dinarily he would have simply trotted off quietly with the does. But
they were hunted yesterday to a point where the old fellow was
desperate, and the proof of it is what Sparrer and I found."

"What was it?" demanded Walter eagerly.

"We found where a fawn and a doe had been driven into the deep snow and
butchered with a knife," replied Pat. "The story was plain enough for
any one who can read signs. It was no trick at all for those bloody
poachers on snow-shoes to run them down and drive them into the snow.
After that no gun was needed. Besides, a gun is too noisy for thieves
and lawbreakers. Walt didn't tell you what he saw yesterday. Fire away,
Walt, and tell 'em."

Upton told briefly what he had seen on the peak by the pass and his
reasons for telling only Pat. Alec's face hardened as he listened and a
steely glint crept into his eyes. When Walter had finished Pat
continued.

"You fellows wondered why I was so keen on getting back to the cabin. It
was because I don't believe it is safe to leave it unguarded. As long as
the snow was soft those thieves kept away from the Hollow, but with
this crust to leave no tracks they've come down here, and they've been
watching us. They know how many of us are here and are watching our
movements. They'd raid the cabin in a minute if they saw the chance. But
as long as anybody is here they'll keep out of sight. Hereafter we'll
leave a guard when we go out. To-morrow Alec and I will start before
daybreak to look for those fellows and leave you youngsters to amuse
yourselves. I have an idea that their camp isn't so far away as Alec
thought it was. Now we'll have dinner, and this afternoon Alec and I
will look over a couple of the short lines, one of you can keep guard
here and the other two can go with us or do anything else you please."

Upton insisted that he should keep guard, Hal decided to go with Alec,
and Sparrer with a little hesitancy confessed that he would like to hunt
rabbits. The experience of Christmas morning had whetted his taste for
hunting and following a trap line seemed tame sport in comparison. He
was eager to try his luck alone, and when Walter offered the loan of his
rifle his happiness was complete. When the others had departed he
shouldered the rifle and at Upton's suggestion started to follow the
course of the brook up to the beaver ponds so as to see the houses and
dams and then go on to the swamp at the head of the ponds where Spud Ely
had found the