, John found it hard to shake off the dread
with which they filled him. On the other hand, Ree was bright and chipper
as a squirrel in the nutting season. He reasoned that the discovery of
the tracks was fortunate, rather than otherwise, for it proved that their
mysterious enemy was still hovering on their trail and gave them an
opportunity of finding out who the wretch might be. And they now knew
that they must be constantly on their guard, while except for the
discovery, they might have become careless and fallen easy victims to
their sneaking foe.

So he cheered John up, and loud and clear the sounds of their axes rang
out in the crisp, delightful air of the woods. Both boys threw off their
coats as the healthful perspiration came to their faces and hands, and
their vigor and strength seemed to grow rather than decrease as they
worked. They had been careful to keep their axes sharp, and the chips
flew almost in showers.

The trees selected for cutting were those from five to eight inches in
diameter, whose trunks were firm and straight. The lads would be able to
handle logs of this size, while larger ones would give them trouble,
especially as they no longer had a horse to draw them to the cabin site.
The work would be hard at best, but no more than the boys had expected,
and the hearty good will with which they set about the task before them,
promised its speedy accomplishment in spite of obstacles.

For mutual safety the boys remained near one another as they worked, and
timber was so plentiful that their progress was not interfered with by
this arrangement. Their rifles were within reach, and their eyes and ears
were alert.

The hour of noon brought a brief but pleasant rest, and the afternoon
slipped quickly away. As supper time drew near, John, having had only a
cold lunch at noon, was becoming very hungry and was about to mention
that fact, when, instead, he suddenly seized his rifle and sprang behind
a tree. At the same instant Ree did likewise.

"As sure as shooting I heard some one cough!" exclaimed John in an
undertone.

"I heard a footstep," Ree quietly answered.

"Ho ho!" It was Tom Fish who called, and coming forward, he confessed
that he had been trying the boys' watchfulness by trying to steal up to
them without being discovered. He was decidedly surprised to find them so
quick to detect his approach, for he had scarcely come within gun shot.

Tom declared to John, however, that he had not cou