whatever is necessary to my
friends. You wake me when you think best to start for the Chippewa
Reservation to-morrow morning and we will be off. Want a horse, Willy?"

"Me take pony."

It was settled, and on the way back to the camp of the Overlanders
during that afternoon Hippy confided his plan to Tom Gray, but Tom was
doubtful of its success. He said he already knew what Hippy had had in
mind, and that if he were able to buy the section for anything within
reason there would be a fortune in it.

"Will you go in on the deal with me?" asked Hippy.

"Yes, if you keep within my resources. Thanks to you for letting me in
on your coal land deal in Kentucky I have some funds that I can use.
That was like giving the money to me, and I have been ashamed of myself
ever since for letting you drag me into any such deal."

"Chop it, Tom. As Willy would say, 'You Big Friend.' Say nothing to any
of the folks, unless you wish to confide in Grace. I shall, of course,
tell Nora where I am going and why."

During the rest of the journey back to the Overland camp, the two men
discussed the plan of action that Hippy should follow--provided he got
the timber plot--the hiring of men and the purchase of equipment, and,
by the time they had reached the Overland camp, all details were
settled. Nothing was said to either Grace or Nora until that evening,
when the two Overland men confided their plans to their wives.

Next morning, before the camp was astir, the Indian had awakened
Lieutenant Wingate and the man and the Indian had ridden away in the
dark of the early morning.

CHAPTER XIX

THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL

"What ye moonin' 'bout?" demanded Joe Shafto, giving Nora Wingate a prod
with a long bony finger.

"I am worrying about Mr. Wingate, Mrs. Shafto. He was to have been back
in two days, and here it is nearly two weeks since he and the Indian
went away."

"Indians is all varmints, anyway, but don't ye worry 'bout that man of
yers. Ain't worth it. None of 'em is."

"Don't you say that about my Hippy," rebuked Nora indignantly. "I love
my husband, just as you loved yours."

The forest woman laughed harshly.

"Ain't no such thing as love. A man's just a man, kind of handy to do
the chores and bring home the venison. Henry's worth a whole pack of
husbands, and I kin wallop Henry when he don't mind. Best thing 'bout
Henry is that he can't jaw back at me."

"He can growl at you, can't he?" returned Nora, laughi