of bacon, a small bag of salt, and a few other small articles had
been taken from the cook tent. Mr. Waterman felt sure that he could
rely on the honesty of his guides and he was greatly mystified.

"It beats me," said Mr. Waterman. "If an Indian or a stray fisherman
really needed grub, he would know that we would be perfectly willing to
help him out. No one ever refuses hospitality in the woods."

"I can't make it out either," said Mr. Anderson.

"Perhaps it was a bear," said Pud with one of his great inspirations.

"Why to be sure," said Bill. "These bears up here have regular pouches
like the Australian kangaroo and I'll bet if we could see mother bear
just now she'd be waddling up some rocky place, her pouch filled with
flour, bacon, salt and other dainties for the little cubbies."

Everybody laughed at this but no one had any further suggestion.

"I really can't figure it out," said Mr. Waterman, more seriously. "The
worst of it is that this is not the first time this has happened. We
have said nothing about it but the same thing happened about ten days
ago. Then we scoured the camp and could not find a trace of the thief.
Jack tells me that the four of them have been all over the lake to every
trail and that they have seen nothing."

"Let's organize a real hunt after lunch," said Bob eagerly.

"That's just what I was thinking of doing," replied Mr. Waterman.

Everything was hurried through. Bob and Pud forgot the weariness they
had felt while lost that morning. Four different parties hurried away
after they had eaten. Bob and Mr. Waterman went together and they made
for the trail that led up north.

"I figure it out," said Mr. Waterman, "that whoever it is that has been
at our cook tent came from the north."

"How so?" asked Bob.

"Well, it isn't far to Escoumains and any one in real trouble would find
food there. It's probably some stray Indian who is afraid of being
arrested for some crime if he goes back to the settlements. I can't
figure out anything else."

"Did you bring a gun along?" asked Bob rather anxiously.

"No," said Mr. Waterman. "We won't need any gun if we catch up with this
fellow. But first of all let us get some trace of him."

They soon reached the beginning of the portage. They got out and
searched carefully. They saw tracks, to be sure, for they had been over
there just a few days before. No new tracks were to be seen. At last,
Mr. Waterman picked up the canoe and said, "Let's