EAT OF PEG TATEM

The shadows were heavy in the Big Woods when the two men awakened from
their afternoon's sleep, into which they had sunk while discussing their
discovery. Joe Shafto was getting supper, and it was the odor of her
cooking that aroused Lieutenant Wingate to full wakefulness. Hippy
routed out the rest of the camp without delay.

They discovered Henry asleep high up in one of the virgin pines,
Hindenburg having found warmth and a less perilous position on the
blankets of the Overland girls.

"I seen ye folks over by the hole in the ground yonder," the forest
woman confided to Tom as he greeted her and asked how she felt. "I took
a look for myself this evenin'. Fine kettle of stew, hey?"

"Meaning what?" questioned Tom smilingly.

"I reckon some varmint give that air tree a kick over, eh? Who do ye
reckon the varmint was who did that, Cap'n Gray?" demanded Joe, glaring
at him through her spectacles.

Tom shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't know, Joe. I wish I did," he replied. "Please say nothing about
it to the girls. I shall tell Mrs. Gray, of course. Being in charge of
the party she should be told of our suspicions."

"Sure. What do ye reckon on doin' to-night?"

"Make a new camp and watch it. Where was that bear of yours while all
that uproar was in progress?" demanded Tom.

"Same place the Lieutenant's pup was at--sleepin'!" returned Joe dryly.

Tom turned away laughing. He and Hippy rustled boughs for new lean-tos,
chopped wood for the night campfire, and began making a new camp a few
rods from the one that had been destroyed by the falling tree and the
forest fire. The girls volunteered to assist in the work, but Hippy
declared that they looked as if they needed sleep more than work.

The work on the lean-tos had not been finished when the Overlanders were
summoned to supper. There was little conversation until they had dulled
the sharp edges of their appetites; then their drooping spirits revived
and they began bantering each other.

Henry had come down to be on hand when the food was distributed and got
many morsels during the meal.

The bear suddenly bristled, swayed his head from side to side, and
began to growl. At almost the same instant Hippy Wingate's bull pup was
galvanized into life. He began to utter deep growls and resentful
coughs.

"Some varmint hangin' around, I reckon," nodded the forest woman in
answer to a look of inquiry from Grace. "Be still, Henerey!"

"I hear