ke before sunset, and it could not then be less than nine o'clock.

He was no longer able to find the stream which had served him as guide,
and stretched himself on the ground at the foot of a gigantic tree
feeling as if it made but little difference whether he ever arose again
or not.

In utter despair he remained silent and motionless until slumber came
to his relief, and he remained wrapped in blissful unconsciousness for
several hours.

When he awoke it was yet dark, and he was benumbed with the chill which
came from the damp earth.

"There's no need of freezing to death, if I am lost," he said to
himself. "Things are so bad now that they can't be much worse, and I
may as well make the best of a bad bargain."

By feeling carefully around he succeeded in getting together a small
quantity of decaying wood, and this he lighted after some difficulty.

"It's lucky I had to cook dinner to-day, or I shouldn't have had a
match." he said, grimly, as he sat about gathering more fuel.

In a short time he had a cheerful blaze, and the warmth, which was so
grateful, served to revive his courage.

Slowly the hours passed.

Now and then he fell into a light slumber, but only for a few moments
at a time, and it seemed as if forty hours must have elapsed before the
sun lightened the sky again.

Toasting some of the crackers on the coals, and refreshing himself with
water from a tiny stream, he made ready to continue his search.

Now he took his bearings carefully, with the sun as a guide, and,
knowing the lake must lie to the west, pushed straight across the
wilderness.

One, two, three hours, and then his heart was made glad by a glimpse of
the water.

Never had anything looked as beautiful as did the lake at that moment.

He ran to the bank, and looked out through the bushes.

He was nearly opposite the islands, at the exact spot where the trail
was lost on the previous afternoon.

To reach the camp it would be necessary to travel the greater portion
of the day, and the important question was as to whether Jim would
remain quietly there until he returned.

"There's no use thinking about it; I've got to take the chances," he
said, resolutely to himself, and the weary march was resumed.

More than once before the journey came to an end was he tempted to give
himself up to the rest he so sadly needed; but the thought that he
might be forced to spend another night in the woods alone without a
shelter, prevented