“Well, I’m mighty glad to have met you boys, and only wish that we were going your way,” he said, as he again shook the hand of each of them. A moment later and the thick forest had hid them from view. “Whew! But that was a close one all right,” Bob declared, as he watched them disappear. “I tell you I was a good deal more scared than I let on. Some of those breeds are mighty tough customers, and would think no more of killing a man than they would of eating.” “Well, ‘All’s well that ends well,’” Jack quoted, as they started off once more. “But I do hope we get back without any more adventures,” he added with a laugh. “Getting fed up on them are you?” Rex asked. “Well, I don’t mind adventures provided they don’t come too quick and fast,” he said. “To tell the truth, this last one was quite enough to last me personally for some time. You know I’m not so used to these hairbreadth escapes as you and Bob are,” Rex laughed. “Adventure is the spice of life,” Bob declared. “I suppose so for you youngsters,” Rex agreed. “But by the time you get old like me, you’ll wish for a more quiet life,” and both boys laughed heartily, for Rex was only about three years older than Bob. “Think we’ll make the Carry?” Jack asked a little later. “Well, we’ve got quite a piece to go yet, and it’ll probably be pretty late when we get in. Are you fellows game to try it, or had you rather camp out another night?” “I’m game,” Rex declared, and Jack also agreed. At noon they stopped by the side of a small brook and ate a cold lunch, not even waiting to make coffee. “If the crust would only hold we’d have no trouble in making it,” Bob said, as he munched a cracker. “But it’s pretty hard sledding on snow-shoes, and I don’t know as we’d better try it.” But both the others were eager to make the attempt, and he allowed himself to be easily persuaded. “If only we don’t get tangled up with an elephant or some other trifle,” Jack laughed, as they fastened on their snow-shoes and again set their faces to the south. Mile after mile they left behind them, but going was heavy and when darkness began to steal through the forest they still had several miles to go. “Are you sure you can find the way in the dark?” Rex asked anxiously. “I can if the stars come out,” Bob replied, as he cast an anxious look overhead. “But I’m afraid it’s going to cloud up and if it does I’m not so sure.” “Well, I don’t see how you find your way even in the daytime through this wilderness,” Rex declared. “I’d be running in circles in less than no time if I tried to find my way.” “It’s a matter of getting used to it,” Bob said. “But you can always tell which way is north by the bark on the trees, and then of course, you can get the other points of the compass. But even so, I’ve made a circle in the woods more than once.”