camp. Ranald was putting the finishing touches to a
little shanty of cedar poles and interwoven balsam brush, and Hughie was
looking on in admiration and blissful delight.

"Why, that's beautiful," said Mrs. Murray; "I should like to live in a
house like that myself."

"Oh, mother!" shouted Hughie, "isn't it splendid? Ranald and Don are
going to live in it all the sugaring time, and Ranald wants me to come,
too. Mayn't I, mother? Aw, do let me."

The mother looked down upon the eager face, smiled, and shook her head.
"What about the night, Hughie?" she said. "It will be very dark in the
woods here, and very cold, too. Ranald and Don are big boys and strong,
but I'm afraid my little boy would not be very comfortable sleeping
outside."

"Oh, mother, we'll be inside, and it'll be awful warm--and oh, you might
let me!" Hughie's tears were restrained only by the shame of weeping
before his hero, Ranald.

"Well, we will see what your father says when he comes home."

"Oh, mother, he will just say 'no' right off, and--"

A shadow crossed his mother's face, but she only answered quietly,
"Never mind just now, Hughie; we will think of it. Besides," she added,
"I don't know how much Ranald wants to be bothered with a wee boy like
you."

Ranald gave her a quick, shy glance and answered:

"He will be no trouble, Mrs. Murray"; and then, noticing Hughie's
imploring face, he ventured to add, "and indeed, I hope you will let him
come. I will take good care of him."

Mrs. Murray hesitated.

"Oh, mother!" cried Hughie, seeing her hesitation, "just one night; I
won't be a bit afraid."

"No, I don't believe you would," looking down into the brave young face.
"But what about your mother, Hughie?"

"Oh, pshaw! you wouldn't be afraid." Hughie's confidence in his mother's
courage was unbounded.

"I don't know about that," she replied; and then turning to Ranald,
"How about our friends of the other night?" she said. "Will they not be
about?" Hughie had not heard about the wolves.

"Oh, there is no fear of them. We will keep a big fire all night, and
besides, we will have our guns and the dogs."

"Guns!" cried Mrs. Murray. This was a new terror for her boy. "I'm
afraid I cannot trust Hughie where there are guns. He might--"

"Indeed, let