lows," laughed the agent.
"That's all right, Pard. Have your little joke, and now let's get down
to business. What'll ye take cash down, balance ninety days, for the
section?"

"Half a million. What will you give?"

"Twenty-five thousand," answered the agent quickly.

"The deal is off," said Hippy, rising.

"Wait a minute! You're too confounded sudden. I want to argue the
question," urged the visitor.

"No. You have made your offer; I have made my offer. The subject is
closed. Come, have a snack. I see the girls have it ready for you, and
let's talk about the weather. I think it is going to snow."

Tom, though he had with difficulty repressed his laughter, offered their
guests every attention, and so did the Overland girls, but the subject
of the sale of the claim was not again referred to that evening, except
just before bedtime. None of the girls was favorably impressed with
either Mr. Ainsworth or his guide, and during the meal the forest woman
glared threateningly at the pair through her big spectacles. Near its
close, the visitors got a shock that nearly frightened Chet Ainsworth
out of his skin, and at the same time sent the Overland Riders into
unrestrained peals of laughter.

Henry, who had been out of sight ever since the arrival of the two men,
had ambled into camp observed only by Emma Dean who hugged herself
delightedly when she saw the bear's intention.

A yell from Chet Ainsworth when he felt the hot breath of the beast on
his neck, as Henry sniffed at it, brought every one, including Chet, to
their feet. Tobe Skinner whipped out his revolver and would have fired
at the animal had not Tom Gray gripped his wrist.

"He's tame. Don't be frightened," soothed Hippy. "All the animals in our
menagerie are halter-broken and milk-fed. Sit down. Go away, Henry! The
gentleman's nerves are a little upset after his sprint with Willy
Horse."

Mr. Ainsworth sat down, but the guide did not do so until Mrs. Shafto
had called off her animal and made him lie down.

"That was the voice of nature whispering to you, Mr. Ainsworth,"
suggested Emma demurely. "Henry had a message for you. You should have
listened. Did you ever have the birds of the air, or the beasts or the
trees, tell you their secrets, sir?" Emma's face wore a serious
expression.

Chet and Tobe gazed at her with sagging jaws, then glanced at Hippy.

Hippy Wingate tapped his own head with a finger and sighed.

"They do get that way sometimes. We