"Chop it, Tom. As Willy would say, 'You Big Friend.' Say nothing to any of the folks, unless you wish to confide in Grace. I shall, of course, tell Nora where I am going and why." During the rest of the journey back to the Overland camp, the two men discussed the plan of action that Hippy should follow--provided he got the timber plot--the hiring of men and the purchase of equipment, and, by the time they had reached the Overland camp, all details were settled. Nothing was said to either Grace or Nora until that evening, when the two Overland men confided their plans to their wives. Next morning, before the camp was astir, the Indian had awakened Lieutenant Wingate and the man and the Indian had ridden away in the dark of the early morning. CHAPTER XIX THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL "What ye moonin' 'bout?" demanded Joe Shafto, giving Nora Wingate a prod with a long bony finger. "I am worrying about Mr. Wingate, Mrs. Shafto. He was to have been back in two days, and here it is nearly two weeks since he and the Indian went away." "Indians is all varmints, anyway, but don't ye worry 'bout that man of yers. Ain't worth it. None of 'em is." "Don't you say that about my Hippy," rebuked Nora indignantly. "I love my husband, just as you loved yours." The forest woman laughed harshly. "Ain't no such thing as love. A man's just a man, kind of handy to do the chores and bring home the venison. Henry's worth a whole pack of husbands, and I kin wallop Henry when he don't mind. Best thing 'bout Henry is that he can't jaw back at me." "He can growl at you, can't he?" returned Nora, laughing in spite of her worry. "He kin, and he kin git a clip on the jaw, like I give my man once. No, sir. Bears is better company than is men. I know for I've tried 'em both. Take my advice and when ye wants to git another husband, jest git a bear instead." "But bears are beasts," laughed Grace, who had joined the two in time to hear Mrs. Shafto's advice. "So's men. Bears growl--so does men. Mules kick, like June and July--so does men. Animiles live for nothin' but to git fed and sleep. So does men. What's the difference?" The girls laughed heartily. "Your logic is excellent, but your philosophy is not sound," replied Grace. "There is such a thing as companionship and helpfulness, and the finer things of human association." The forest woman sniffed. "Ain't no such thing," she retorted. Joe stalked away to attend to her duties, and in a few moments the Overland girls heard her berating the bear. Tom Gray, during the period of Lieutenant Wingate's absence, had made frequent trips to the section that Hippy wished to buy, and now knew to a certainty that it was a prize plot of timber. Tom was in the Overland camp on this particular day, mapping out the timber tract in detail, though with little idea that it could be purchased at a price within their means. He was at work on the map when he heard Hindenburg barking excitedly.