great logs until the fireplace was full, and still they had
to sit close to keep warm. Slowly the cold was driven out, and the cabin
became more comfortable. Willis took the water bucket and an ax and went
out to the stream for water, but the ice was a foot thick and the water
so cold that it froze in the bucket before he got it back to the cabin.
As he set the bucket on the shelf, he noticed that the mirror which hung
above the bucket was broken into a thousand pieces. No doubt a bullet had
come in through the chinking. Was this a declaration of war? Or had
some rowdy just been showing off? They examined things carefully, but
found nothing missing but the chips, not even food. Ham could not imagine
why the kindling had been removed from the hearth, for he was positive
that no fire had been built in either the stove or the fireplace since
they had last been there.

After they had warmed sufficiently, they began to think of supper. Ham
selected a can of clam soup from the shelf and opened it, but it was
frozen solid. He set it by the fire to thaw out and made a second
selection. This time he chose a can of beans, but found them in the same
condition. He looked in the bread box--the rye-bread was as hard as a
bullet. They pulled the table close up before the fire and made out a
supper, the best thing on the menu being a pot of boiling-hot tea.

After supper they pulled down the blankets and carefully warmed them
before the fire. Then the two boys sat and planned concerning the coming
camp until they grew sleepy. After a great pine knot had been placed for
the night log, the boys slipped into bed between at least a dozen
blankets.

Just before going to bed, Willis prepared a few choice slivers so that a
fire could be quickly started in the morning, and he left them in a
little pile on the hearth. In the night he heard strange noises down on
the floor, but, because it was so cold, he did not venture out to
investigate, and in the morning every chip was gone. The mystery of the
chips grew deeper.

They lay in bed late next morning, for the cabin was cold and dark and
they were so comfortable. Time was nothing to them that day. As they lay,
chatting, Ham suddenly squeezed Willis's arm, then raised on his elbow to
listen. He heard voices, and they were coming up the canyon. He crawled
to where he could peep out of the window, but all he could see were the
feet of two men and a dog. The cabin was very cold, so he slipped bac