Have your guns ready, and don't
make any noise. This way."

The boys started briskly up the mountain side. Before they had taken
many steps they were agreeably surprised to find a broad and easy path
that followed a zig-zag course toward the summit.

The boys traveled faster. They were almost at the top of the mountain
now. Straight ahead the trail wound narrowly between two steep walls of
rock and timber.

Crack! the angry spit of a rifle echoed among the rocks. The ball
whistled close over the heads of the lads. They instantly dropped down
among the bushes, fearing another shot.

"Let's all fire at once," whispered Hamp.

"No, hold on," cautioned Jerry. "The rascal is safe behind the rocks."

The next instant a deep, growling voice floated down the ravine.

"Keep back, you chaps. The first one as comes a step nearer will get a
bullet through him."

The boys wisely made no reply. Under cover of the rocks and trees, they
crawled a few yards down the path.

"We're in a hole," said Jerry. "The thief is up there with the sleds."

"What are we going to do about it?" asked Brick.

"Well, we've got to have our traps back," said Jerry, "that's certain.
And there's only one way to do it. We must cut down the path as though
we were retreating. Then we'll make a detour and lie in wait for the
rascal and try to take him by surprise."

This plan offered much risk in spite of Jerry's confident words. But a
better course was out of the question.

So the boys rose, and tramped down the winding path, purposely making as
much noise as possible, to show that they were retreating. Half-way from
the bottom of the valley the boys turned to the left. They followed the
rugged mountain side for several hundred yards. Then they mounted
straight to the summit and crossed in safety.

Suddenly Jerry uttered a low cry. He sprang forward and snatched a
small, dark object that was lying in the snow.

"What is it?" exclaimed his companions.

"A tin dipper," was the reply. "It must have fallen off one of the
sleds."

Hamp instantly struck a match, and the flame revealed plain sled-marks
leading across the valley.

"We're outwitted again," groaned Brick. "This is awful luck."

"Yes; the rascal must have pulled out the minute he heard us go down the
ravine," said Jerry. "By this time he has a big start."

The situation of the lads was now truly deplorable. Yet their very
helplessness made it necessary for them to push on.

The