“That was just what I meant to speak to you about, Obed!” exclaimed Max.  “You oughtn’t to try to stay here another winter all by yourself.  Besides, some unscrupulous men might raid your enclosures while you were off hunting, or fishing, and break up your business.  It isn’t safe, Obed; and I know from what you said before about suspecting strangers were around here right now, that you’re getting anxious yourself.”

The boy drew a long breath, and nodded his head.  Into his eyes crept a look quite the opposite of that merry gleam usually nestling there.  Yes, plainly Obed was worried over something; and Max believed he had put his finger directly on the sore spot when he spoke of a possible raid on the fur product of the singular farm.

“Can you find just such a reliable man as you want, Obed?” asked Steve.

“That part ain’t so hard,” he was told.  “Fact is I’ve got him more’n half engaged a’ready.  His name is Jerry Stocks, and he’s a woods guide.  Been a heap interested in this game ever since we started up.  Fact is, Jerry has done a heap o’ things for me from time to time, ’cause yuh see I couldn’t work it all.  He lives ’bout ’leven miles off that ways.  We’ve fixed a way to signal to each other by flyin’ a little white flag from two low peaks.  When I want Jerry I run my flag up, and if he’s home, why the next day, or mebbe sooner, he shows up.  But shucks! that wouldn’t keep me from losin’ my stock if there was a real raid.”

He went on talking further, and the boys picked up considerable more valuable information, for Obed was apparently well posted on the subject, which had occupied his thoughts night and day.

So he told them that perhaps, if all went well, he might take up a companion industry, being nothing more nor less than trying to raise mink or otter in captivity.

“’Course I know it isn’t done to any great extent yet,” he explained, “but that’s no reason there shouldn’t be some ready money picked up in the business.  It wouldn’t pay anything like the foxes, and for that reason I’d go slow about it.  Oh!  I’ve got a heap o’ ways for gettin’ the ready cash to keep up my share o’ the expenses o’ the farm here.  I’ve found two bee trees, and sent the honey to market too.  Got nigh twenty dollars for the honey.  Then I dig ginseng roots times when there’s nothing else to do.  Come over with me and see my frog pond.  Last shipment o’ big fat saddles brought me a neat little wad o’ money, and they don’t cost me a cent, if yuh want to know it.”

The four boys looked at each other in increased wonderment.  What manner of chap was this same Obed, to be able to wrest a living from a bounteous Nature in the clever way he did?  Steve in particular was loud in his praise.