it dies."

Emma Dean uttered a high, trilling laugh, and the other girls joined in
so heartily that, for a moment, or so, work came to a standstill. Hippy
then briskly attacked the packs, while Tom secured them to the backs of
the ponies.

While this was being done Grace left the party to buy food sufficient to
last for at least a two-days' journey, and returned with her arms full
of bundles, the contents being transferred to the mess kits of her
companions.

"Are you going to let the dog run?" questioned Anne.

"I am not. He rides horseback," replied Hippy briefly. "I am a man of
resources."

"Especially in leading educated ponies," murmured Emma.

In the meantime, Hippy had taken a canvas bag from his pack and hung it
over the pommel of his saddle.

"Come, Little Hindenburg. We will now go bye-bye," cooed Hippy, lifting
the bull pup, depositing it in the open bag, and tying the dog's lead
string to the saddle.

"Hippy darlin'!" cried Nora. "If Hindenburg jumps out he will hang
himself and choke to death."

"Sure he will. That is why he isn't going to jump out."

Hindenburg stood up in the bag and barked in apparent approval of
Hippy's assertion.

"Listen!" exclaimed Emma, holding up a hand. "Bark again, Hindenburg."

Hindenburg did so, Emma Dean giving close attention.

"What is the big idea?" demanded Lieutenant Wingate.

"I wished to listen to this voice from the canine world because it
carries a message to us," answered Miss Dean gravely.

Hippy gave her a quick keen glance, but Ginger, taking sudden umbrage at
a dog barking at his side, demanded his rider's exclusive attention. By
the time Hippy had subdued the bronco, Emma's peculiar remark had passed
out of mind. Soon after that, with packs neatly lashed, each rider in
the saddle, the Overland Riders wheeled their ponies and jogged along
the village street on their way to the Great North Woods where Tom Gray,
as an expert forester, was to "cruise" or estimate the amount of timber
standing on the thousands of acres in the huge timber tract, the largest
tract of virgin timber east of the Rocky Mountains.

The Overland Riders, who, for the previous three summers, following
their return from France where they had served in various capacities
during the war, in the Overton College Unit, had decided to accompany
Tom to the Big Woods, seeking such adventure as the northland might
afford.

As they started away on the first leg of their journey, no