"Whee-o!" whistled the "Emperor of the Woods," who now perceived his brother-in-law ascending the trail.
"Old man, what are you doing there?" Gordon asked.
"Thinkin' out some th-thoughts," said the Emperor, soberly, as he came into the trail, limping on his bare foot, and shook hands. There were greetings, and the hunter briefly apologized for his bare leg and explained it.
"Well, how are you?" Gordon asked.
"S-supple!" Strong answered, cheerfully.
The children got behind their father, peering from either side of him as they saw this uncouth figure coming near. Sue pressed the hand of her brother so tightly as to cause the boy to break her hold upon him.
"R-ride?" said the Emperor, putting his great hand on the head of the boy and shaking it a little. Socky looked up at him with large, wondering, timid eyes. Sue hid her face under the coat-tails of her father.
"They'd rather walk; come on," said Gordon.
The men proceeded slowly over the hill and down into the valley of Lost River. The children followed, some twenty paces behind, whispering together. They were still in happy ignorance of the identity of the strange man.
"S-sold out—eh?" said the hunter.