Thus enthroned, the Emperor looked down at his foot and reconsidered the relative positions of himself and the Evil One. His faded crown of felt tilting over one ear, his rough, bearded face wet with perspiration, his patched trousers truncated over the right knee, below which foot and leg were uncovered, he was an emperor more distinguished for his appearance than his lineage. He took out his old memorandum-book and made this note in it with a stub of a pencil: _"June the 27 Strong says one Amos in the bush is worth two in yer company an a pair of britches."_ The Emperor, although in the main a serious character, enjoyed some private fun with this worn little book, which he always carried with him. Therein he did most of his talking, with secret self-applause now and then, one may fancy. It has thrown some light on the inner life of the man, and, in a sense, it is one of the figures of our history. VIII SILAS put the book in his pocket and looked down the trail. Some ten rods away two children were running towards him, their hands full of wild flowers. They were Socky and Sue, on their way to Lost River camp, and were the first children--save one--who had ever set their feet on the old trail. Gordon walked slowly, under a heavy pack, well behind them. They knew they were near their destination. Their father could scarcely keep them in hailing distance. Sue had observed that Socky's generosity in the matter of the tin bank had pleased her father, and so, after much thought, she had determined to make a venture in benevolence. "When I see Uncle Silas," said she, "I'm going to give him the twenty-five cents my Aunt Marie gave me." "Pooh! he's got loads of money," Socky answered. They stopped suddenly. Sue dropped her flowers and turned to run. Socky gave a little jump and recovered his courage. Both retreated a few steps. There, before them, was the dejected "Emperor of the Woods." "Says I!" he exclaimed, looking down calmly from his throne. Socky glanced up at him fearfully. "Who b-be you?" "John Socksmith Gordon." "T-y-ty!" exclaimed the Emperor, an expression, as the historian believes', of great surprise, standing, perhaps, for the old oath "By 'Mighty." It consisted of the pronunciation of the two letters separately and then together. The Emperor turned to the girl. "And y-yourn?" he inquired. "Susan Bradbury Gordon," she answered, in a half-whisper. "I tnum!" exclaimed the Emperor, shaking his bootless foot, whereupon the new-comers retreated a little farther. The singular word "tnum" expressed an unusual degree of interest on the part of the Emperor. "G-goin' fur?" he inquired. "To Lost River, to see my Uncle Silas." The Emperor gave a loud whistle of surprise, and repeated the exclamation--"I tnum!" "My father's coming," said Socky, as he pointed down the trail. "Whee-o!" whistled the "Emperor of the Woods," who now perceived his brother-in-law ascending the trail.