was cooler here, and as invigorating as wine; the sky was a
transparent blue.

At last, somewhat tired of pushing his way over rocks and through virgin
underbrush with no objective, he was on the point of turning to retrace
his footsteps, when Mike stopped short with nose a-quiver and bristles
lifting on his neck.

"What's up?" asked the man. As usual he addressed the dog as though he
were a sentient being. "Trouble ahead? Some wild animal there, old boy?"

But, instead of retreating, he grasped his cudgel more firmly, and
cautiously parted the thick bushes in front of him.

To his surprise, Donald found that he was almost on the edge of a sharp
declivity leading down into a natural bowl-like hollow, so shut in with
high rocks and underbrush that it was, in effect, a retreat almost as
good as a cave for concealment. And that it was so used, or had been at
some time, was made evident by the presence of a rude hut, little more
than a lean-to since one end was wholly open, which snuggled against the
further bank.

With growing curiosity and caution, he worked his way along the edge,
for now a faint odor of wood-smoke reached his nostrils, and there came
to his ears the sound of some one, or something, moving within the
shelter, a presence which the dog had apparently detected much sooner
than had his master.

At length he reached a point of vantage, partly hidden by a cleft rock,
from which he could look fully into the interior of the shack. It was
obviously not a habitation, although a fire was burning briskly within
it. Near by stood a small keg or two, what appeared to be a large tub or
vat, and, over the fire, was a queer metal object, the shape of which
caused Donald to wonder for a brief instant if necromancy still existed,
and he had stumbled upon the retreat of a mountain wizard. Almost
immediately, however, the true explanation flashed through his mind.

It was a crude illicit distillery--the hidden "still" of a mountain
moonshiner! At the same moment a tall man in typical mountain costume
moved into view and bent over the fire.

In his interest Donald had forgotten Mike; but, at the appearance of the
man, his companion gave voice to a sharp and hostile challenge.

The furtive toiler turned like a flash, and, seizing the rifle which
leaned against the wall near at hand, sprang out and levelled it at the
intruder whose head was visible above the rock, for he had been too much
surprised to move.

"Put u