ooking for would drift that way. Awful glad you got
through that terrible storm safe, old chap," remarked Will.

"What are those things tied in a bunch at your belt--scalps?" queried
Bluff, as they walked along together.

"The tails of four wild dogs that tackled me in the big timber after I
had shot a deer which they wanted," remarked Jerry, trying to speak
naturally.

"What!" exclaimed the others in concert.

"Oh, it's a positive fact, boys. I can take you to where the critters
lie, if you want to see them later. I was told about them ranging that
section, by Jesse, who warned me to look out for them. I met the pack all
right, and I guess they wished I hadn't. Here's some of the fresh
venison. I hung up most of it so we could get it later. Then we made a
breakfast on part of what I was lugging home," Jerry went on.

"We?" remarked Frank, inquiringly.

"Of course. Andy Lasher and myself."

"Andy Lasher! Where did you run across _him_, and how did it come that
you let that miserable skunk eat breakfast with you?" demanded Bluff.

"Well, he was in a bad way, you see. I just happened to get him out from
under the branches of a fallen tree that had him pinned tight to the
ground. His arm was bruised, and we bunked together until morning. Andy's
got a repentant mood on him. He vows he's done playing nasty tricks on
our club. 'Course I don't know how it will pan out, boys."

"Say, did he tell you anything about my gun?" asked Bluff, eagerly.

Jerry turned and looked at the questioner.

"No, he didn't. Suppose he confessed to everything he ever did? But here
we are, fellows, and our guest looks as if he didn't know whether to run
for it or hang by that breakfast Toby is cooking."

Frank advanced toward the man, bowing, and assuming, as he believed,
something of a military air.

"Welcome to our camp, Prince Bismarck. Won't you be seated, and wait for
breakfast to be served? We have only rude accommodations here, but I hope
you will pardon any lack of seeming hospitality," he said.

The wild look vanished from the face of the gaunt man, and in its place
came an expression of tremendous importance. Indeed, but for the
seriousness of the situation Frank would have felt inclined to laugh
outright, it was so absurd to see this poor lunatic putting on such
magnificent airs.

"You forget, young sir, that I am the Iron Chancellor, and that while in
the field I shun all the comforts of home life. An iron cot, the simpl