“Now what do you know about that?” Bob asked himself, as he hastened forward and, despite the struggles of the child, picked it up in his arms. “There, there, now baby, I’m not going to hurt you.” He soothed the child, which was, he noticed, dressed in a thick warm cloak. Gradually, under the influence of his words and tone, the child seemed to lose its fear. “Now what are you doing way out here in the woods?” Bob asked, as soon as the child had calmed sufficiently to answer. “Baby no way off,” the child sobbed. “Baby live back there,” and the chubby arms pointed in the direction in which Bob had been going. “Did you run away?” Bob asked kindly. “Baby no run way. Bad mans come in house. Hurt my mama,” the child sobbed. Instantly Bob was on the qui vive. “Is the man there now?” he asked quickly. “Yeth, he hurt my mama,” the child repeated. “How many bad men are there?” he asked. “One man—two.” The baby gulped down its sobs. “Better not take any chances,” Bob muttered, as he retraced his steps as quickly as possible to where Rex and Jack were sleeping. “It’s all right, little one,” he assured the child, whom he carried in his arms. “I’ve got some friends, and just as soon as I can get to them we’ll go and drive the bad men away.” He gave first Jack and then Rex a violent shake, as soon as he reached the spot. “Wake up there and be quick about it,” he ordered. “Hey, what’s the big idea?” Jack began sleepily. Then, as he forced open his eyes and, by the light of Bob’s torch, saw the child in his brother’s arms, he rose to a sitting position. “For the love of Mike, where’d you get it?” he gasped. “Do they raise them on trees up here?” Rex, who was sitting up, asked. “It’s no time to answer questions,” Bob declared in a low tone, and he quickly told them what he had gathered from the child. “It’s probably some breeds or Indians trying to rob the house. But come on, there’s no time to lose.” Still carrying the child in his arms, Bob led the way back through the snow to the tree where he had found the child. “You live that way?” he asked, pointing. “Yeth, wite over dare.” “Quiet now,” Bob whispered to the others. In less than twenty steps they suddenly came to a clearing, and to his great surprise Bob saw that the place was the North West Carry. “What do you know about that,” he whispered, turning to Rex who was just behind him. “We were within two minutes’ walk of the place and never knew it.” “Hush,” Rex whispered. “Do you live in the store?” Bob asked the child. “Yeth, baby live in store.” “Come on,” Bob ordered. “It’s the store they’re trying to rob.” The store was only a few feet from where they had stopped, and in another minute they were on the little porch. “Hush,” Rex again whispered. “I can hear voices.” “Yes, there’s someone in there all right,” Bob agreed, as the sound of angry voices came plainly to their ears.