un."

"I never had a pair of snowshoes on in my life," said Charley. "I don't
see how you can walk with them, they're so wide and must be clumsy."

"Never has snowshoes on!" explained Skipper Zeb in astonishment. "Well,
now! And how does you ever get about in winter without un?"

"The streets are kept clear of snow," explained Charley, "and we don't
have so much snow anyhow. Even in the country there isn't enough snow to
use them."

"Well, now!" said Skipper Zeb in wonderment. "It must be strange to be
livin' in a place where you're not needin' snowshoes to get about in
winter. You'll learn to use un. 'Twill be easy enough, once you finds
the way o' swingin' your feet."

Mrs. Twig and Violet went down to the landing to see them off, and to
wish them Godspeed as they pulled away with Skipper Zeb and Toby at the
oars and Charley settled snugly in the stern.

X

SKIPPER ZEB'S TRAPPING PATH

The stars shone brightly. The distant shore line stood out in dark
silhouette marking the boundary of the land of silence, where no man
lived. A thousand miles of trackless, unknown wilderness lay beyond that
dark forest boundary. Charley's imagination pictured it as another
world, apart and different from anything he had ever seen. Reared in a
great city, it was difficult for him, even after his experience of the
past week, to visualize it or form any accurate conception of what lay
within its cold, rugged heart.

Listening to the ripple of water, watching the stars, Charley's thoughts
turned from the dark shore line to the brighter home land. What had his
father said when Mr. Wise returned without him? What would his mother
say and feel when his father reached home alone? How grief-stricken they
would be! Tears came into Charley's eyes, and remorse threatened to
dampen the pleasure, and rob him of the ardour, of the adventure, when
Skipper Zeb, in his big, cheery voice, asked:

"Be you snug and warm back there, Charley, lad?"

"Yes, thank you." Charley's voice betrayed his thoughts, perhaps, for
Skipper Zeb asked:

"Not sorry now that the ship left you, be you, lad?"

"N-n-o," hesitated Charley, "I'm having a great time, but I was thinking
of Dad and Mother, and how badly they will feel."

"Don't be thinkin' o' that now. Think how glad you'll make they when you
goes back." Skipper Zeb laughed heartily. "I'm just laughin' at the way
they'll be takin' on _then_! They'll be just maulin' you to pieces,
they'll be