George was thinking fast while the boy was sweating before the scorching heat of the fire.  He was wondering whether Thede had told him the exact truth concerning his connection with Pierre.  He was wondering, too, whether the boy had told all he knew of the Little Brass God.

Here were two parties in the Northern wilderness in quest of the same thing!  It occurred to the wondering boy that Pierre might have been sent into the Hudson Bay country in quest of the individual who had purchased the Little Brass God at the pawnbroker’s shop.

This, he argued, would be just about what Finklebaum would be likely to do.  On the discovery of his loss, he would naturally seek some one familiar with the northern country and dispatch them in quest of the lost prize.  In case this should prove to be the fact, the boy Thede might not have been taken into the confidence of the two men.

He might be telling what he believed to be the truth concerning the matter.  The advantages to the pawnbroker of this secret arrangement would be many.  In the first place, anyone following Pierre would naturally suppose him to be the person having possession of the Little Brass God.  This would naturally cause investigators to entirely lose sight of the real possessor in shadowing the man sent out to recover the article.

Another point which the boy considered was the possibility of the Little Brass God having been robbed of his treasure before being placed in the pawnshop.  This idea, however, he soon rejected for the reason that no one would know better than the man who inspired the larceny whether the will was still retained in the cavity of the toy.  Had he secured the document, he would be the last one to offer a high reward for the return of the odd casket in which it had been contained.

While the boy puzzled over the case, Pierre and Thede sat down to their evening meal.  George was invited to join them in the repast, but declined on the ground that he had eaten supper not long before.  After the meal was over, Pierre took up his rifle and left the cabin, scowling at George over his shoulder as he took his departure.

“He’s pretty sore about your being here,” grinned Thede.

“I don’t know why he should be.”

“Perhaps he thinks you’ve come up here to steal this little Brass God.”

The boy was very anxious to get back to his chums in order that the situation might be thoroughly discussed.  They were in the Hudson Bay country in quest of the Little Brass God, and here was Thede on the same mission.  It seemed to him that if Pierre had really had the toy in his possession, Thede would have caught sight of it, at least,

The more he thought of this phase of the case, the more he was inclined to believe that Pierre was also in search of the Little Brass God.

“Pierre will be apt to raise a howl if I leave the cabin alone,” the boy finally said.  “He’s fierce when he gets mad!”