s done," Jean referred, not to Tom, but to the finished means
for Tom's transportation. "I go, put 'way the t'ings till we com' after,
som' day." With this pointed assertion, Jean promptly made good his
word. David followed him with alacrity, leaving Tom alone with his
unexpected treasure. Despite Jean's frequent admonitions that they "mus'
'urry," it was fully fifteen minutes before either he or David returned
to the wan, but happy-faced figure by the fire. Man-like, not one of the
three made any allusion to the letter which was now tucked away in one
of Tom's coat pockets. Jean and David had seen the light of a great joy
flame up in their comrade's gray eyes, and in the old hunter's
vernacular, they were "satisfy."

Having again cached their few effects, with the exception of Jean's
trusty rifle, Tom was soon established on the litter and the hike was
again renewed. Difficult as it had been for David and Jean to make their
way to the point in the woods which they had just left, the return was a
trebly laborious journey. The approach of night found them not yet
halfway to the lumber camp. They had calculated that the increased
supplies in David's knapsack would furnish them with supper, leaving a
comfortable allowance for breakfast the next day. By starting again at
daylight the following morning they hoped to reach camp before the
middle of the next afternoon. As they drew nearer to the camp they knew
they would find the road less difficult.

"We hav' not done bad," congratulated Jean when, at twilight, they
halted to prepare supper. "We hav' meet no one that hav' the wish to
'arm us. M'sieu' Tom he get better all the time. Mebbe now because he
get better an' we so near camp, after supper he tell about wil' man.
Then we turn in; go to sleep quick, an' to-morrow we are safe."

"You are right, Jean. I am getting better every minute, thanks to you
fellows. Since I have your permission at last to talk about myself, I'll
tell you what I've been crazy to say ever since I heard the call of the
Elf's Horn and you found me." Tom gave an involuntary sigh as the events
of the past few weeks came to his mind.

Supper was somewhat hastily disposed of. Both David and Jean were as
anxious to hear Tom Gray's story, as the latter was to tell it.
Self-denial in this respect had been hard to practice. Yet all three had
acquitted themselves with credit. Seated on a log, with his friends on
either side of him, Tom started his strange n