"Mellered!" said he, merrily. He shook his head as he added, "You ain't g-givin' her no slack line." After a little silence the hunter added: "Don't t-twitch too quick." It was a phrase gathered from his experience as a fisherman. The young man blushed but made no answer. "K-keep cool an' use a l-long line," Strong added. XXIII NEXT morning, an hour after sunrise, Master set out with the children. He promised Sinth that he would keep them near him and bring them back before noon, They shut Zeb in a cabin, and he stood on his hind feet peering out of the window and barking loudly as they went away. Master brought his blankets, rifle, books, and cooking outfit, for that day he was to take possession of the new camp. Strong had gone with the Migleys and their outfit in the trail to Nick. It was another hot, still morning, but the eastern shore of Catamount lay deep under cool shadows when Master dropped his pack at the shanty. A deer stood knee-deep in the white border of lilies. It looked across the cove at them, walked slowly along the margin of the shaded water, and disappeared in the tamaracks. Master and the children crossed to Birch Cove, hallooed, but received no answer, and sat down upon the high, mossy bank. "Maybe she won't come?" Socky suggested. "She will come soon," said Master. Sue propped her little doll against a fern leaf and said: "Oh, dear! I wish she'd never go 'way." "She's awful good"--that was the opinion of Socky. "She wouldn't tell no falsehoods," Sue suggested. "I wish she'd come an' live with us; don't you?" Socky queried, turning to Master. The little Cupid was searching for another arrow. "Wouldn't dare say--you little busybody!" the young man replied. "You'd go and tell on me." Both looked up at him soberly. Socky was first to speak. "Where'bouts does 'the beautiful lady' live?" "Way off in the woods." "At the home of the fairies?" "No, but on the road to it." "If she'd come an' live with us, she wouldn't have to fill no wood-box, would she?" Sue inquired. "Or pick up chips," Socky put in, brushing one palm across the other with a look of dread. The children had discussed that problem in bed the night before. Their aunt had made them fill the wood-box and bring in a little basket of chips every night and morning. It went well enough for a day or two, but the task had begun to interrupt other plans. "Oh no," said Master. "We'll be good to her." Socky was noting every look and word--nothing escaped him. He felt grateful to his young lieutenant, and sat for a little time looking dreamily into the air. Then, with thoughtful eyes, he felt the watch-chain of the young man. "You'd let her wear your watch--wouldn't you?" "Gladly." "She could look at my aunt's album," Sue suggested, as she thought of the pleasures of the camp. Socky looked a bit doubtful. "She mustn't git no grease on it or she'll git spoke to," Sue went on as she thought of the perils of the camp.