oods. It was a charming site for the home of one who loved nature as
much as the old naturalist did.

When a vociferous shout rang forth a form was seen to come quickly to
the open doorway. It was the same genial Larry Henderson whom some of
the scouts had once rescued from the unkind assault of the bully of
Lenox and his crowd, as they pelted the lame man with hard ice balls.

He welcomed them to his little home with a heartiness that could not be
doubted, and soon a royal dinner was being prepared for the whole
party. While this was being dispatched later on, the owner of the woods
cabin listened to the story of the great hike over Big Bear Mountain,
as told by the boys.

Everything seemed to interest him very much indeed, and when last of
all they told him how some unscrupulous boys had stolen most of their
supplies, meaning to break up the hike, Mr. Henderson looked pleased.

"Don't let a little thing like that deter you, boys, from carrying out
your original proposition," he remarked. "I can spare you all you want
in the way of supplies. Yes and even to a coffee-pot and an extra
frying-pan. An enterprise as splendidly started as this has been must
not be allowed to languish, or be utterly wrecked through the mean
tricks of such scamps as those boys."

He was pleased when they gave him a round of hearty cheers, such as
could only spring from a group of lively, wide-awake American boys.

Afterwards he showed Tom and some of the others many things that
interested them more than words could tell. Indeed, so fascinating were
the various things he took the trouble to explain to them, that the
scouts only wished they could stay at the cabin in the woods for a
number of days, enjoying his society.

It was decided that they must remain there at least until another
morning, which would give them a night with the naturalist and hunter,
a prospect that afforded satisfaction all around.

Tom soon saw that Mr. Henderson had something on his mind which he
wished to confide to him; consequently he was not much surprised when
he saw him beckon to the leader of the Black Bear Patrol to join him.

"Tell Mr. Witherspoon to come, too, and also that bright chap you call
Rob," remarked the recluse. "It is a little matter that may interest
you and I think it best to lay the story before you, and then let you
decide for yourselves what you want to do. Still, from what I've seen
up to this time of your character, I can give a prett