UNDER THE POLAR STAR 271 



any one lias stolen it — was there any trail in the 

 snow ? " 



'' Yes, some one has dragged the tree out ; I saw the 

 footprints and marks of the branches ! " 



''Do let's go and tell Uncle Roy, or it will be too 

 late to cut another." 



"Nat is teasing you," said Olive. " Father and Un- 

 cle Jack are the thieves, for I see them dragging the 

 tree round to the camp now." 



Bang! went the door, and the dining room was emj^ty. 

 ***** 



The tree touched the ceiling and was fastened to a 

 beam with wire to keep the top steady, while the stand 

 that held it was so prettily covered with moss and pine 

 needles that it looked quite like the ground where the 

 spruce grew. Pine knots would have been the proper 

 lights for a camp Christmas tree, but Dr. Roy was so 

 afraid of setting the old dry beams afire, that he ob- 

 jected even to candles, and so Mr. Blake had sent to 

 the city for a number of tiny electric lights that would 

 twinkle in safety. 



Nat and Dodo helped twine the beams with ever- 

 greens and hang the decorations on the tree, but no 

 more. They would not for worlds have peeped at even 

 the corner of a present, they were so fond of being sur- 

 prised. In spite of the temptation to go outdoors, they 

 were too mucli excited to care for making snow houses, 

 or throwing snowballs, and kept in a perfect hdget un- 

 til three o'clock, the hour wlien Rod was to take the 

 big sleigli to tlic depot to meet tlie [)arty from the 

 mountain. 



***** 



