ne, partly because they could not get at them without leaving a
trail in the soft snow and partly so as not to arouse suspicion.

"With the crust they could go where they pleased, and the Injun took the
chance to do a little poaching on the beaver pond, knowing that we would
leave it alone. He probably saw Sparrer when he uncovered that trap and
followed him through the woods either with the idea of finding out if
the youngster suspected anything and then frightening him into holding
his tongue or else just to keep track of his movements. He saw the
killing of the fox and decided that the fortune in that pelt was worth
any risk.

"What he told Sparrer about the skin belonging to Alec and me isn't
true. This is a free country, and the free creatures belong to whoever
can get them. If the critter had been in one of our traps it would have
been a different matter. Then it would have been our property. But the
critter belonged to nobody until it was killed, and when Sparrer knocked
it over every hair on that black hide belonged to him and to no one
else. The cunning redskin made up that yarn to tempt Sparrer, and there
wasn't a particle of truth in it. Now the question is, what are we going
to do to get back Sparrer's property? If it was just an ordinary red fox
or even a marten the case would be different, though even then I'd be
for getting it back, and running those thieving poachers out of the
country. As it is, we owe it to Sparrer to try to get that skin. What's
your idea, Alec?"

Alec leaned forward and poked the fire. "Ye ken that the moon's full the
night," said he slowly. "I am thinking that you and me might take a bit
of a look around. If we could find the camp it would be time enough to
decide what to do next. I dinna think that with that prize they will be
staying in these pairts long, and what is done has got to be done
quickly. I have no suspicioned that the camp was handy till now. I am no
saying that I think so now," he hastened to add with characteristic
Scotch caution, "but I will admit that it is possible. Ye ken there is
no nook or hollow of these hills that I dinna ken every foot of. I hid
out here once myself. We can leave the laddies to get a wee bit of sleep
while we have a look in the most likely places."

"No, you don't!" protested Hal. "If there's any game like that afoot you
can count us in, can't they, fellows?"

Upton and Sparrer voiced eager assent, but Pat shook his head. "Nothing
doing