party was gathered before one of the open fires in the hall, waiting
for dinner. Before this hour came, however, and while the rest of the
young folks were getting acquainted with the possibilities of Snow
Camp, Ruth had a serious talk with Mr. Cameron regarding the
mysterious boy who had disappeared on the verge of the Snow Camp
reservation.

"I don't know how he escaped us. He sped away through the woods with
the old hermit's snowshoes--I am sure of that. And that old
Rattlesnake Man didn't seem to be bothered at all by his loss," Ruth
said.

"Perhaps that hermit knows something about the fellow. We'll look
into that," said the merchant, gravely. "However, Ruth, you did what
you thought was right. It was reckless. I cannot commend you for
leaving the train, child. Something dreadful might have happened to
you."

"I thought something dreadful _did_ happen to me," said Ruth, with a
shudder, "when those mules ran away and that catamount leaped up on
the timber cart."

"I believe you! And your going to the cabin of that rattlesnake
catcher. They say he is mad, and he handles the serpents just as
though they were white mice. The people hereabout are afraid of him,"
said Mr. Cameron, earnestly.

"He was as kind as he could be to me," said Ruth, shaking her head.
"I don't think I should ever be afraid of him. His eyes are kind. But
the snakes--oh! they did frighten me dreadfully."