"The Dusenbery outfit that's cutting on Forty-three notified me by telephone yesterday that a party of campers had set on fire and burned off several thousand feet of timber. He said there were two men and a party of women--that they were rough-necks, and a lot of other things. I haven't anything to do with that, but I'm going to see to it that you don't do any more damage to the forest." "Peg Tatem, eh?" reflected Hippy. "How did you find us? Did Peg tell you where we were?" "I saw your smoke yesterday, but couldn't rightly place you till this morning when I smelled your smoke and found I was close to you. Are you going to douse the fire?" "I think not, sir," answered Grace. The ranger sprang from his horse and strode towards the campfire. Hippy stepped between him and the blaze. "Don't do anything childish. Let the fire alone. When we want the fire out we will put it out ourselves," reminded Lieutenant Wingate. The ranger drew back an arm as if about to strike at the Overland Rider when a menacing growl at his side caused the forest man to spring back. He had recognized that growl instantly. Henry, standing on his hind legs, "arms" extended, was ready for fight, following a gentle prodding and a "Sick 'im, Henry," from his mistress. The ranger whipped out his revolver. "Drop that gun!" yelled Joe Shafto. "That's my bear!" "Don't shoot! He is a pet bear," admonished Lieutenant Wingate. "That is Henry. Oh, are you awake?" he added, as Hindenburg rolled over, blinked, and then dashed out and began barking at the stranger. "What's this--a circus?" wondered the ranger. "I give ye fair notice it'll be a circus if ye don't let that bear be," warned the forest woman in a shrill high-pitched voice. "Put away your gun, Mister Man. There's nothing to shoot here, unless you get too confounded obstreperous," urged Hippy, now smiling. "My name's Wingate, Lieutenant Wingate, late of the Army Flying Corps in our late unpleasantness with the Hun. What's yours?" "Chatworth's my name. I'm the warden up here, and, not having a permit to have a fire in the forest, you'll have to hit the lumber trail for the open country." "Nothing doing! You will have to dope out something better than that to induce us to leave," grinned Hippy. Grace demanded to know where the ranger got his authority for stating that they should have a fire permit. "It's my authority!" he answered brusquely. "Who told you to assume such authority?" interjected Miss Briggs in the calm judicial voice that was hers when trying a lawsuit. "I'm not answering fool questions. You heard what I said. Are you going?" "Well--yes, of course we are going, but it may be a month or two before we do go. If you will kindly give me your address I'll drop you a picture card later on, telling you when we expect to leave the Big North Woods," drawled Lieutenant Wingate.