d nearly two hours. She's
not angry with us!"

"Never was in a sweeter temper in my life," said the Bird Woman, busily
cleaning and packing the cameras.

Freckles removed his hat and solemnly held out his hand. With equal
solemnity the Angel grasped it. The Bird Woman laughed alone, for to
them the situation had been too serious to develop any of the elements
of fun.

Then they loaded the carriage, and the Bird Woman and the Angel started
for their homes. It had been a difficult time for all of them, so they
were very tired, but they were joyful. Freckles was so happy it seemed
to him that life could hold little more. As the Bird Woman was ready to
drive away he laid his hand on the lines and looked into her face.

"Do you suppose we got it?" he asked, so eagerly that she would have
given much to be able to say yes with conviction.

"Why, my dear, I don't know," she said. "I've no way to judge. If you
made the exposure just before you came to me, there was yet a fine
light. If you waited until Little Chicken was close the entrance, you
should have something good, even if you didn't catch just the fleeting
expression for which you hoped. Of course, I can't say surely, but I
think there is every reason to believe that you have it all right. I
will develop the plate tonight, make you a proof from it early in the
morning, and bring it when we come. It's only a question of a day or
two now until the gang arrives. I want to work in all the studies I can
before that time, for they are bound to disturb the birds. Mr. McLean
will need you then, and I scarcely see how we are to do without you."

Moved by an impulse she never afterward regretted, she bent and laid her
lips on Freckles' forehead, kissing him gently and thanking him for his
many kindnesses to her in her loved work. Freckles started away so happy
that he felt inclined to keep watching behind to see if the trail were
not curling up and rolling down the line after him.

CHAPTER XVI

Wherein the Angel Locates a Rare Tree and Dines with the Gang

From afar Freckles saw them coming. The Angel was standing, waving her
hat. He sprang on his wheel and raced, jolting and pounding, down the
corduroy to meet them. The Bird Woman stopped the horse and the Angel
gave him the bit of print paper. Freckles leaned the wheel against a
tree and took the proof with eager fingers. He never before had seen
a study from any of his chickens. He stood staring. When he turned hi