By the time he came down she had disappeared in the edge of the forest, and Wabi, who was also ahead of him, was busy with Mukoki tying up their equipment in packs.

It was a glorious morning, clear and frosty, and Rod noticed that a thin shell of ice had formed on the lake during the night.

Once or twice Wabi turned toward the forest and gave his signal whoop, but received no reply.
"I don't see why Minnetaki doesn't come back," he remarked carelessly, as he fastened a shoulder-strap about a bundle.

"Breakfast will be ready in a jiffy.

Hunt her up, will you, Rod ?" Nothing loath, Rod started out on a brisk run along the path which he knew to be a favorite with Minnetaki and shortly it brought him down to a pebbly stretch of the beach where she frequently left her canoe.