fort to make himself heard. "Let's go back."

"You try it, if you dare!" challenged Greg, waving the lantern in the
other boy's face.

Even with that short distance to go, it took the three youngsters some
little time to reach the great pile of logs. Sparks were flying from the
chimney-top of the shack, showing that Mr. Fits was preparing to warm
himself.

"And that's the way we've treated the fellow who stole mother's
Christmas present, and mine," muttered Dick.

At last the boys reached the pile of logs. Dick tackled it bravely with
the crowbar. Shortly he had half a dozen logs clear, though he was
panting, both from the beating of the storm and from the hard labor he
had taken upon himself.

"Get those in," called Dick. "While you're at it I'll pry more loose."

Hen Dutcher picked up the smallest of the logs, starting for the cabin,
but Greg caught him by the shoulder.

"See here, Mr. Lazy, if you're going to pick out such easy ones as that,
take two at a time."

"I can't," sputtered Hen.

"Then I'll turn you over to Dave Darrin when you get inside."

Hen thereupon picked up another small log, though he pretended to
stagger under the double burden. Greg also carried two logs, and he
staggered with good reason, for the weight was more than he should have
attempted in the deep snow.

In the very little time that had passed the snow seemed to have grown
much deeper. By the time the two wood-carriers reached the doorway and
were admitted they felt as though they had done an hour's work of the
hardest kind.

Dave Darrin stood just inside, booted and capped.

"Good enough," muttered Dave, holding out the air rifle. "Now, Greg, you
take this pill-shooter and let me go out for the next wood. We'll send a
new fellow every time."

"Then you can take my place, Darrin," proposed Hen readily. "Give me
that air rifle."

"Humph!" was all Dave said, as he poked Hen outdoors before him, while
Dalzell and Hazelton took the logs and stacked them at the further end
of the cabin.

When Dave and Hen returned they carried but a log apiece.

"Dick says each fellow is to take only one log at a time," reported
Dave. "In that way he thinks we'll last longer and get in more wood.
Now, Hen will stay back. Tom, I see you're in your overcoat and ready.
Come along with me. Dalzell get ready for the next trip, when I come
back with my second log."

"And I'll be ready to help Dick with the crowbar," called out Hazelton,
runni