n was on the other side of it. Before
long they stood on the high trail and looked down into the valley where
stood the cabin, gloomy and gray, the light from the snow caught and
faintly reflected by the windows. Ham gave a loud shout that cheered and
strengthened every heart, and in another moment he was unlocking the
door.

Ham's little pocket ax sang out in the winter night, and soon his efforts
were rewarded by a tiny blaze on the hearth. He ordered his forces like a
veteran, and they obeyed him without question--all save Sleepy, who chose
a comfortable spot in the corner and sat down, refusing to move. Very
soon the kitchen stove began to heat its end of the house, and the big
tin teakettle sang and sighed over the flames. Mr. Allen was busy with
supper and Fat was clearing a space before the open fire so they could
all sit down together. Some brought in the wood and piled it high in one
corner, while others scraped the snow away from the lea of a big boulder,
thus making a shelter for the donkeys. Ham smuggled a half a dozen frozen
potatoes for them and a half loaf of rye bread.

A column of merry sparks rose from the chimney, while the candles threw
weird, funny little shadows out on the snow through the barred windows.
Ham and Willis were watering the donkeys and discussing their trip up,
when Ham, without any apparent reason, burst into a merry laugh.

"I have an idea, Willis, and it's a capital one, too. Will you help me
carry it out?" and he laughed again.

"Well, that depends," returned Willis.

Ham put his hand to his ear and listened, then turned and looked eagerly
toward the cabin. When he was satisfied they were alone he continued:
"When I first came out here to feed the mules I heard an owl hooting up
in that big tree. My, but it startled me at first, until I had time to
think what it was. You know they shot a young mountain lion over on
Black Mountain day before yesterday. Now, we aren't so far from Black
Mountain, and if we are ever going to make a real, worth-while member for
O.F.F. out of Sleepy Smith, we have got to begin soon, and, besides, I'm
satisfied we will have to use a few extraordinary tactics. We have nursed
him long enough; besides, his spirit is rotten. He has been sitting
in there by that fire all evening and hasn't turned his hand to do a
thing. He will probably want some one to put him to bed, yet, to-night.
All the way up the trail he whined and acted like a baby. You remember