concerning automatic rifles and all connected with them. An examination of Ralph's weapon showed tha

his well-oiled and polished, albeit ancient model rifle from its holster and patting it lov

In fact, Ralph blamed his own ignorance of the action of his[73] new weap

d with almost incredible rapidity. Salt was sprinkled liberally on the skin, and it was rolle

ountered no human being but a wandering packer on his way to an extension of the Canadia

nto the mighty Columbia. Ralph needed no instructions on how[74] to turn the horses out, and while he and the rest, acting under his directions, attended to this, Mountain Jim got supper ready. By the time the boys had completed their "chores" and the tents were

of the heavy army type, for the nights in the Rockies are cool. To the music of a near-by waterf

chums. Mountain Jim rolled out of his blankets-he disdained[75] tents-and Jimmie, who likewise was content with a makeshift

Scotland! What's up?"

came in a series of yells from Persimmons

with Mountain Jim toward the scene of the disturbance. The air was now filled with boyish shouts, echoi

It grunted as it went, like a diminutive pig. Jim jerked his old Winchester to his shoul

s clad in their underclothing

ans?" shout

alph, who had his

lled Persimmons, dancing about and n

bjects which, in the moonlight, looked like

t indignation, "I reckon it was a walking pincushion, all right. Boy, don

e!" cried t

7] rolled to their feet with his rifle barr

those spiny and familiar d

ho had, by this, drawn the last of the offending quills from his hand. "I heard something g

id the professor, hastening to

are they?" asked Ralph,

the greediest and stupidest cusses in the woods. I reckon this one sme

immons ran into him

7

is hand to be dressed, for the wounds made by the sharp quil

ut finally peace was restored and a tranquil night, un

of the new world in the making. For, as he had explained to the boys, the Canadian Rockies are, from a geologist's standpoint, of recent formation. Unlike many chains of like character, they are not supposed to be volcanic in formation. The final cause of the uplifting of their giant crests is[79] generally attribut

ture, occurred. Ralph, who had been disturbed by the noise of some nocturnal animal trampling about in the brush, rose from his blankets and em

they were then traveling. In the[80] moonlight its dark form was silhouetted blackly against the night sky.

and stood with beating pul

boy's finger was just about to press the trigger, when he gave

one instant the figure stood there and then, as Ralph hailed it in a quavering voice,