“What was it you put in the tea you gave George?” asked Tommy with a mischievous grin on his freckled face.

“I put nothing whatever in it!” replied Antoine, “that is, I put nothing in it calculated to do the boy any harm.”

It seemed to the boys that Antoine’s manner was becoming more conciliatory every moment.

“The lad was worn out, weak from loss of blood, and sadly in need of attention,” the man went on, “and so, after caring for his wound and giving him a good breakfast, I gave him a mild sleeping potion, which, as you already know, affected him only a short time.”

“You say it well!” grinned Tommy.

Antoine threw an angry glance at the provoking youngster, but soon turned to Will once more.

“I didn’t quite understand the sudden attack the boys made on me,” he said.  “I was astonished when I received the blow which broke my wrist.”

“Who set your wrist?” asked Will.

“There was only one bone broken, and I set it myself!” was the reply.

“Perhaps we did wrong in taking it for granted that George had been drugged to get him out of the way, and that we would share the same fate,” Will admitted after a moment.  “But, under the circumstances, I don’t see how we could have done any differently.”

“I’m sorry you were so precipitous,” Antoine said with what was intended for a suave smile.  “You boys, I understand,” he went on, “are now occupying the cabin on the island in the marsh.”

“Who told you that?” asked Will.

“No one!” was the reply.  “I have been near the place twice since you took possession.

“Why didn’t you call?” demanded Tommy.

Again the boy’s question was ignored.

“Did you see any one loitering about the cottage when you were there?” asked Will.  “You were there in the daytime, I suppose.”

“Why do you ask that question?” demanded Antoine, giving a quick start.  “Have you been annoyed by people hanging about the cabin?”

Will didn’t know whether to relate the story of the midnight visit or not.  He finally decided that the least he said to Antoine the better it would be for him, so he replied that they had passed two very restful nights in the deserted log house on the island.

“Did you find it deserted?” asked Antoine.

“It had the appearance of having been recently occupied,” replied Will.  “I understand from one of the boys that Pierre formerly lived there.”

“So I understand!” Antoine replied grimly.  “The point now is, whether it was occupied by any one after Pierre left it.”

Not caring to tell the exact facts.  Will said nothing whatever, and for a moment there was a rather embarrassed silence.

“What do you say about that?” demanded Antoine.

“Why, I think there was a little fire left when we went into the place,” Will replied, “but that might have been a left-over from the day before.  Those large fires burn a long time.”