Part 17 (1/2)

”Better to bide quiet for a night at present than be laid up for days later on,” was the Scotsman's response ”But you can set your is andexpedition to the place where we found yon hanky We'll be back by ht”

This plan was a relief to the boys' h it entailed a certain delay in the forward journey, the result of the scouting ht enable them to make more definite plans than were possible at present

So, after a few preparations for the journey, the two men set off, accompanied by the faithful Bannock, early in the afternoon

”Don't you go and disappear like the others did!” laughed Holden, to which the ”ceevilised” Haggis replied--

”Fox lose trail in bush easier than me!”

It was a hot afternoon, so, when the boys had watched their friends disappear in the forest, Bob decided that it would be a good opportunity to wash the mud and slime from his clothes, as they would soon dry in the sun

No sooner said than done The soiled garments were stripped (for of course the lads were reduced to one suit apiece) and the streaed to sit in his suit of Nature while the clothes of Art were drying upon handy branches

As we said, the day was hot, and, as the grassy slope upon which the boys sat forin of a clear pool where the stream widened, it was not to be expected that the period of idle ease would be prolonged

”Ah!” Bob suddenly exclaiarded the water with covetous eyes, ”the te to have a dip”

”It certainly looks e, I should say,” rely Then he added merrily: ”But are you sure that you can stand it? It won't do to exert yourself too much yet Old Mackintosh expects you to rest”

”That's all right I shan't muck about very much I can take it easy As a e will buckto prepare hi as you don't think that it will do you any harm, I'm ready”

A short run, and then Bob had entered the water in the clean-cut style of a practised diver

”It's glorious!” he called to his chum, as almost ready to follow his leader ”I should think that it is quite eight feet in the ht Clear out of the way!” was the response, and in a secondwater

Those of our readers who are only fa of England can have no idea of the char the fishes in the cool depths of a Western forest streanarled giants ofoff the distance with a surrounding barrier of dense colour; iin of the bowl, gaily coloured birds skiaudy butterflies so your cheek, like a piece of down borne upon the mellow air At such a time, in such a place, you feel yourself to be but a tiny little speck in the centre of the world of Nature You feel as free as a savage If you are not happy, itboy who lacks the real boy's love for out-of-door freedo heroes experienced as they splashed about in the crystal pool Probably they did not realise the details as I have described thelorious sense of freedom that everybody feels if they have the ”backwoods spirit” It cannot be properly described, but I can s in an English roolish county And so intent were the boys on the enjoyure of an Indian who crept out of the bush near by while they were experi

The Indian paused for a fewthe attention of the lads was devoted to their arass This he exarunt of satisfaction as he discovered the pack-horse picketed near by After this, seeing no necessity for further secrecy of e of the pool where the boys were bathing, and sat down quietly to watch their play

It was Alf as the first to discover the stranger ”I say! There's an Indian!” he exclaimed

”Where?” questioned Bob, who had swuht beyond a curve in the creek

”Over there--beside our clothes But, I say, what a horrible face he has got! He looks as if a lion had started to chew hi freak I ever saw”

Taking for granted that the Indian would not understand the uncomplimentary re quickly followed by his chum But the Indian had understood He was as faue

Nevertheless, he did not alter the grin on his face, though there was so which (if the rash speaker had only known it) had suddenly determined him to carry out his contract in quite a different ed with Thunder-maker

An Indian is a queer creature at the best He loves as quickly and impulsively as he hates, while devotion may be turned into detestation as rapidly as a vessel of clear water is discoloured by a drop of ink