nge trail joining his own, but had discovered
none, doubtless due to the fact that the thief or thieves had come
across the bare ice of one of the lakes near the farther end of the line
and then it had been an easy matter to step into his trail where it
skirted the edge of the lake. On this last trip he had found an empty
rifle shell which apparently had been dropped unnoticed.

Pat's face had hardened as he listened to the recital. "Any signs of the
bloody minded thaves in the Holler or on the short lines?" he asked.

Alec shook his head. "They've kept away from here. The catch on the
short lines has been fair, and on the long line it ought to have been
better."

Pat stood up and shook himself. "Arrah now, 'tis time I was back on me
job," he growled. "Wance I lay the two hands av me on the thafe 'tis the
last time he will be wantin' to look wid the eyes av envy on fur thot
don't belong to him. A thafe who would shtale another man's fur would
rob his own grandmother. This storm will cover up all tracks, but 'tis
like there will be a chance for some real scouting after it is over.
'Tis thaves we'll be trappin' and not fur for a while. Did Big Jim say
anything about a silver fox when he was here?"

"No," replied Alec, his face lighting. "Why?"

"He told Doctor Merriam that he saw one on his way out, and we've been
wondering if it was over this way," Hal broke in eagerly.

"Likely he saw it on his way out of the Hollow," replied Alec. "There's
one here. I've seen him twice, but didn't get a shot. I've got traps set
for him, but he's been too smart for me so far. He's a big feller, and
his skin will grade No. 1 prime. If we can get him the thieves are
welcome to all the rest of our furs."

"No, they're not!" retorted Pat. "They're going to fork over every pelt
they've taken, to the smallest rat, or Pat Malone will know the reason
why." He shook a big fist by way of emphasis. "Now, let's turn in and
forget our troubles," he ended with a mildness that brought a general
laugh.

CHAPTER IX

SNOWBOUND

All that night the storm raged and in the morning the snow was still
falling. Pat and Alec from force of habit were up early, but seeing that
there would be nothing doing outside they forbore to waken the three
visitors and were not averse to returning to their blankets for a couple
of hours of extra sleep. How long the three boys would have slept is a
question had not Alec dropped a pan which clattered noisily