ng in spite of her
worry.

"He kin, and he kin git a clip on the jaw, like I give my man once. No,
sir. Bears is better company than is men. I know for I've tried 'em
both. Take my advice and when ye wants to git another husband, jest git
a bear instead."

"But bears are beasts," laughed Grace, who had joined the two in time to
hear Mrs. Shafto's advice.

"So's men. Bears growl--so does men. Mules kick, like June and July--so
does men. Animiles live for nothin' but to git fed and sleep. So does
men. What's the difference?"

The girls laughed heartily.

"Your logic is excellent, but your philosophy is not sound," replied
Grace. "There is such a thing as companionship and helpfulness, and the
finer things of human association."

The forest woman sniffed.

"Ain't no such thing," she retorted. Joe stalked away to attend to her
duties, and in a few moments the Overland girls heard her berating the
bear.

Tom Gray, during the period of Lieutenant Wingate's absence, had made
frequent trips to the section that Hippy wished to buy, and now knew to
a certainty that it was a prize plot of timber. Tom was in the Overland
camp on this particular day, mapping out the timber tract in detail,
though with little idea that it could be purchased at a price within
their means. He was at work on the map when he heard Hindenburg barking
excitedly.

"Something unusual must be on to make the bull pup raise such a
disturbance," muttered Tom, tossing his map aside and crawling from the
tepee.

He saw Nora was running, crying out that Hippy had returned.

"Hooray! Meet me with food!" shouted Hippy. "I've been living on iron
rations for two days because bears ate up our fresh stuff and tried to
eat the mess kits too. Hulloa, Tom!"

"What luck?" asked Tom, after shaking hands.

"The best. We have met the enemy and he's 'ourn,' as Mother Shafto would
say. Don't ask me a question until my stomach begins to function."

A luncheon was quickly prepared, and Hippy had plenty of attention, all
the girls standing about while he ate, ready hands passing food until
Hippy could eat no more.

"Where's that pesky Indian?" demanded the guide, frowning.

"He is coming along with a bunch of men and supplies to show them the
way to our claim. Twenty jacks, a cook and a fiddler will be here late
this afternoon, together with a knock-down bunk-house, sufficient food
supplies for two weeks, tools, and I've got a supply of cash to pay the
hands