HORACE TAKES A STAND 113 



bleached skin and hollow eyes gave him the appear- 

 ance of a shipwrecked tramp. 



He looked at us anxiously, apparently nerving 

 himself for a siege of jollying. 



But in this, I'm glad to say, he was disappointed. 

 No one spoke or smiled till Frazer said cheerfully : 



"Well, Horace, how'd you make it? We were 

 just going out to look for you." 



"I've had a dreadful experience," replied the 

 wanderer, huskily, "I forgot to take any matches 

 with me and it was frightfully cold. I'll drink a 

 cup of coffee and change my clothes and get ready 

 to go out if the fellows will wait for me." 



He walked heavily to his tent, leaving us with 

 open mouths and groping minds. The thought of 

 Horace actually proposing to work when he was not 

 expected to, dazed us. 



"Holy Mackinaw Moses," cried Bert finally, "no 

 matches! An' he slep' out in that storm. It's a 

 wonder he ain't froze stiff." 



"And he expects to go out to-day," added Con- 

 way, "he must be crazy!" 



"Don't worry, I'll see that he stays in camp," 

 said Frazer as he hastened after Wetherby. 



The chief divulged later what happened. To be- 

 gin with, he ordered Horace to bed. 



"You're in no condition to go out to-day, Weth- 

 erby," he said. "Just forget work for the time be- 

 ing until you've rested up a little !" 



