the lookout, why then it may not be
very healthy here."

"Hadn't thought of that," said Bob. "That looks cheerful. But what's the
point? Nine-tenths of this timber is private property anyway. There's
certainly no trespass--sheep, timber or otherwise--on the government
land. What in blazes is the point?"

"Give it up; but we'd better wear our guns."

Bob laughed.

"I'd have a healthy show against a man who really wanted to get me with
a gun. Presumably he'd be an expert, or he wouldn't be sent."

It was agreed, however, "in view of the unsettled state of the country,"
as Bob gravely characterized the situation, that the young men should
stick together in their work.

"There's no use taking chances, of course," Bob summed up, "but there's
no sense in making fools of ourselves, either. Lord love you, I don't
mind being _haunted_! They can spring as many mysterious apparitions as
they please, so long as said apparitions don't take to heaving bricks.
We'd look sweet and lovely, wouldn't we, to go back to headquarters and
tell them we'd decided to come in because a bad man with whiskers who'd
never been introduced came and looked at us out of the trees."

In pursuance of this determination Bob and Elliott combined forces
closely in their next day's work. That this was not a useless precaution
early became apparent. As, momentarily separated by a few feet, they
passed a dense thicket, Bob was startled by a low whistle. He looked up.
Within fifty feet of him, but so far in the shadow as to be
indistinguishable, a man peered at him. As he caught Bob's eyes he made
a violent gesture whose purport Bob could not guess.

"Did you whistle?" asked Elliott at his elbow. "What's up?"

Bob pointed; but the man had vanished. Where he had stood they found the
print of moccasins.

Thrice during the day they were interrupted by this mysterious presence.
On each occasion Bob saw him first. Always he gestured, but whether in
warning or threat Bob could not tell. Each time be vanished as though
the earth had swallowed him the instant Elliott turned at Bob's
exclamation.

"I believe he's crazy!" exclaimed Elliott impatiently.

"I'd think so, too," replied Bob, "if it weren't for the way everybody
acted down below. Do you suppose he's trying to warn us out or scare us
off?"

"I'm going to take a crack at him next time he shows up," threatened
Elliott. "I'm getting sick of this."

"No, you can't do that," warned Bob.

"I'm goin