ntion to him. "Here in the open country you
can get mighty close to the great wilderness with its myriads of busy
lives, and--" Fat picked up a pine cone and threw it, but Ham disappeared
around the end of the big rock.

"Ham, you're just like the loons we have on the Michigan lakes," taunted
Willis. "You can do and say more crazy things than all the rest of us
ducks put together; but when any one takes a shot at you, you're out of
sight."

By this time Fat had managed to make two holes in his can of milk and was
drinking the contents. Mr. Allen had returned to his sketching, and
Willis had gone over to the little dam to get a drink. Suddenly there was
the snort of a horse and the rapid tramping of hoofs. A dog gave two
or three barks, then horse, rider, and dog appeared on the trail. In a
second another rider, with a pick and shovel thrown over his shoulder,
came over the ridge. The first pulled in his horse and, turning in his
saddle, looked to see if his companion was coming. Being confident that
he was not far behind, he again urged his horse forward, apparently not
noticing the group by the big boulder. Ham got to his feet and spoke to
the dog. The horseman gave a quick exclamation of surprise, then called
out, "Howdy!" Mr. Allen rose.

"Well, well!" called the man. "Seems to me yew fellers are travelin'
some, ain't ye?"

"O, a little," returned Mr. Allen.

"You don't happen to know, do you, whether there are two cabins above
here, do you? We was directed to the middle cabin."

"No, only a very badly decayed one--just a pile of tumbled-down logs,"
replied Mr. Allen. The second rider had come up and dismounted, and
together they studied a sketch which he had taken from his pocket.

"This must be the one, that's all," he drawled, as he spat out a great
quid of tobacco, "'cause he said it was by the bridge. We must o' missed
the other cabin in the trees somewhere below here."

Willis was eyeing the newcomers closely. A stern, hard look crossed his
face as he quickened his pace. He reached Mr. Allen's side, and the first
rider nodded to him. He drew nearer and observed the sketch very closely,
listening intently to all the strangers had to say. His heart was beating
fast, but just why he could not have told.

"Well, Jim, I guess we'd better unsaddle an' give the nags a drink an' a
rest," said the stranger as he carefully folded up the sketch and put it
in his pocket. "Seems strange as how we'd meet twice in t