you're right," said Dick, "and we'll go down the slope
part of the way before we camp for the night."

They found the descent easy. It was still open forest, mostly
pine with a sprinkling of ash and oak, and it was warmer on the
northern side, the winds having but little sweep there.

The moon became brighter, but it remained cold and pitiless,
recking nothing of the tragedy in the pass. It gave Dick a chill
to look at it. But he spent most of the time watching among the
trees for some sheltered spot that Nature had made. It was over
an hour before he found it, a hollow among rocks, with dwarf
pines clustering thickly at the sides and in front. It was so well
hidden that he would have missed it had he not been looking for
just such a happy alcove, and at first he was quite sure that some
wild animal must be using it as a den.

He poked in the barrel of his rifle, but nothing flew out, and
then, pulling back the pine boughs, he saw no signs of a previous
occupation.

"It's just waiting for us, Al, old fellow," he said gayly, "but
nothing of this kind is so good that it can't be made better.
Look at all those dead leaves over there under the oaks. Been
drying ever since last year and full of warmth."

They raked the dead leaves into the nook, covering the floor of
it thickly, and piling them up on the sides as high as they would
stay, and then they lay down inside, letting the pine boughs in
front fall back into place. It was really warm and cozy in there
for two boys who had been living out of doors for weeks, and Dick
drew a deep, long breath of content.

"Suppose a panther should come snooping along," said Albert, "and
think this the proper place for his bed and board?"

"He'd never come in, don't you fear. He'd smell us long before
he got here, and then strike out in the other direction."

Albert was silent quite a while, and as he made no noise, Dick
thought he was asleep. But Albert spoke at last, though he spoke
low and his tone was very solemn.

"Dick," he said, "we've really got a lot to be thankful for. You
know that."

"I certainly do," said Dick with emphasis. "Now you go to sleep,
Al."

Albert was silent again, and presently his breathing became very
steady and regular. Dick touched him and saw that he was fast
asleep. Then the older boy took off his coat and carefully
spread it on the younger, after which he raked a great lot of the
dry leaves over himself, and soon he, too, was