ad. Reckon he'd had bad news just about then,
because I saw a letter with a foreign postmark on it, lying open on his
desk; and I know the signs of a storm under our roof."

He paused to give a last cut, and the vine came free; then he began to
slice off a few trailing side roots, so as to make a pretty fair rope
out of it. After which he started to speak again.

"He was awful mad, Fenton, I give you my word. Never saw him in such a
temper. And the way he hauled me over the coals was scandalous, too.
Said he'd think up what he'd have to do with me for punishment, over
night. Also said everything was going crooked with him at once. Well, I
just made up my mind I wouldn't stay around home, any longer; but skip
out till the breeze blew over. And I also thought up a bully good scheme
to bring the old man to terms. Huh! you ain't the only one that's got
brains, Fenton, if you do think so."

Again he paused, as if to give emphasis to his words. Fred was waiting
anxiously, to learn what Buck had decided to do. If only he would lower
that vine, he felt sure he could pull himself out in ten seconds.

"I happened to remember that we had a relative somewhere up in this
region; and so I just made up my mind to disappear for a little while
myself. It's in the air you see, even you've got the fever. And I'd play
a winning card on the governor by taking with me something he set
considerable store on. A day or two'd bring him to terms; and I reckoned
he'd promise to let up on me, in order to get back--there, how d'ye
think that'll answer, Fenton?"

He held up the stout vine. Fred could see it plainly, for the bright sky
was beyond. It seemed to be at least ten feet in length, and as thick as
one's wrist.

"That ought to do the trick finely, Buck," he remarked, pleasantly, just
as if he did not have the slightest doubt in the world but that the
other fully intended pulling him out of the hole.

"Do you think you can hold on?" asked Buck, beginning to lower away with
tantalizing slowness, as though he enjoyed keeping Fred on the anxious
seat.

"Sure I can, once I get a good grip. Just a foot or so more, Buck, and
then I will be able to reach it. And let me tell you, it's good of you
to help a fellow like this. They'll say so in town when they hear about
it, Buck."

"Think so, do you?" went on the other, as he suddenly allowed the vine
to drop until it touched the hands extended, when it was instantly
withdrawn again.

"Oh! d