ced
wolves can reason that far."

"All animals are smarter than we think they are," said the Little Giant.
"I've lived among 'em a heap, an' know a lot o' their ways. Only they've
a diff'rent set o' intellectooals from ours. What we're smart in they
ain't, an' what they're smart in we ain't. Now, ef I had joined to what
I am myself the strength o' a grizzly bear, the cunnin' o' a wolf an'
the fleetness o' an antelope I reckon I'd be 'bout the best man that
ever trod 'roun' on this planet."

"I've one thing to suggest before we start," said Will, "and I think
it's important."

"What is it?" asked Boyd.

"That we make copies of the map. We may become separated for long
periods--everything indicates that we will--I might fall into the hands
of Felton, who seems to have a hint about the mine, and, if I saw such a
thing about to occur, I would destroy the map, and then you would have
the copies. Each of you faced by a similar misfortune could make away
with his copy, and if the worst came to the worst I could re-draw it
from memory."

"Good idee! Good idee!" exclaimed the Little Giant with enthusiasm.
"I've been tellin' Jim an' Steve that though they mightn't think it, you
had the beginnin's o' intelleck in that head o' yours."

"Thank you," said Will, and they all laughed.

"It's a good thought," said Boyd, "and we'd better do it at once."

Will carried in his pack some pens and a small bottle of indelible ink,
and with these they drew with the greatest care three more maps on fine
deerskin, small but very clear, and then every man stored one in a
secure place about his person.

"Now, remember," said Boyd, "if any one of us is in danger of capture he
must get rid of his map."

Then, their breakfast over, they began the ascent of the slope, leading
toward the White Dome, finding it easier than they had thought. As
always, difficulties decreased when they faced them boldly, and even the
animals, refreshed by their stay in the valley, showed renewed vigor,
climbing like goats. The Little Giant whistled merrily, mostly battle
songs of the late war which was still so fresh in the minds of all men.

"I notice that you whistle songs of both sides," said Brady. "Musically,
at least, you have no feeling about our great Civil War."

"Nor any other way, either," rejoined the Little Giant. "I may hev hed
my feelin's once, though I ain't sayin' now what they wuz, but fur me
the war is all over, done fit clean out. They sa