Half supporting her, one arm about his neck, her hands clinging to his as if she was afraid some unseen power would take him from her, the two regained the camp, the blaze of freshly heaped-up logs having lighted the way.

"Give Dinsmore something hot to drink at once," were Thayor\'s first words on reaching the group. "He\'s been in water up to his neck. Had it not been for him we should have had to lie out all night; he sees in the dark like an owl. We\'ve had a hard tramp." He stood steaming before the fire as he spoke—drenched to the skin, the others crowding round him, too happy for the moment to ply him with questions. He himself was quivering with an inward joy. Alice\'s kisses were still on his lips.

The trapper edged nearer. "And what did them fellers say, Mr. Thayor, when ye found \'em?" he asked. He had asked the question before, but Thayor only waved his hand saying he would wait until they reached camp so all could hear the story.

"What did they say to me, Hite? They told me for one thing that they had done their best to find me, and I guess that was true," and he smiled grimly. "And now, who do you think was leading them, Billy?"

"Shank Dollard, I guess," returned Holcomb.

"No—Le Boeuf!"

"That Frenchman—and you kept the doctor a week to look after him!" exclaimed Holcomb indignantly.

"Yes. That was the reason he hunted for me."

The men crowded about the speaker, the women drawing closer, the old dog closest of all. Dinsmore, who was seated on a stump just outside the firelight, listened eagerly. He had heard the story before, but he wanted every detail of it again. His father had pulled the dripping coat from his back when they reached the fire, and he was now wrapped in one of the blankets that Margaret had placed about his thin shoulders.

"Yes—Le Boeuf," continued Thayor. "His arm was still in a sling, but he and his crowd—there were six of them in all—had done their best to overtake us before we got to the railroad. He was more afraid of me than I was of him. When I walked in among them he jumped to his feet and came straight toward me. I was alone—with Mr. Dinsmore within reach but out of sight—and, Hite, they never saw your son—just as I promised you—"

"\'I hear you men are looking for me,\' I said. \'What can I do for you?\' They all stood around, their eyes on Le Boeuf, as if they wanted him to speak. A more surprised and frightened lot of men I never saw.

"\'Well, we didn\'t burn de house,\' Le Boeuf began. \'We \'fraid you come and \'rest us. We haf no money to fight reech man like you—we want work for you again. We know who burn de house—it not us.\'

"\'That\'s all right, Le Boeuf,\' I said. \'I know you didn\'t have anything to do with the fire or you wouldn\'t be here. Now go back home all of you, and if I rebuild Big Shanty I\'ll send for you to help. Good-bye!\' and I turned on my tracks, picked up Mr. Dinsmore where he had hidden himself and started back. We really have been running away from our shadows—" and Thayor laughed one of his hearty laughs that showed how greatly his mind was relieved.

"And what kep\' ye so long?"............