ck. Finding seats in the far
end of the car, where their conversation could not be overheard, Garry
eagerly inquired what Phil had heard.

"I want both of you boys," remarked Phil, "to pay special attention to
those two men who were sitting in back of me, and impress their
appearance upon your memories, as I believe they are the first clue to
our mission at Hobart. Unfortunately, they do not talk very much about
their plans, but from what I gather, they are on their way there to
purchase furs, and they made special remarks about the good bargains
they could drive, hinting at the fact that the furs were smuggled in
across the border. Of course, it is hardly probable that they belong to
the smugglers' gang, although, if we keep close tabs on them, it seems
to me that they will eventually lead us to the headquarters of the
border smugglers."

"Don't you think you should have stayed there?" inquired Garry.

"No, it was safe enough to leave," answered Phil, "because they had
begun to talk on entirely different topics, one remarking to the other
that they had better stop further talk of the furs, for fear they might
be overheard by someone. Fortunately for us, they have no idea that they
have already been overheard."

"There is one thing we ought to consider," said Garry. "In the event
that they get off the train before we do, it seems to me that one of us
should get off at that same time and follow them. Whoever it is can
leave his knapsack and rifle behind, and the remaining two will take
care of them. In the event of such a thing, boys, I would recommend that
Phil be the one to get off the train, as he is the only one of us whose
knowledge of French is great enough to allow him to understand what a
native Frenchman is saying."

This plan being decided upon, the boys made their way back to the
smoker. The two men had left their seats, and for a moment the boys were
worried, then remembered that no stop had been made during the time
which they had left the smoking car. A hasty search soon revealed the
fact that the men had joined in a card game at the far end of the car.
Knowing that the men would not talk business while in the game, the
boys did not bother to try and find some way of overhearing their
conversation.

The boys, in guarded tones, so that they might not be overheard by
anyone in an adjoining seat, talked over the importance of the clue,
that they had so fortunately stumbled upon.

"It strikes me that t