out of a crack in the floor, and which he fully believed
had been molded right there in that isolated cabin.

"Don't count too much on that," remarked Phil; "you can tell that she
loves daddy above everything on earth. He can't be so _very_ wicked, I
guess."

As the day wore on all of them took turns in amusing the little girl.
She proudly showed them a number of things that she had been in the
habit of playing with when she "lived here."

Not once did she speak of a former life. Everything seemed to be
associated with "daddy." And as the other boys had been told by Phil
what he thought in connection with her mother being dead, of course they
were careful not to mention the word, for fear it might cause her sudden
grief.

During the afternoon her merry laugh was heard frequently. Childish
troubles soon fade away. And surely a little girl could not wish for a
better lot of "big brothers" than these four boys seemed to be. They
anticipated her every wish, and after a while Mazie even seemed to look
upon them in the light of old and tried friends.

Phil had arranged it that while their little guest honored them with her
company she was to have his bunk. He could make himself fairly
comfortable on the floor, somehow. A bunch of hemlock browse would do
for a mattress, and if the fire was kept up a blanket was hardly
necessary.

Phil felt a little fearful that at night she might miss a familiar
figure, and cry herself to sleep wanting "daddy." He was agreeably
disappointed, however. Mazie ate supper with her protectors, and cuddled
down in the arms of Lub, to whom she had taken a great fancy. Perhaps it
was because he had so much to do with the getting of meals, although it
was hardly a fair thing to say that, because Lub was kindness itself.

There she was finally discovered fast asleep. Lub insisted on them
leaving her with her head on his shoulder for a long time.

Finally, Ethan and Phil having come back, after setting the flashlight
arrangement in a new place, they managed to carry the sleeping child to
the bunk provided, without arousing her.

The night passed quietly.

Phil would not have been surprised had a heavy summons on the door
brought them all to their feet, and upon opening up to find an almost
distracted man anxiously inquiring as to whether they had seen anything
of a lost child.

Nothing of the kind occurred.

Wherever "daddy" could be searching for the missing one as yet he failed
to turn h