disgust. He steadfastly denied all knowledge of the black fox and
refused to admit that he ever had been in Smugglers' Hollow.

At last Pat gave up in disgust. The cabin had sufficiently cleared of
smoke by this time to permit of a search being made. Leaving Alec to
stand guard over the prisoners Pat and the three boys entered and began
their investigations. Two rifles stood inside the door, and these Pat
emptied of cartridges and stood them outside against the end of the
cabin. Then without ceremony he pulled the bedding from the two low
bunks and tossed it out on the snow. This was followed by everything
else the cabin contained until it was stripped bare. Under the two bunks
they found part of the object of their search, many cased furs. There
were marten, mink, fisher, a couple of otter, three red fox, two lynx
and a number of muskrat, a pile that altogether represented a tidy sum
from a trapper's point of view. But the black fox was not among them.

Pat glowered at the prisoners savagely as he noted that some of the
skins had been carelessly handled and therefore would not bring what
they would had they been properly treated. Then he resumed his search of
the cabin. The only thing further in the way of skins were two tightly
rolled deer-hides freshly taken from the animals, one being that of a
fawn.

"Do you mind what I told you had happened at the deer yard?" growled Pat
as he tossed the skins out of the door.

Convinced at last that the skin of the black fox was not in the camp
they regretfully gave up the search there and emerged from the cabin.
Alec read the disappointment and chagrin in their faces. So, too, did
Big Pierre, who had been awaiting the result of their search with
ill-concealed impatience. He had scarcely looked at his partner since
the latter had been captured. Now he turned and spoke rapidly in French
to Alec.

"He says," explained the latter, "that if the Injun really has got the
skin he has hidden it outside somewhere, and that if we'll agree to let
him go he'll help us hunt for it. He says that it is probably in a
hollow tree somewhere near, but swears that he doesn't know where. He
thinks that the Injun meant to wait until he, Pierre, was away from camp
and then get it and light out."

"I shouldn't wonder if he's right, at that," exclaimed Hal. "What do you
think of the proposition, Pat?"

"He may be right enough about the Injun, but I wouldn't trust him the
length av me nose," Pat g