t such
a silly thing," observed Julius Hobson; "but, of course, our minds
are full up with what may have happened to our comrade, and all
that noise makes us shiver a heap; it's so suggestive, so to speak."

"Oh! what did you think you saw then, Owen?" gasped Horatio, as,
chancing to fix his gaze on the other, he noticed him suddenly elevate
his gun as though tempted to shoot the same.

Owen chuckled.

"It was only a frisky rabbit, after all," he announced calmly enough.
"I was just covering him to find out how easy I could nail the rascal,
if only I was out hunting game instead of a lost boy. And we'd have
had rabbit stew at the Dugdale home to-morrow, let me tell you,
Horatio, if I'd cared to let fly, for I had him covered handsomely."

"Well, please don't do it in a hurry again, Owen," asked Horatio,
settling back once more, and hoping his throbbing heart might not
beat so loudly that any of his comrades could hear it pounding against
his ribs. "Remember this is no ordinary patch of woods we're in right
now."

All sorts of stories have been told concerning the country up here;
and in passing through after nightfall we're doing what a big bribe
couldn't tempt any farmer's help to try. But, Hugh, don't you think
we must be getting pretty near that place by this time?"

"Just about two-thirds of the way, Horatio," he was informed. "That
leaning tree we passed is exactly three hundred and thirty-seven
paces from the place we left the road."

"Well, what do you think of that for looking ahead, fellows!" ejaculated
Horatio. "Hugh here took all the trouble to count the steps while
passing through, the day he came up to examine the ground. That's
what I call preparedness, and I guess it counts in a race, just as
much as in getting ready for war."

Hugh laughed as though momentarily amused.

"Well, they're both in the same category, Horatio, if you look at
things from the right point of view; rival armies and rival athletes
contending for the prize which in both cases would mean victory.
Looking ahead is a useful hobby, and it's served me handsomely on many
an occasion. I consider no time wasted that is employed to insure
success; even if you never need the information you've picked up it
adds to your stock of knowledge; and no fellow can have too big a
fund of that."

"Then we ought soon to be getting there, at this rate," continued
Horatio. "Let's hope nothing happens to our old car. We'd have a
jolly