The red-headed lumberjack returned slowly, picked up the gold-piece and opened his mouth to speak, but no words came. "Never mind. Don't say it," smiled Tom. "You may go now." "Thankee," mumbled Spike, and made a hurried exit. Reaching the door, he broke into a run, never pausing until he had plunged deep into the forest, not to return until long after the jacks had turned in for the night. Following the new foreman's departure the gifts for Overlanders and jacks were quickly distributed, and, half an hour later, on their way to their own camp, the Overland Riders stepped out into the sparkling night, where, as Hippy Wingate had said, every tree was a Christmas tree, dressed with snapping reflected lights from the moonbeams on the snowflakes. Elfreda Briggs called attention to a dark object at the top of a great pine. It was Henry--Henry in disgrace--Henry who had stolen a turkey from the cook-house and felt the sting of his master's club across his sensitive nose. June and July disturbed the serenity of the night with two long-drawn, throaty brays. A snow-bird chirped in the foliage somewhere above the Overlanders. "What is the little birdie saying, Emma girl?" teased Hippy. "What is he saying?" answered Emma thoughtfully. "I think, Hippy, that he is wishing us all a merry, merry Christmas and a happy, successful new year." On the following morning Spike entered the office of the company where Tom Gray was at work on the books. "Boss," he said, "it ain't right this thing that ye said last night. I been sittin' out thar in the woods all night thinkin'--" "About being made foreman?" questioned Tom. "Yes. An' 'bout that other thing. When the fellers laughed an' ye said I was 'barin' my soul,' I didn't have no such thing. But Cap'n! Out thar in the woods, an' God Almighty lookin' down and seein' me thar in the moonlight, I found one. Mebby ye told him to give it to me, but I got it. I didn't un'erstan' then what ye meant. I do now, an' wanted ye to know it. Cap'n! I got er soul!" Without giving Tom Gray opportunity to make fitting reply, Spike squared his shoulders and shuffled out and called his gang together. Spike's confession and his new job worked a transformation in him. He no longer wore the surly, hang-dog expression of former days; he walked more erectly and his gray eyes boldly met those of any person who addressed him. The manner in which the red-headed foreman drove the work along throughout the winter, overcoming obstacles and winning and holding the respect of the men, confirmed the judgment of Tom and Hippy that Spike was the right man for the job. The girls of the Overland party, with Joe Shafto, Henry and the mules, started for home two days later, leaving Tom, Hippy and the bull pup to remain in the woods until spring.