ing the details
of a fur smuggling trip that was to take place that very week. Phil
thought to himself, that if he could only get out of the prison room, he
had the most valuable clue that he or his chums had yet discovered. He
thought it strange that they made no remark about the deserted logging
camp, for Phil was certain that this was the headquarters, or at least a
rendezvous, of the smuggling band.

Phil had wondered that he had seen or heard nothing of Anderson, for he
expected wherever LeBlanc would be, the other would be found also.
However, from the conversation he learned that Anderson had already
crossed the border line, and was even then busily engaged in buying
quantities of furs from Canadian trappers. When they had consulted the
minor details of the trip, without, however, mentioning at what point
they crossed the border, much to Phil's disappointment, LeBlanc then
told his companions that as soon as they had completed the deal in furs,
that he had something very much bigger that would net them all a
fortune. In fact, he told them, he would not have bothered with the fur
trip at all, except that he and Anderson had used practically all their
available money in buying furs.

From the bustling sounds of the room below, the others evidently crowded
nearer to hear what this new scheme was, when suddenly there was a
commotion at the door of the room below, and a voice was heard,
demanding admittance.

"Ha," exclaimed Jean LeBlanc, "that is P'tit Vareau. I don't like him,
and he shall not come in with us on this big scheme. Tomorrow night I
shall discuss it with you at our friend M'sieu Henderson's place. Now,
you may let him in, but not a word of anything other than about the
furs."

Vareau made his entrance, and there was some desultory conversation, and
then all of them left the room.

Phil's heart was bounding in excitement. Here he had all the details of
the plot at his finger ends, and all that needed to be done was to keep
close tabs on LeBlanc, and he would lead them direct to the headquarters
of the smuggling crew.

Truly his attempt at escape next morning must not fail.

* * * * *

Garry and Dick, back at the lean-to, were discussing the possibility of
Phil's stumbling upon important information, not knowing at that moment
he was a prisoner, trapped in the old French restaurant, and in the
hands of the most vengeful enemy that the three possessed.

Throughout