and canyons, so well-forested and filled with streams, it ought to be an easy matter to find some such a place.  Of course it would be ideal if we could find a cabin already built; then all we would have to do would be to rig it up.  But we are game sports, every man of us, and if we can’t find any such cabin built, let’s locate an ideal spot and build one.  Nothing real fancy or expensive, but just a typical mountain house that’s weather-tight and warm.  Of course we’d want a big fireplace like the one at Bruin Inn.  It would be a great big job, but we could take our time to it.  We’d have all winter, and more, if we needed it.  Now, what we want is your suggestion, understand; we are just talking and planning about it yet.”

“Gee, it would be an awful pile of work,” complained Sleepy Smith, and he yawned and stretched himself.  “Work! of course it would be work, you dub; but what do you ever get in this world that’s worth while without real work, I’d like to know.”

“Work! that’s the best part of it; nothing in the world could bind us fellows together so tight as to do a big piece of real work together.  We would show each other what we’re made of.  I always have wanted to build a cabin in the mountains.  It would be a great deal better to build one than to get an old, tumbled-down shack.  Besides, we don’t want to work out a stunt that’s just going to last for a year or two, and then be abandoned.  We want to build a real, permanent mountain camp.  See?” added Chuck.

“What’s the matter with the old Y.M. cabin up in Bear Creek, Shorty?”

“O rats, boys, we are not talking about a pill box now.  We want a cabin.”

“I think it would be a great thing to do, fellows; but we must go awfully careful.  We’ll have to finance the thing some other way than from our own pockets, and we don’t know yet what Mr. Allen will say about it.  He may think it’s a big mistake and a waste of time and energy.  Then, too, where would we camp while working on the new cabin?” said Willis.  Then he slipped off to talk the plan over with Mr. Allen, and in a few moments brought the “Chief” back with him.  Willis was talking.

“Now we are on the right track for sure, fellows.  Mr. Allen has the proper suggestions about this matter.  No telling what fool stunts we fellows would do if we didn’t have Mr. Allen to keep our feet on the earth.”

“Listen, fellows,” said Shorty.  “We have talked this thing all over from A to Z, and we believe Mr. Allen’s advice is the thing; only before we decide to do anything definite we ought to have Mr. Dean’s opinion.  He has been in the army, you know.”

“Mr. Dean, the physical director, been in the army?  Why, I didn’t know that,” said Sleepy.

“Yes, and he’s a mighty practical fellow.  Fat, go out to his office and ask him to come in here a few minutes, will you?”

In a moment they came in together, Fat explaining their plans for a cabin.  When every one was seated, Shorty continued: