.

"I didn't see him well enough to find out, and I can't tell the color of
a fox from his bark," was Gif's somewhat dry reply. And at this there
was a laugh.

Then the storm cleared away once more, and on the following morning the
boys resolved to tramp in the direction of Tony Duval's place and see if
they could locate Werner and Glutts.

"I don't believe this Tony Duval is a very nice fellow to meet,"
remarked Gif, when they were on their way. "I saw him twice, and he
looked like anything but a pleasant character."

The middle of the forenoon found them on the grounds occupied by the
various shacks belonging to the French-Canadian. They were small
structures, built for the most part of slabsides, and each contained but
two windows and a door.

"I wonder which shack is that used by Glutts and Werner," remarked
Randy, as they looked around.

Nobody was in sight. There were five of the shacks located several
hundred feet apart, and each with some timber around it.

"We'll try the nearest place," said Gif, and, going up to it, he knocked
sharply on the door. He waited for fully a minute, but there was no
reply.

"Seems to be empty," remarked Jack, after looking in through one of the
windows. "There is no sign of a fire in the fireplace."

They tramped on to the next shack, and found that was likewise vacant.

"I think we'll find somebody at home in the third shack," announced
Spouter. "Anyway, I see smoke coming from the chimney."

They were approaching the doorway of this rude structure when it was
suddenly flung open and a man stepped into view. He wore a hunter's
outfit, and carried a double-barreled shotgun in his hands.

"Who are you?" he questioned, and his tone had a strong French accent.
"What do you want here?"

"We are looking for a fellow named Werner who hired one of these
shacks," answered Gif.

"Who are you?" repeated the man sharply, and then Gif recognized Tony
Duval.

"I am the son of one of the men who own Cedar Lodge. We want to find
Werner and the two fellows who are with him."

"Aha! So you are the young fellows from Cedar Lodge who made so much
trouble for Mistaire Werner and his friends," cried Tony Duval. "He has
told me all about that."

"Did he tell you what he did down at Cedar Lodge?" demanded Jack.

"He say he would square the account. Why should he not do that? You have
no right to destroy his things and hurt his horse."

"We didn't touch his horse!" answered Fred qu