Max and Steve trailed along well in the rear.  This may have simply happened, but Steve twice stopped the other, and pointed out something he wished Max to see; so possibly the delay was intentional on his part.  At least, he presently made a remark that would make it seem so.

“It certainly looks as if Obed was a pretty ingenious maker of snares, that’s sure, Max?” Steve was saying, significantly.

“That’s right, he is, Steve, and we must give him great credit for it, even if his traps fail to catch a thief in the act.”

“I was just thinking, Max,” pursued the other, meditatively, “that it’s evident this same Obed must have inherited that strain from a long line of trapper ancestors or progenitors; wouldn’t you think so, too?”

Max looked at his companion queerly, and smiled as he made reply.

“You may be right, Steve, of course, but it strikes me Obed has an original streak of genius all his own, which doesn’t have to depend on any inherited trait.  Things are not always what they seem in this world, you know.”

“Lookey here, Max, you’ve struck a scent which you don’t think best to share with your boon companions, that’s as plain to me as two and two make four.  You’ve come to think a little the same way as Bandy-legs, perhaps, and suspect Obed of being more than he lets on?  Is that it, Max?  Do you really believe he’s playing some sly trick on us?  Is that yarn about Mr. Coombs all moonshine?  Does this fur farm belong to some company, that Obed is working for?  I wish you’d tell me what you’ve got in your mind, Max.”

“I expect to a little later on, Steve, never fear,” he was assured.  “I’m not more than half certain even now that it can be so, and I never like to make a mess of things.  Besides, you know, it wouldn’t be just fair to Obed to have us all suspecting him of playing tricks.  Just go on as you’ve been doing.  Take my word for it, this new friend we’ve made is all to the good, and will never turn out to be the wrong sort of fellow.”

He started on after saying this, and Steve followed, looking very much puzzled, and shaking his head as though he could not catch the right idea.  Shortly afterwards, however, Steve had apparently forgotten his newly awakened suspicions, for he was entering into the general conversation as heartily as ever.  Still, Max noticed, with amusement, that from time to time Steve would follow Obed hungrily with his eyes, and on such occasions that double line of wrinkles, expressive of bewilderment, might again be seen upon the boy’s forehead.

Toby and Bandy-legs were only too glad to take the preparation of supper into their hands completely.  They felt a certain amount of pride in their culinary skill, and wished to show their host the full list of their accomplishments as camp cooks.  Besides, they believed that among their abundant stores they carried a number of things which Obed failed to possess; and of course a new dish was apt to be a pleasant surprise to the woods boy.