him out. He was awful put out at not findin' you. He thought you was
in bed, but you wasn't, and I told him mebbe you'd gone up to the
Warden's to lend a hand with Weston."

For the first time Tip eyed me inquisitively.

"I was up the road," I said evasively. "But tell me about Tim--did he
leave no word?"

"He left me," said Tip, grinning. "He hadn't time to leave nothin'
else. We figgered he'd just cover that twelve mile and make the train.
That's why I'm here. As we was hitchin' he told me particular to wait
till you come; to tell you good-by; to tell you he'd watched all
night--waited and waited till he fell asleep."

"And overslept in the morning so he had no time to drop me even a
line--I understand," said I. "And now, Tip, having performed your
duty, you are going over the mountain?"

"To Happy Walley," Tip cried, lifting the stick he always carried in
these nights and pointing away toward Thunder Knob. "I'm done with
Black Log. I'm goin' where there is peace and quiet."

"You lead the life of a hermit?" I suggested.

"A what?" Tip exclaimed.

"You live in a cave in the woods and eat roots and nuts and meditate,"
I explained.