“Hullo there!” he sang out cheerfully. “Glad to see ye, Mr. Parker! Wasn’t lookin’ for ye quite so early. And this is Mr. Warren, ain’t it? Proud and happy, sir, to make your acquaintance. Wha’je think of this, now? Kinder remind ye of Fifth Avenue, eh?” “Well, I’ve seen snow on the avenue--when it was very new snow--that looked like that you have here,” said Mr. Warren. The thick-set man chuckled, and shook hands with Mr. Parker. Then he repeated the ceremony with Mr. Warren, being duly presented as Mr. Kane, foreman, or “boss” of No. 1 camp. Then for the first time he seemed to observe Lon and the club. “Hullo some more--a whole lot more!” he exclaimed. “Wha’je got in behind, Mr. Parker? New crew of lumberjacks?” Mr. Parker briefly explained, and there were more introductions. “Kinder wedged in, ain’t they?” inquired Mr. Kane. “Guess I’d better play block and tackle.” With that he put out an arm, caught Step by the collar, and fairly swung him to the ground. Whereupon Step’s friends swarmed over the side of the sleigh, and fell to stamping their feet vigorously, in an effort to quicken sluggish circulation. “Go in, boys, go in,” Mr. Kane urged hospitably. “Go in and warm up. Goin’ to let these fellers stay with me, ain’t ye?” he added. “Yes,” said Mr. Parker. “Hope you can put ’em up, and put up with them, for a day or two, while Warren and I go farther on.” “Sartain sure! Plenty o’ room, and grub, and blankets. Only ain’t ye goin’ to stop at the Hotel de Kane?” “On the way out we will. Just now I’m anxious to get in touch with Wells----” “Wal, now, if he didn’t go through to No. 2, not half an hour ahead of ye!” Mr. Parker cast a weatherwise look at the sky, and gathered up the reins. “Then I think Warren and I will push on,” said he. “There’s a feel of more snow in the air, Kane. So, if you’ll just keep a sharp eye on these young scamps and show them what a lumber camp is like----” “Trust me!” chuckled the cheery foreman. Sam had drawn a little apart from his friends and was glancing keenly about him. At that hour, of course, the choppers were at work, probably at some distance from the camp, but other employees might be in or near the cabin. Already he had observed a fat man peering from the door of the ell. That would be the cook, no doubt. The jingle of bells told him that his father was resuming the journey, and his ears warned him that Mr. Kane was shepherding his flock of guests indoors. Sam was as chilled and stiff from the long ride as were his friends, but he still lingered at his post of observation. It was no more than a chance, at the best, that Orkney, if he had come to the woods, was at this especial camp; but Sam was making the most of the chance. In full session of the club it had been decided that, if the runaway were discovered, Sam should first reason with him in private, falling back, if necessary, upon the support of the others.