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around them； open only at the top； where was a space five feet
across。 With abundance of dry spruce wood； a thick bed of balsam
boughs； and plenty of blankets they were in what most woodmen
consider comfort complete。
They had nothing to do now but wait。 Quonab sat placidly smoking；
Rolf was sewing a rent in his coat； the storm hissed； and the
wind…driven ice needles rattled through the trees to vary the
crackle of the fire with a 〃siss〃 as they fell on the embers。 The
low monotony of sound was lulling in its evenness； when a faint
crunch of a foot on the snow was heard。 Rolf reached for his gun；
the fir tree screen was shaken a little； and a minute later there
bounded in upon them the snow covered form of little dog Skookum；
expressing his good…will by excessive sign talk in which every
limb and member had a part。 They had left him behind； indeed； but
not with his consent； so the bargain was incomplete。
There was no need to ask now； What shall we do with him？ Skookum
had settled that； and why or how he never attempted to explain。
He was wise who made it law that 〃as was his share who went forth
to battle； so shall his be that abode with the stuff；〃 for the
hardest of all is the waiting。 In the morning there was less
doing in the elemental strife。 There were even occasional periods
of calm and at length it grew so light that surely the veil was
breaking。
Quonab returned from a brief reconnoitre to say； 〃 Ugh！ good
going。〃
The clouds were broken and flying； the sun came out at times； but
the wind was high； the cold intense； and the snow still drifting。
Poor Skookum had it harder than the men； for they wore snowshoes；
but he kept his troubles to himself and bravely trudged along
behind。 Had he been capable of such reflection he might have
said； 〃What delightful weather； it keeps the fleas so quiet。〃
That day there was little to note but the intense cold； and again
both men had their cheeks frost…bitten on the north side。 A nook
under an overhanging rock gave a good camp that night。 Next day
the bad weather resumed； but； anxious to push on they faced it；
guided chiefly by the wind。 It was northwest； and as long as they
felt this fierce； burning cold mercilessly gnawing on their
hapless tender right cheek bones； they knew they were keeping
their proper main course。
They were glad indeed to rest at dusk and thaw their frozen
faces。 Next day at dawn they were off； at first it was calm； but
the surging of the snow waves soon began again； and the air was
filled with the spray of their lashing till it was hard to see
fifty yards in any direction。 They were making very bad time。 The
fourth day should have brought them to Ogdensburg； but they were
still far off； how far they could only guess； for they had not
come across a house or a settler。
Chapter 69。 Ogdensburg
The same blizzard was raging on the next day when Skookum gave
unequivocal sign talk that he smelled something。
It is always well to find out what stirs your dog。 Quonab looked
hard at Skookum。 That sagacious mongrel was sniffing vigorously；
up in the air； not on the ground； his mane was not bristling； and
the patch of dark hair that every gray or yellow dog has at the
base of his tail； was not lifted。
〃He smells smoke；〃 was the Indian's quick diagnosis。 Rolf pointed
Up the wind and made the sign…talk query。 Quonab nodded。
It was their obvious duty to find out who was their smoky
neighbour。 They were now not so far from the St。 Lawrence； there
was a small chance of the smoke being from a party of the enemy；
there was a large chance of it being from friends； and the
largest chance was that it came from some settler's cabin where
they could get necessary guidance。
They turned aside。 The wind now； instead of on the right cheek；
was square in their faces。 Rolf went forward increasing his pace
till he was as far ahead as was possible without being out of
sight。 After a mile their way led downward； the timber was
thicker； the wind less； and the air no more befogged with flying
snow。 Rolf came to a long； deep trench that wound among the
trees； the snow at the bottom of it was very hard。 This was what
he expected； the trail muffled under new； soft snow； but still a
fresh trail and leading to the camp that Skookum had winded。
He turned and made the sign for them to halt and wait。 Then
strode cautiously along the winding guide line。
In twenty minutes the indications of a settlement increased； and
the scout at length was peering from the woods across the open
down to a broad stream on whose bank was a saw mill； with the
usual wilderness of ramshackle shanties； sheds； and lumber piles
about。
There was no work going on； which was a puzzle till Rolf
remembered it was Sunday。 He went boldly up and asked for the
boss。 His whole appearance was that of a hunter and as such the
boss received him。
He was coming through from the other side and had missed his way
in the storm； he explained。
〃What are ye by trade？〃
〃A trapper。〃
〃Where are ye bound now？〃
〃Well； I'll head for the nearest big settlement； whatever that
is。〃
〃It's just above an even thing between Alexandria Bay and
Ogdensburg。〃
So Rolf inquired fully about the trail to Alexandria Bay that he
did not want to go to。 Why should he be so careful？ The mill
owner was clearly a good American； but the scout had no right to
let any outsider know his business。 This mill owner might be
safe； but he might be unwise and blab to some one who was not all
right。
Then in a casual way he learned that this was the Oswegatchie
River and thirty miles down he would find the town of Ogdensburg。
No great recent events did he hear of； but evidently the British
troops across the river were only awaiting the springtime before
taking offensive measures。
For the looks of it； Rolf bought some tea and pork； but the
hospitable mill man refused to take payment and； leaving in the
direction of Alexandria Bay； Rolf presently circled back and
rejoined his friends in the woods。
A long detour took them past the mill。 It was too cold for
outdoor idling。 Every window was curtained with frost； and not a
soul saw them as they tramped along past the place and down to
continue on the ice of the Oswegatchie。
Pounded by the ceaseless wind； the snow on the ice was harder；
travel was easier； and the same tireless blizzard wiped out the
trail as soon as it was behind them。
Crooked is the river trail； but good the footing； and good time
was made。 When there was a north reach； the snow was extra hard
or the ice clear and the scouts slipped off their snow shoes； and
trotted at a good six…mile gait。 Three times they halted for tea
and rest； but the fact that they were the bearers of precious
despatches； the bringers of inspiring good news； and their goal
ever nearer； spurred them on and on。 It was ten o'clock that