greeted Lieutenant Wingate cordially.

"Put out that fire!" commanded the ranger sternly, pointing a lean brown
finger at the cook fire that had grown into a lively blaze.

CHAPTER XIV

THEIR DAY AT HOME

"What is wrong about the fire, sir?" questioned Grace pleasantly.

"Have you a permit to build fires in these woods?"

"We have not," spoke up Hippy. "Why?"

"Then put it out!"

"Just a moment, old top. Who sent you here?" demanded Hippy.

"The Dusenbery outfit that's cutting on Forty-three notified me by
telephone yesterday that a party of campers had set on fire and burned
off several thousand feet of timber. He said there were two men and a
party of women--that they were rough-necks, and a lot of other things. I
haven't anything to do with that, but I'm going to see to it that you
don't do any more damage to the forest."

"Peg Tatem, eh?" reflected Hippy. "How did you find us? Did Peg tell you
where we were?"

"I saw your smoke yesterday, but couldn't rightly place you till this
morning when I smelled your smoke and found I was close to you. Are you
going to douse the fire?"

"I think not, sir," answered Grace.

The ranger sprang from his horse and strode towards the campfire. Hippy
stepped between him and the blaze.

"Don't do anything childish. Let the fire alone. When we want the fire
out we will put it out ourselves," reminded Lieutenant Wingate.

The ranger drew back an arm as if about to strike at the Overland Rider
when a menacing growl at his side caused the forest man to spring back.
He had recognized that growl instantly. Henry, standing on his hind
legs, "arms" extended, was ready for fight, following a gentle prodding
and a "Sick 'im, Henry," from his mistress.

The ranger whipped out his revolver.

"Drop that gun!" yelled Joe Shafto. "That's my bear!"

"Don't shoot! He is a pet bear," admonished Lieutenant Wingate. "That is
Henry. Oh, are you awake?" he added, as Hindenburg rolled over, blinked,
and then dashed out and began barking at the stranger.

"What's this--a circus?" wondered the ranger.

"I give ye fair notice it'll be a circus if ye don't let that bear be,"
warned the forest woman in a shrill high-pitched voice.

"Put away your gun, Mister Man. There's nothing to shoot here, unless
you get too confounded obstreperous," urged Hippy, now smiling. "My
name's Wingate, Lieutenant Wingate, late of the Army Flying Corps in our
late unpleasantness with the Hun. What'