party returned just before
dark, Elfreda Briggs proudly exhibiting a duck that she had shot on the
lower river. After supper, for which all hands had keen appetites, Hippy
announced that Willy Horse had been appointed official hunter for the
lumber outfit at seventy-five dollars a month, which meant riches to the
Indian. It would be Willy's duty to provide fresh meat for the
lumberjacks. Added to this, the Indian would shoot wolves and collect
the bounty, and, when not otherwise engaged, act as the faithful
watchdog for the Overland Riders.

"You Big Friend," was Willy's only comment when informed of his new job,
but they observed that he puffed more vigorously at his pipe, and gazed
more intently into the fire than usual.

"Do you see things in the fire?" questioned Emma, sitting down by the
Indian.

He nodded.

"Tell me what you see," she urged in a confidential tone.

"See white girl fly like bird."

The girls broke into a merry peal of laughter.

"He has your measure," laughed Tom.

"See owl up tree. Mebby come see white girls," added the Indian, and
then, to their amazement, the raucous voice of an owl was heard in the
branches high above their heads. The owl continued his hoarse night
song, the Overland girls interestedly watching Emma Dean's rapt
expression as she listened.

"He is trying to say something," she half-whispered, holding up a hand
for silence. "He is speaking, perhaps, of the mysteries of the
universe--our immediate universe."

"Yus-s-s-s," observed Hippy solemnly. "Tell me, I prithee, little
bird-woman, what is the wise old owl saying? Has he a message for me?"

"Yes. And I can tell you what it is. He says, 'you simp, you simp, you
simp, you simp-simp.' Interpreted freely, this means, in addition to the
truth of the owl's wise assertion, that you have gathered all the
ingredients of a calamity, but you don't know it. Beware, Hippy Wingate,
of dire things to come!" finished Emma, amid a shout of laughter. The
Indian puffed on his pipe in stolid silence.

CHAPTER XXII

WHEN THE DAM WENT OUT

In the two weeks that had passed since Wingate & Gray started their
operations on the Little Big Branch, wonders had been accomplished. A
modern camp for the lumberjacks had been constructed, and the dam had
been completed to the extent of permitting them to close the gates and
let water accumulate there.

On the day that marked the completion of the work, the Overland girls
arranged