e
canteen and all our iron vessels with water so that you won't
have to go even to the brook. Then you stay right here by the
fire in the daytime, and in the den at night. You can keep a bed
of coals before the den when you're asleep, and no wild animal
will ever come past it."

"All right, Dick," said Albert courageously; "but don't you get
lost over there among those ranges and peaks."

"I couldn't do it if I tried," replied Dick in the same cheerful
tone. "You don't know what a woodsman and mountaineer I've
become, Al, old boy!"

Albert smiled. Yet each boy felt the full gravity of the
occasion when the time for Dick's departure came, at dawn of a
cool morning, gleams of silver frost showing here and there on
the slopes. Both knew the necessity of the journey, however, and
hid their feelings.

"Be back to-morrow night, Al," said Dick.

"Be ready for you, Dick," said Albert.

Then they waved their hands to each other, and Dick strode away
toward the higher mountains. He was well armed, carrying his
repeating rifle and the large hunting knife which was useful for
so many purposes. He had also thrust one of the revolvers into
his belt.

Flushed with youth and strength, and equipped with such good
weapons, he felt able to take care of himself in any company into
which he might be thrown.

He reached the bottom of the slope, and looking back, saw Albert
standing on a fallen log. His brother was watching him and waved
his hand. Dick waved his in reply, and then, crossing the creek,
began the ascent of the farther slope. There the pines and the
distance rendered the brothers invisible to each other, and Dick
pressed on with vigor. His recent trips over the lower slopes
for supplies had greatly increased his skill in mountain climbing,
and he did not suffer from weariness. Up, up, he went, and the
pines grew shorter and scrubbier. But the thin, crisp air was a
sheer delight, and he felt an extraordinary pleasure in mere
living.

Dick looked back once more from the heights toward the spot
where their camp lay and saw lying against the blue a thin gray
thread that only the keenest eye would notice. He knew it to be
the smoke from Albert's fire and felt sure that all was well.

While the slope which he was ascending was fairly steep, it was
easy enough to find a good trail among the pines. There was
little undergrowth and the ascent was not rocky. When Dick stood
at last on the crest of the ridg