the sound of an ax.

"How would it do to let out a whoop every little while, Phil?" suggested
X-Ray Tyson; "for all we know they might have lost the trail in the
storm, and be somewhere to one side. It'd be a mean thing if we passed
'em by without knowing it."

"That isn't a bad idea," Phil told him; "so start in right away with a
yodel."

This was all the other was waiting for, and he accordingly lifted up his
voice in a loud shout. Any camper hearing it would understand that the
call was meant for a friendly one, and must hasten to reply.

"There, wasn't that an answer; or do they have echoes as wonderful as
that up here in the North Woods?" demanded X-Ray, excitedly.

"It was a shout, all right," Ethan told him, positively.

"And came from over on our right," added Phil, pleased at least that all
their labor had not been for nothing.

"Let's mark the trail so we can be sure to find her again," Ethan
continued; always cautious about letting a good thing slip him.

This being done by means of a certain tree that all of them felt sure
they must easily recognize, even at some distance, the four Mountain
Boys turned toward the spot where that faint "hallo" had come from.

Presently keen-eyed X-Ray Tyson told them he saw smoke.

"That's right," admitted Ethan, when he had followed the extended finger
of the other chum; "and of course it means they've got a camp fire
burning; though after all that rain it'd take a good woodsman to know
where to find dry wood, except in the heart of some stump. Let's hurry
up and get there."

He kept watching as he went on. It would grieve Ethan sorely should he
find at any time they were actually lost, and after he had taken so many
precautions in the bargain.

"I can see somebody moving around there," announced X-Ray, soon
afterwards; "and it's a man, too. Seems to be a guide, if his looks
count for anything."

They kept heading straight toward the small cheerless camp in the
drenched woods. All the while Phil was expecting to hear his chums,
saving possibly Ethan, give utterance to low cries of surprise.

"There's somebody lying down on the other side of the fire, boys,"
continued the one with the hawk eyes. "That smoke keeps shifting around
so much I don't seem to be able to glimpse as well as--say, what d'ye
think, fellows, I declare if it ain't a _woman_!"

CHAPTER XVI

PEACE AFTER STRIFE--CONCLUSION

Lub uttered a gurgle to indicate his consternation. Etha