hen they
joined the others--a double excitement--but the story of the lynx was
excuse enough for that, and no embarrassing questions were asked. Amy
was hurried back to the cabin to have her arm dressed properly.

CHAPTER XXV

CHRISTMAS JOYS

They were gathered about a big fire on the hearth in the largest
cabin--the outdoor girls, the boys, Mr. Ford and others. The crackling
blaze leaped up the broad-throated chimney--it snapped with the energy
of Fourth of July pyrotechnics, and threw a ruddy glow on happy faces.
Betty sang:

"Merry, merry Christmas, everywhere,
Cheerily it ringeth through the air.
Christmas bells, Christmas trees,
Christmas odors on the breeze.
Merry, merry Christmas, everywhere,
Cheerily it ringeth through the air!"

The others joined in, and then, clasping hands they circled around the
room, their shadows flickering in fantastic and gigantic shapes on the
wall as the fire danced with them.

"It's going to be the best Christmas ever--the very best ever!"
murmured Amy, shyly, as she sat beside her--brother.

"That's right, little girl," he said, patting her arm, the one torn by
the lynx. But he took good care to pat above the scratch, which had been
bandaged.

For there was now no doubt that Amy and Mr. Blackford were brother and
sister. Following the strange revelation to him of the red mark on her
shoulder, the young business man had caused careful inquiries to be
made. There was no mistake this time. The baby picked up in the flood
had the red mark--Mr. Blackford's missing sister had the red mark, and
so had Amy. They were one and the same. This was sufficiently proved.

And if other identification was needed, it was in the scar near Amy's
elbow--a scar which at one time she hoped would prove a means of
identifying her. And it did in a measure.

For the mark was that made by the hot point of a flatiron. One had
fallen on her when she was a baby, making a bad burn that had healed
over in the course of time. This fact regarding Amy was learned from the
old diary found with her on the raft in the flood. And from another and
independent source it was learned that Mr. Blackford's missing sister
had a similar scar, caused by a like accident. Though years had almost
obliterated it, still it was sufficiently plain.

"They can't get you away from me now, Amy," said Mr. Blackford, proudly.

"I won't let them," added Am