he
sent forth a long thrilling cry that pierced and echoed far through the
wintry forest, and like the distant song of a bugle a similar cry came
back. As he broke into a run, four human figures appeared upon the crest
of a low hill and burst into a simultaneous shout. Then they exclaimed,
also together:

"Henry!"

After that, although their emotion was deep, they made no great show of
it. The border was always terse.

"I knowed you'd shake 'em off, Henry," said the shiftless one.

"But it must have been a long chase," said Paul.

"Wish I'd been with you," said Long Jim.

"Big work," said Tom Ross.

"I didn't do it all my myself," said Henry. "I was helped by the people
of the forest. They came to my aid again and again."

Paul looked at him wondering, and Henry told them how he had been warned
by the animals one after another, and he could not believe it was mere
chance.

"The woods are full o' strange things," said Shif'less Sol,
thoughtfully. "An' I never try to explain 'em all to myse'f. I let 'em
go fur what they are."

"How has it been with all of you?" asked Henry.

"We stayed a long time on the oasis in the swamp," replied Paul, "and
then we started toward the north, hanging on to the rear of the pursuit,
and trying for a chance to help you, though we never found it. At last
the great cold made us seek shelter, but we were sure it would compel
the warriors to abandon the chase and drive them into their villages."

"After all, it was King Winter that intervened finally in my behalf."

"That's true. And while we were hovering about, hoping to help you, we
left the long trail which I suppose you saw."

"Yes, I came upon it, and it led me to you."

"An' now," said Shif'less Sol, "sence all the warriors hev been drove
into winter quarters, an' none o' us hez been killed or took, s'pose we
go into them kind a' quarters ourselves, an' keep warm."

"Whar?" asked Silent Tom.

"Why, our old hollow in the cliff!" exclaimed Paul. "The warriors would
not think of marching against it again before next spring, if at all,
and it's the warmest, safest and finest place in all the wilderness."

"A good choice," said Henry.

"Right thar we'll go," said Shif'less Sol.

"Ez soon ez we kin make tracks fur it," said Long Jim.

"Shore," said Tom Ross.

They started at once, and all things turned in their favor. The
wilderness remained frozen and bitter cold, but there was no pursuit. By
all rules, game shou