ered gayly; they
had quite recovered from their suffocation. Four of the dogs were
lively, too; but one was dead.

After breakfast the boys inspected the cabin, and carried out the rest
of the supplies. Most of these were badly damaged. All the blankets
had been destroyed; the rifles were charred about the stocks, but could
still be used; the kettles and tinware were not much injured; but the
boys found only one box of cartridges that had not exploded.
Mitchell's dog harness was burned to pieces. Both the sledges had been
left outdoors, and were unhurt.

As they looked over the outfit, the boys discussed their plans. They
agreed that they should start for home at once. They were all anxious
to have the diamonds appraised, and there was not the slightest reason
for remaining. But the question what to do with the prisoners
perplexed them. They could not take them along, could not leave them
bound, and did not dare to set them free and restore their weapons.

Finally, however, the boys found a way out of the difficulty. They
divided the provisions and ammunition into two equal parts, and loaded
their toboggan with one of them. Peter then cut the four men loose.

"We'll treat you better than you did us," he said. "We're leaving you
half the grub, and there are some old deerskins here from which you can
make a new dog harness. We'll carry your snowshoes with us for two
miles down the river, and leave them there. We'll carry your rifles
three miles farther, and leave them in a conspicuous place, too."

Then the boys set out on their homeward journey. One of the Frenchmen
immediately started after them in order to pick up the snowshoes and
the rifles, but the boys soon left him far behind. They saw no more of
any of the outlaw gang, although, for fear of an attack, they kept
watch for the next two nights in camp.

None of the boys were in condition for fast travel, and the question of
supplies was a serious one. Horace thought it best to make straight
for the lumber camp where he had been so kindly received, and they
reached it on the third day. Here they spent a couple of days in rest
and recuperation, and were lucky enough to be able to buy enough beans,
flour, and bacon to last them to the railway. Again they set off, and,
after four days of hard tramping in bitter cold weather, they heard the
whistle of a train, faint and far away through the trees.

They all yelled with joy. It was like a voice f