The lost boy did not so interpret the sounds, however. He made a
more practical application of them.

"It's going to rain," he decided wisely, casting a glance above him
at the sky, which was becoming rapidly overcast. "And I haven't any
umbrella," he added, grinning at his own feeble joke. "Well, I've
been wet before. I cannot well be any more so than I was last
night. I'll bet the rainwater will be warmer than the waters in the
East Fork. If it isn't I'll surely freeze to death."

Fortunately he bad worn his coat when he left the camp, else he
would now have suffered from the cold. As it was, he shivered, but
more from nervousness than from the chill night air.

"Yoh -- hum, but I'm sleepy," he murmured drowsily. A moment more
and his head had drooped to one side and Tad Butler was sleeping as
soundly as if tucked away between his own blankets back in his tent
in the foothills.



CHAPTER VII

ALMOST BETRAYED BY A SNEEZE

Tad awakened with a start.

His first impression was that he smelled smoke, and for the moment
he believed himself back in camp. A movement convinced him of his
error. A jagged point of rock had cut into his flesh while he