Ruth saw several points of light directly ahead. They quickly
reached a good-sized clearing, in the middle of which stood a two-story
log cabin, with a balcony built all around it at the height of the
second floor. Sleigh bells jingled as the horses stamped in the
yard. The heavy sledges with the luggage and the serving people had
just arrived. Ruth Fielding was the first of the pleasure party to
arrive at Snow Camp.




CHAPTER IX

"LONG JERRY" TODD


Some dogs began barking, and the hermit's hound replied by baying
with his nose in the air--a sound to make anybody shiver! The
Rattlesnake Man gave a lusty shout, and a door opened, flooding the
porch of the big log cabin with lamplight.

"Hello!" came the answering shout across the clearing, and a very
tall man--as thin as a lath--strode down from the porch and
approached them, after sending back the dogs--all but one. This big
creature could not be stayed in his impetuous rush over the snow and
the next instant he sprang up and put both his forepaws on Ruth's
shoulders.

"Oh, Reno!" she cried, fondling Tom Cameron's big mastiff, that had
come all the way from Cheslow with them in the baggage car.