upon himself to enlighten
them.

"If I read their meaning right," he ventured, "that is just what they
want to do at first, make the men believe we've started to tramp back
over all those hundreds of miles of ground. Before long, they'll do
something to hide the trail so only a wolf's keen scent could find it;
and then we'll turn around again, so as to face toward Hudson Bay. How,
Francois?"

The old voyageur had listened to the explanation offered by Ned. He
grinned and wagged his head, as though quite tickled at the idea of the
boy understanding so well what the little game was.

"Zat ees so, sare," he said. "If Jimmy he be able hold out so long,
mebbe we also eat supper far away from zis place."

Hearing his name mentioned, Jimmy was up in arms. He had a reserve stock
of nerve for occasions like this, which could be summoned to the fore.

"Don't bother about Jimmy, please," he told them. "Sure, when it comes
to a pinch, don't he always get there with the goods? My feet can ache
all they want to; but, all the same, they'll do what I say. If it's a
mile or six of the same, I'm good for it. But I wish I had something to
gnaw on meanwhile, because I'm as hungry as a starved wolf, so I am."

Frank produced a handful of crackers from his little pack, which he
willingly turned over to the other. This seemed to satisfy Jimmy; at
least, he stopped groaning and telling of his aches and pains. When they
could get his jaws to working in this fashion, he seldom allowed himself
to enter any complaint. Jimmy could be bribed to do a good many things
by the promise of a feast at the other end.

They continued on for some little time, and then it became apparent that
Francois and the Cree had decided the blind trail had been carried far
enough.

They were seen to confer, after which the leader stepped upon a long log
that lay conveniently near by. Walking part way along this, the Indian
suddenly leaped upon a bare rock, stepped its length, found another log,
passed along it and so continued, leaving not the slightest trace of a
trail that could be followed, unless dogs were placed upon the scent.

"You go next, Jack," urged Ned, who wished to satisfy himself that all
of the scouts were able to qualify in this round of concealing the
trail; though they had practiced it many a time when in camp.

Jack had observed every move of the agile old Indian, so that once he
started over the same course he made short work of it.

"T