All the same, Max did not give the yarn the least credence.  Something told him the other was deliberately lying, and the fluency with which he delivered that remarkable story announced the self-named Jake Storms an accomplished fakir, if ever there was one.

So Max, while not wishing to deliberately tell the man to his face that he was a prevaricator, set about catching him in a little trap.  The others had also heard the explanation given, and were listening, with puzzled looks on their faces; at least Bandy-legs and Steve and Toby were, but Obed was shaking his head energetically, as though he put no faith in fairy tales; especially when coming from such unworthy lips.

“You said you were all alone, didn’t you?” demanded Max.

“Why, yes, ’course I was,” spluttered the other, uneasily eying the speaker, who was holding his light so that it shone directly on Jake’s still flushed face.

“Then what did you shout so loud for, if you didn’t expect any one to come to your assistance?” continued Max.

“Oh! say, yuh see, ’course I knowed thar was somebody around.  I’d just discovered signs of a camp, and sniffed smoke.  But before I had half a chance to make out what it meant, why something grabbed me by the leg, and threw me up like I was agoin’ over the treetops.  Who wouldn’t a yelled, tell me?  I own up I was rattled like everything.  Anybody would be, wouldn’t they?  I couldn’t understand it all; and right now I’m still agropin’ in the dark.  What struck me, and why does ye set such traps in the trail over on this side o’ Mount Tom?  Ain’t the woods free for anybody to walk in?  What have I ever done to any o’ yuh to be treated like this, and have my head nigh jerked from my body.  Tell me that, sonny?”

Max did not answer his question.  While the explanation might seem to be fairly plausible, he felt positive the man was telling a downright lie; and Max believed he knew an easy way to prove it.

“Watch him, Obed, Steve!” he said to those who were alongside.

“Never fear about that, Max,” snapped out Steve; “I’ve got him covered with my gun, and if he tries any slick game his name will be Dennis, and not Jake.  Hear that, Mr. Fur Thief, do you?  Well, mind how you tempt me to let fly with a charge of birdshot.  I’ve got a quick temper, and a quicker finger in the bargain; so settle back where you are.”

The man muttered between his set teeth.  He was evidently feeling far from comfortable, because something told him these wideawake lads would not be so easily hoodwinked as he had fancied.

He was watching the movements of Max Hastings, who had dropped to his hands and knees, and seemed to be holding his little lantern so that the light would show him the nature of the ground.  Truth to tell, Max and Obed, when last at the trap, had taken the pains to smooth the ground over, thus obliterating all previous footprints.  This was done from a double object; it would conceal the fact that work had been carried on in that particular spot, in case sharp eyes were on the alert; and also gave a clear field for observation, as was happening just then.