trail of the sleds led to an easy pass in the opposite range of
mountains. The boys trudged rapidly through this, and emerged in what
seemed to be a broad, deep valley.

They pushed on for a quarter of a mile. Then they were stopped by a deep
and rapid stream, which was frozen along the edge.

But one match was now left. Hamp cautiously lit it, and it was instantly
seen that the thief had turned down the valley.

"We're still on the right track, anyhow," said Jerry. "We can't well
miss the rascal, either. He'll stick to the stream until he finds a
place to cross."

"He won't find one very soon," declared Hamp. "This is the Mallowgash
Creek, if I'm not mistaken. It flows into Chesumcook, and it's broad and
deep all the way. It's too swift to freeze."

"I don't see a speck of light ahead," said Brick, as he glanced down the
valley. "The thief must be still traveling."

"And that's what we've got to do," replied Jerry. "Come on."

An hour slipped by, and then another. The boys could hardly drag their
aching feet along. They yearned to drop down and sleep. But they knew
that if they succumbed to the temptation, they would never wake again.

Now the strip of open suddenly faded into a gloomy pine forest that grew
to the water's edge. The boys stumbled from side to side among the
trees, and presently came out of the forest into open ground. Some
distance ahead a ray of yellow light was visible.

"At last!" muttered Hamp. "We have run the rascal down."

"Yes; there's his campfire," said Brick. "I hope he's sound asleep."

"Not too fast, you fellows," whispered Jerry. "That light is too steady
for a fire. But we'll investigate and make sure."

He led the boys softly forward. They were moving off from the stream at
an angle now. The roar of the water grew fainter with every step. A few
yards ahead was a copse of tall bushes, which concealed the yellow
gleam.

The boys made a detour around them, and the next instant they were
fairly blinded by a dazzling glare of light.

Their eyes quickly became accustomed to it, and then they made an
unexpected and joyful discovery.

The light shone from a single window in the end of a long, low house
that stood some fifty feet away. The intervening space contained
several small sheds, and was strewn with felled trees, many of which had
been denuded of bark and branches. From the house came gruff voices and
an occasional peal of boisterous laughter.

"We've stumbled on a logg