“Supposed to leave right after dinner,” the man replied. “But,” he added, as he swept the dirt out the front door, “Sandy’s usually late this time er year. Roads are purtty bad and he apt not ter git here till long about two o’clock. You byes thinkin’ o’ goin’ up with him?” “Why, yes, we thought we would,” Bob replied. A few minutes later they were in the store across the way. Fortunately Sim had everything they needed, including sleeping bags. The storekeeper evinced a good deal of curiosity regarding their trip, and finally Bob told him all about it. “Wall, of all things,” he said, as soon as he had finished. “I wus a readin’ ’bout that feller in the paper the other day. And you boys are agoin’ ter try ter find him, hey?” “Try is right,” Jack assured him. “Wall, from what I’ve heard ’bout you byes ye kin do it if anyone kin.” “Would you advise us to take snow-shoes?” Bob asked. “Sure would,” Sim replied. “Ye see, while the snow’s gittin’ prutty thin in spots round here, up thar in the thick woods whar the sun don’t git more’n a peek in, ’twill be prutty deep an’ they’re light ter carry. I got two pair o’ good ones here that I’ll lend yer.” The boys thanked him both for his advice and the loan of the shoes. “How about guns? Ye got any?” Sim asked. “Why, no. You see, I hadn’t thought about taking any.” “Ye’d better think right serious about it,” Sim declared. “Never kin tell what yer goin’ ter run into up thar in that wilderness. Might run into wolves, though ’tain’t likely.” “We know it’s possible though,” Jack declared, and proceeded to give the old storekeeper an account of the fight they had had, only a few months before, with a big pack of timber wolves. “Yer don’t say,” Sim said, as soon as he had finished. “’Tain’t often a pack o’ those fellers gets down so far south now-a-days. But it’s best ter be on the safe side and yer better take guns along. I gotta fine 32 Winchester an’ a couple o’ automatics that ye’re welcome to.” The boys thanked him again for his kindness, and by ten o’clock they were all ready to start so far as equipment went. “I hope Sandy won’t be late,” Bob said, as they made their way back to the hotel. Back in the office once more, Bob called his father’s office in Skowhegan. He got the connection almost at once, and after telling him about the hold-up with the drive, he informed him regarding their plans. Mr. Golden listened without interrupting until he had finished. “It looks to me as though it might be a serious matter,” he declared, after Bob had told him all he knew. “But, for the life of me, I don’t see how you can well do otherwise. But be very careful and don’t take any unnecessary risks.” Bob promised that they would be careful, and after a few more minutes of talking he hung up.