ding on end. Young trees were broken off short, bushes laid flat as
if a tornado had swept over the scene, and here and there the trunks of
giant trees were scarred where the bark had been torn off by logs coming
in contact with them.

"Think what might have happened to us had we not got out in time,"
murmured Anne.

"We should have been mashed flat," agreed Emma. "How terrible!"

"That is what comes from listening to the voice of nature," chuckled
Hippy.

"Here are some of our provisions," called Grace, who had been clambering
over the logs, peering under them and feeling about among the pine
cones. She uncovered a dozen or so cans of food, all dented, some mashed
out flat, and while she was doing this Elfreda discovered some badly
battered mess kits.

Hippy salvaged a chunk of bacon on the river bank, and others found
widely scattered remnants of their supplies, including some that had
been swept into the river which had not floated away.

"This will keep us going until we can replenish our larder," finally
announced Grace. "After daybreak we shall undoubtedly find more of our
belongings. The tents, however, seem to have been destroyed. I found a
few pieces of canvas, but that was all. I am glad we saved our
blankets."

"By the way, Mrs. Shafto, where is Henry?" asked Nora.

"Henry!" cried Joe.

"If Henry is wise he will be found up a tree," chuckled Hippy.

"Henry! Henre-e-e-e-e!" called the forest woman. "Oh, Henre-e-e-e-e-e!
Here, Hen, Hen, Hen, Hen! Come here, I tell ye! Hen, Hen, Hen, Hen,
Hen!"

"Crow! Maybe that will fetch Hen," suggested Hippy, and the Overland
girls shouted.

"Don't ye make fun of me!" raged the forest woman, striding over to
Hippy and shaking a belligerent fist before his face. "I give ye notice
that Joe Shafto kin take care of herself and her bear, and she don't
need no advice from a greenhorn like yerself." Hippy backed away, the
woman following him and still shaking her fist, and the more the girls
laughed the angrier did Joe get.

"That's all right, old dear. Don't get excited," begged Hippy, trying to
soothe the irate woman.

"What? Old dear! Don't ye call me old dear. I ain't yer old dear nor yer
young dear. Ain't ye ashamed of yerself to speak to yer betters that
way, and 'specially to a woman of my years? I'll larn ye to be civil and
to mind yer own business!" Joe gave the embarrassed Hippy a sound box on
one ear, then on the other. "Take that, and that," she cried