strength, and at times the water
dashed over the side of the boat. To add to their discomfort the rain
began to fall, and by the time the shore was reached their clothes were
wet, and David felt cold.

"Help me pull up the boat," Betty ordered. "We'll tie it to that tree,
and then we'll look around for some shelter. There's a raftsman's
cabin not far away, and maybe we can stay there."

With the boat securely fastened, they made their way along the shore
until they came to a path leading up from the water. Following this
through the bushes, they soon reached an open space, and there before
them appeared a small building covered with tarred paper.

"That's the place," Betty exclaimed, "and I know there is a stove there
for I was in it once. The raftsmen used it this last spring. We can
build a fire and dry our clothes before we go home."

Betty was the first to reach the cabin, and as she pushed open the door
she gave a cry of surprise.

"What's the matter?" David inquired, thinking that she had been
frightened.

But Betty did not at once reply. She stood in the middle of the room,
looking around in a bewildered manner.

"Well I never!" she at length declared. "Why the place is all fixed
up, and somebody must surely be living here. Who can it be, for I
never heard a word about it, and I thought that I knew everything that
was going on in this parish. Just look at that table now, with the
dishes all washed so clean. And there are books, too," she added, "and
pictures on the wall. I never knew a man could keep a room so neat."

"How do you know that it is a man?" David asked. "Perhaps it is a
woman."

"Why, that's easy enough," and Betty looked around the room. "Don't
you see a man's boots there, his clothes hanging up by the stove, and a
package of tobacco on the window-sill? I guess it's a man all right."

"Perhaps you are right," David assented. "You know more about such
things than I do. Anyway, it's nice to be here out of the storm. But
do you think the man will mind when he comes back and finds us here?
He might be very angry with us."

"Let him get angry, then," and Betty gave her head a slight toss. "I
don't care for angry men. If I can match Jim Goban, I guess I can
handle any man who comes here. Leave that to me, and don't you worry.
I'm going to do a little exploring, anyway. I want to see what's in
that other room. Ah, just what I thought," she continued, when she had
opene