He did not know it, but some things he said sounded ten years older and wiser just for his manner of saying them. Besides, he had had to think a great deal, and to keep most of his thoughts to himself. Not a great many boys do that.
"Come on, Steve. That ledge isn't badly broken. Horses can follow it, and it heads away right into the pine forest. We must try it."
"We can get almost down into the valley without being seen."
"Yes, and we can find out if any good gap opens out of the valley to the northward."
[to be continued.]
[CHRISTMAS PREPARATIONS.]
Fig. 1.—KNITTED AND CROCHET MITTEN.