front way,
stumbling through the smoke to the door. The dog gave a joyous bark and
sprang toward him. As he opened the door, he stumbled over a large
oil-can that always stood just under the stairway. He didn't think of
it at the time because of his excitement, but later, as he puzzled over
the real cause of the fire, he remembered with startling distinctness
his stumbling over the empty oil-can, which he knew had been full the
day before. As months went by he put this with other little bits of
information, and he believed he understood, yet he had no proof. The old
man who had slept downstairs had oiled the entire first floor, then set
it afire. But why? That was the question.

"He remembered how the old man had insisted that the house had been
struck by lightning. Dad never saw him again after that night, but a few
months afterwards he recognized him in a description of one of the
robbers of a stage coach, held up at Duffield's. Then, like a flash, it
came to Dad. The old-timer was his enemy of the river pirates, old Shorty
Thunder. He had accidently stumbled onto Dad here in these mountains, and
had determined to settle scores once for all. He had meant by setting
fire to the cabin to burn Dad alive, and if it hadn't been for the dog he
probably would have succeeded."

"Great old tale," sighed Phil, as he arose and stretched himself.

"Let's turn in," suggested Fat, "for you know we have some walking ahead
of us to-morrow." "Second the motion," joined in Ham. "Me for a good, big
drink, though, to wash that fairy tale down. How about it?"

The little party gathered close about the fire after all final
arrangements had been made for the night. Boots were pulled off and set
away from the fire. Watches were wound and trousers unbuckled. They had
all instinctively looked toward the "Chief." He had drawn close to the
fire, and was turning over the leaves of a pocket Testament.

"What will you have to-night, fellows, from the Great Spirit's Message
before we sleep?"

"The one about the lilies," said Ham thoughtfully. "There are several big
ones in bloom just at the head of my bed." The "Chief" began to read in
low, reverent tones.

"And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field,
how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin; and yet I say unto
you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of
these." So he went on reading till he came to the end of the chapter,
after wh