came with every thought of himself, wandering, a lost spirit along the
mountain-tops, was gone like a dream and ready in his heart was the strong new
purpose to strike into the world for himself. He even took it as a good omen,
when he rose, to find his fire quenched, the stopper of his powder-horn out,
and the precious black grains scattered hopelessly on the wet earth. There
were barely more than three charges left, and something had to be done at
once. First, he must get farther away from old Nathan: the neighbors might
search for him and find him and take him back.

So he started out, brisk and shivering, along the ridge path with Jack
bouncing before him. An hour later, he came upon a hollow tree, filled with
doty wood which he could tear out with his hands and he built a fire and
broiled a little more bacon.

Jack got only a bit this time and barked reproachfully for more; but Chad
shook his head and the dog started out, with both eyes open, to look for his
own food. The sun was high enough now to make the drenched world flash like an
emerald and its warmth felt good, as Chad tramped the topmost edge of Pine
Mountain, where the brush was not thick and where, indeed, he often found a
path running a short way and turning into some ravine--the trail of cattle and
sheep and the pathway between one little valley settlement and another. He
must have made ten miles and more by noon--for he was a sturdy walker and as
tireless almost as Jack--and ten miles is a long way in the mountains, even
now. So, already, Chad was far enough away to have no fear of pursuit, even if
old Nathan wanted him back, which was doubtful. On the top of the next point,
Jack treed a squirrel and Chad took a rest and brought him down, shot through
the head and, then and there, skinned and cooked him and divided with Jack
squarely.

"Jack," he said, as he reloaded his gun, "we can't keep this up much longer. I