of them, for the sake of what Joe
said might be better going, and a fairly direct course was followed for
several days more. One night, however, they suddenly found themselves on
the banks of the Little Big Branch where it had taken a deep bend. Hippy
declared that it had made the bend to be near Emma and murmur sweet
nothings in her ear.

"Listen well, little one," he admonished. "Tidings from the frozen
north, as well as messages intended for our ears alone, may be borne to
us through you. It is mighty fortunate that we have you with us."

The bank of the river was their camp that night. The party slept just
under the bluff, protected by it and lulled to sleep by the gently
rippling waters of the forest stream. Early on the following morning
they were aroused by an uproar in the camp. Out of the uproar came the
shrill voice of their guide.

"Get out of here, ye lazy good-for-nothin'. Think this 'ere is a
lumberjack hotel? Sick 'im, Henry! Sick 'im!" raged Joe Shafto.

Grace, hearing the bear growl, sprang up and ran out. Her companions
were not far behind her.

Sitting crouched over the campfire, which he had built, calmly cooking
his breakfast, was the Indian, Willy Horse, wholly undisturbed by the
uproar that his presence had created.

"Call off the bear!" commanded Grace sharply. "The man is our friend."

"He's a lazy good-for-nothin' and he's stole yer breakfast," protested
the forest woman, as she headed off Henry and drove him back with sundry
prods of her foot.

"Good morning, Mr. Horse," greeted Emma.

"Mornin'," answered the Indian briefly.

Grace by this time was shaking hands with him; then the Overland girls
surrounded him and demanded to know why he had not been to see them
before.

Emma started to tell Willy what a lot of trouble they had been in when
Grace interjected a remark that caused Elfreda to wonder.

"Perhaps Willy Horse knows more about our late unpleasantnesses than you
do, Emma," said Grace.

"Hello, old man. How are you?" cried Hippy, striding forward with
outstretched hand.

"How do! You Big Friend. Me make breakfast fire here."

"Help yourself," urged the girls.

"All yours," added Hippy with a wave of the hand that encompassed the
entire camp.

"Not includin' the guide," differed Joe Shafto.

Grace told Willy to wait until their breakfast was ready and eat with
them, but the Indian shook his head and stolidly continued preparing his
own breakfast. When it was ready