206 A SERIOUS BREAKDOWN. 



11 Oh ! that isn't there any more." 



" Chestnuts," from Charlie. 



" Oh ! I see : you intimate, from that significant 

 word, that you have heard a story somewhat akin 

 to this. Well, I should not be surprised if you 

 had. An old rod with a new joint or two, that's 

 all." 



"How old are you, Mr. Stevens?" asks John 

 Danforth, with a sly wink at Nate, who was busy 

 making faces at a caribou's head high up on a 

 beam. 



" Seventy-two." 



" I thought at least that." 



"Why?" 



" Because," says Charlie, stopping John's mouth 

 in a very ungentlemanly manner, " no railroads, 

 and all that nonsense. Didn't he go a long way 

 round ? Must have liked the lakes as well then as 

 now. Never mind, we forgive you. 1 managed to 

 get a good nap while you were buzzing the guides 

 and that innocent brother of mine." 



"Thank me for that much at least, if not for 

 originality ; and remember that it was a wise king 

 that said, 'There is no new thing under the sun.' " 



"But he lied," said Nate, still winking at the 

 caribou, and trying to send him up a mouthful of 

 smoke. 



