TRAPPER JOR 167

Then she added, in a surprised way, to herself: “Why,

where in the world can those childyen be? They must

have stopped at the new clearing to see their father.”

At dinner-time, she blew the big tin horn that hung by

the door, and soon her hus-
band came home alone, hun-
ery and tired.

“Oh, you little witches!”
laughed the mother, without
looking up from her task of
bread-cutting. “How could
you stay away so long from
Mama? ‘Tired, Frank ?”

“Yes, very. But what do

you mean? Where ave the
youngsters ?”

She looked up now, ex-
claiming in a frightened voice,
as she ran out past her hus-
band: “Oh, Frank! I ’ve not
seen them for two or three
hours. I thought they were
with you. They surely would

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

vil) FRANK! FRANK! THE
CANOE IS GONE!’”

n't have played allthis time with the little sloop!”

The father, who was indeed very weary, and not at all

alarmed, sat quietly awaiting her return. But when, in a

few moments, she rushed in screaming: “Oh, Frank!

Frank! the canoe is gone!” he sprang up, and together

they ran toward the stream.