prove any hardship to these bold lads, accustomed to spending many a
night in the woods, with only a blanket for a cover against the dew and
frost.

It was arranged to keep the fire going. This would serve in a double
capacity, for not only would they be kept warm through the cold part of
the night, but if there did happen to be any wild beasts around in that
section of the Lake Superior country, which both Allan and Thad rather
doubted, why, the glow of the blaze was apt to make them keep their
distance.

The last thing Giraffe remembered, as his heavy eyes persisted in
closing, was seeing Step Hen bob up his head to stare over toward the
low branch upon which the captive owl was fastened; as though he might
have arranged a program with himself and meant to do this thing at
stated intervals all through the night.

Giraffe chuckled at the idea of sacrificing good sleep in the interest
of knowledge; he was willing to simply ask some one who knew, and be
satisfied to accept their answer as conclusive.

An hour later and the camp seemed to be all quiet, for every one was
apparently sound asleep. Even Thad and Allan had known of no reason why
a watch should be maintained, for they felt sure there could hardly be a
human being within miles of the camp; and even if this were not so, the
chances were strongly in favor of its proving to be an honest farmer, or
some miner on his way to the workings further west.

The only sounds that could have been heard from time to time were an
occasional peevish fretful croak from the captive owl, as it continued