deer," said Hippy.

"Yer wife stepped in it," replied Joe.

"It's all in the family," observed Hippy, holding out his plate.

One by one the Overlanders returned to the table, with the exception of
Emma, whose appetite had left her, but Hippy had the rest of the
venison all to himself. The meal was finished off with apple pie, and
the girls said they had not eaten so much since their first meals at
home on their return from service in France.

Following the meal, the Overland Riders discussed their proposed journey
with the forest woman, looked over the supplies she had bought and
pronounced themselves satisfied, not only with her purchases, but with
Joe Shafto herself. Nothing more was seen of Henry that evening. The
woman said he probably had gone into the woods to sleep or to forage for
food.

"Where did you get the beast?" questioned Emma.

"When he war a cub. I shot his mother and brought the cub home, and he's
one of the family. I kin make him mind just like a dog, and sick him on
like a dog. I'll call him in and show ye."

"No, no," protested Emma and Nora in chorus.

"I shall dream of bears all night, but don't you dare let him out while
I am here," begged Emma.

"Henry's my watchdog. He sleeps on the front steps, and he'll chaw up
anything that comes in the yard after I git to bed, so keep out or
you'll git bit."

"Oh, I shall keep out, never fear," answered Emma in a tone of voice
that brought a laugh from everyone at the table.

Before leaving Mrs. Shafto that night the Overland girls acquainted her
with such plans as they had made for their outing, Tom telling her of
the work that lay before him and expressing his wish to have the party
as near to his work as possible. "Good nights" finally were said, and
the guests departed for their little camp among the trees. A fire was
built to light up the tents while the girls were arranging their
blankets and preparing themselves for bed.

"Hindenburg gets free range for the night," volunteered Hippy. So, with
the bull pup on watch, all hands turned in, for an early start was to be
made on the following morning. They were awakened by his barking at
daybreak.

Joe Shafto was hallooing to them.

"Git a hustle on ye," she called in answer to Tom Gray's answering hail.

There was a scramble in the camp of the Overlanders, for they desired to
show their guide that they were no novices at breaking camp and getting
under way. Just as they were finishing