se of may the best man win."

"All right, but I'll win and you can be best man at the wedding, how's
that?" Peter's eyes shone with good humor, and his happy face left Blair
little room for doubt as to Peter's own view of the case. What Carly
herself thought was another matter.

But the two were too good friends to quarrel, and moreover, each knew
the other too well to mistrust him for a minute. It would, indeed, be a
fair field where they were concerned.

"I didn't know you'd gone so far," said Blair, ruefully, "of course,
there's no chance for me."

"I hope not," returned Peter, cheerfully. "But when we get back we'll
soon find out."

"Perhaps find out that she's 'gone with a handsomer man,'" suggested
Blair.

"Not impossible. I suppose there are such."

But a disinterested observer, looking at Peter's fine, strong face, with
its radiant coloring, brought out by the sharp air, might not have
agreed.

And then conversation became abstract, for the wind rose to a piercing
gale and it was all they could do to keep their balance and fight their
way along.

* * * * *

"I said this here wind was bound to ease up some time and it has," said
Joshua, with decided satisfaction, the morning of the start for home.
"We ought to make good goin' to-day, and maybe get ahead of our own
schedule."

"That's the trick," said Shelby, "always get ahead of your own schedule,
and you're bound to succeed. Come on, Peter, here we go."

The leave-taking was a bit silent, for all three had become attached to
the camp, and they gave long farewell glances backward.

Then off they went, and throwing sentiment aside, turned their thoughts
and their talk to the coming journey.

For home was yet a long way off. Many days' traveling before they
reached the mail boat and then many more before they could lift New York
Harbor.

"And I'm glad of it," declared Peter. "The longer we are on the home
stretch, the better I'll be pleased."

"Granting we don't miss the boat," added Blair. "When I start out I want
to arrive."

It was about three days later that a big storm set in. Relentlessly it
blew and snowed and the gales were almost unbreastable.

"Don't dare stop," said Joshua, in his usual laconic way; "the winter's
set in, and any day may be worse'n the day before. Old Merk is down to
twenty-four, and we want to peg ahead,--that's what we want to do."

They did,--by day,--and by night they enjoyed th