“From the appearance of things,” Sandy answered, “I should say that he hot-footed it out there in order to get away from some one who was chasing him, though I can’t understand why anyone should be chasing him.”

“Anyway, he seems to be back here now,” Thede said.  “It’s dollars to buttons, though, that he doesn’t go up to the fire where the boys are.”

“Look here,” Sandy said in a moment, ’"I just believe that Antoine has the Little Brass God in his possession, and that the two men who came to the cabin that night are after it!”

“I hope they don’t get it!”

“Of course they won’t get it,” Sandy answered.  “Didn’t we come away up here into this desolate land to get it ourselves?”

When a few yards from the blazing fires, Sandy paused long enough to give the Beaver call and hear the answer given.  Then the lads trooped up to the circle of light and warmth.

“What’s the idea?” Sandy asked after greetings had been exchanged.  “Did you build these fires so we could cook supper?”

“You’re not hungry, I hope!” grinned Tommy.

“Starved to death!” answered Sandy.  “We’ve been treed by bears, and dumped down on the back of a great beast about nine feet long, and had our fish devoured, and there’s been nothing doing in the eating line since noon!”

“Never you mind the hardships of life!” grinned Will.  “We’ve got great news for you, so get ready to shout!”

“What’s the great news?” demanded Sandy.

“We’ve got the Little Brass God penned up in the cavern just under this rock!  We’ve got a cinch on him this time!”

CHAPTER XX

A SIGHT OF THE GOD

“All quiet at the cabin?” asked Tommy.

“All quiet when we left,” Sandy replied.

“What time did you leave?” demanded Tommy, suspiciously.

“Shortly after dinner.”

“And you’ve gone and left George alone all this time!” exclaimed Tommy indignantly.  “You’re a bright lot!”

“We thought you boys would be back to the cabin long before this!” Sandy declared.  “But what is it about this Little Brass God?”

“When we reached the system of caverns which we visited not long ago, and in which we were held prisoners for a short time,” Will said, “we found two men, well bundled up in furs, lying asleep, or apparently asleep, in one of the smaller rooms.  They sprang up when they saw us and seemed about to engage in conversation with us when Antoine made his appearance.  Antoine seemed to want to talk with us, too, but when he saw the two men who had been asleep in the cavern he hot-footed down the slope, with the two fellows after him.  I never saw a man run so fast in my life.”

“I bet they chased him clear to our tree!” Thede cut in.

“I guess he never stopped running until be got there anyway!” Sandy grinned.  “But why should he come right back here after being chased away?”