spoke from every smile of her amiable face and every movement of her
plump but still graceful form.

As Peter adjusted the cushions she took a low willow chair and smiled a
greeting at all, including the newcomers.

These were Kit Shelby and Gilbert Blair, the two companions of the
Labrador trip.

They were good-looking, well set-up chaps, quite evidently unable to
talk of anything save the plans for the momentous journey.

"Got a wonder for a guide," began Shelby, as soon as decent greetings
had been made. "He's just been let loose by Sir Somebody of Somewhere,
and I nailed him. Name o' Joshua,--but we can stand that. He really
knows it all,--without continually proclaiming the fact."

"I'm thankful that you've a fine guide," murmured Mrs. Crane, in her
satisfied way. "It means so much to me to know that."

"You're right, Lady Crane," assented young Blair. "And old Peter will
have to obey him, too."

"Of course I shall," put in Peter. "I always bow to authority, when it's
greater than my own. Oh, won't it all be great! I'm crazy to start.
Think of it, Dad,--we three fellows sitting around a camp fire, smoking
our pipes and spinning yarns of an evening, after a long day's hike over
the ice and snow!"

"Thought you were going in a canoe," said his sister.

"Part of the way,--but, later, we abandon the craft and hoof it."

"Maybe and maybe not," said Shelby. "It all depends on the weather
conditions. But the season is just right, and we'll have good going, one
way or another, I'm sure."

"You're the surest thing I know, Kit," Gilbert Blair said; "now with no
hint of pessimism, I own up I look for pretty hard lines a good bit of
the time."

"Calamity Howler!" returned Shelby; "why damp our enthusiasm like that?"

"Can't damp mine," and Peter beamed with glad anticipation. "Let the
hard lines come if they like. I'm expecting them and expecting to enjoy
them along with the rest."

"Pollyanna Peter!" chaffed Carlotta; "shan't you mind it if the blizzard
blows down your tent and the dogs run away with your dinner and your
feets give out?"

"Nixy! I'll set up the tent again, get some more dinner from the larder
and rest my feet for a spell."

"That's right, boy," said his father, "that's the spirit. But do take
enough provisions and, if they run low, make a dash for home."

"Just my idea, Dad, exactly. And as Shelby's looking after the
commissariat, and Blair attending to the tents and cooking outfit,
so