“Sure there is!  That’s the one I ran out of!  Say,” he continued, “that’s the one we saw the man by the fire run out of, too.  You can see the tracks of his moccasins in the snow.  He must have left after the storm ceased.  My tracks were filled.”

“In we go, then!” cried Tommy, advancing lip the slight slope to the Up of the cavern.

“Watch out for bears!” cried Thede.

CHAPTER VIII

A TRAPPER’S TREACHERY

When Will, watching at the camp, found that Tommy and Sandy had disappeared, he had no idea that they would remain more than an hour or so.

The long night passed, however, and the boys did not return.  When daylight came, Will built up a roaring fire and began preparing breakfast.

It was his idea at that time that the boys had come together in the forest about the time the snow began falling, and had sought in some deserted shack temporary protection from the storm.

“They’ll be back here in a short time, hungry as bears!” he thought.

Presently he heard some one advancing through the snow-covered thicket, and turned in that direction with an expectant smile.

Instead of his chums he saw a half-breed in leather jacket and leggins and a fur cap approaching.  When the fellow reached the camp he made a quick and rather impertinent inspection of the tents before approaching the spot where the boy stood awaiting him.

“Good morning!” Will said, not without a challenge in his voice.

“Where are the boys?” asked the visitor.

“Who are you?” demanded Will.

“Pierre!” was the short reply.

“Why do you ask about the boys?”

Pierre explained in broken English that one of the boys who evidently belonged to the camp had coaxed his companion away.

“Who is your companion?” asked Will, “and why do you come here looking for him?  Who was it that visited your cabin?”

Pierre laboriously explained what had taken place on the previous evening, and Will listened with an anxious face.

“And you left them there together, and when you returned they had disappeared?  Is that what you mean to say?”

Pierre nodded.

“He coax my boy away,” he said sullenly.

“Is this boy you speak of your son?” asked Will.

“Chicago boy!” was the reply.

“Why don’t you go on and tell me all about the boy and about yourself?” inquired Will.  “What’s the use of standing there grunting and trying to make me understand nods and scowls?”

Pierre explained that he had been in Chicago to see the sights, had fallen in with Thede, and agreed to bring him into the forest with him.  His explanation was not very clear as he talked more mongrel French than English, so Will was not very well informed at the end of the recital.  Pierre looked suspicious as well as disappointed.