times I've had a notion to go back there, but somehow I couldn't,
since--since Henry went away. So I came here to live with my other
sister, and here I guess I'll stay the rest of my life. Snow Lodge is
shut up, and I guess it always will be."

Mr. Carford sighed, and kept looking at the fire. Nan thought what a
pity it was that Snow Lodge could not be used, while Bert wondered
what had happened between Henry Burdock and his uncle, Mr. Carford,
that caused Henry to go away. Also Bert wondered if Mr. Carford would
explain his strange remark, made at the time the runaway horses were
caught. But the aged man seemed to have forgotten it.

"Yes, Snow Lodge is closed up," said Mr. Carford. "I don't suppose it
will ever be used again. But I've told you the story of it, and I'm
afraid I've tired you."

"No you haven't," said Nan. "We enjoyed it very much."

"That's right!" exclaimed Bert.

"Did--did you ever see any bears there?" asked Freddie, "any real big
bears?"

"Or tigers--or--or elephants?" asked Flossie, not to let her brother
get ahead of her in asking questions.

"Huh! Elephants don't grow here--only bears," said Freddie.

"No, I never saw anything bigger than foxes," said Mr. Carford with a
laugh. "Snow Lodge isn't very far from here, you know, so you have the