"That's a fact!" Will agreed. "We've got one wounded boy on our
hands now, and we don't care about having another."

"Look here," George cut in crossly, "if you think I'm too much
trouble, you can just drop me down in the snow anywhere and I'll
take care of myself!"

"Aw, cut it out!" roared Tommy.

The boys laughed so heartily at the idea of leaving their chum in
the snow to care for himself that his mood instantly changed to one
of apology. In a moment, he was all smiles again.

"Now, if you've got that little scrap settled, you can give me a
boost through this window!" suggested Thede.

"Sure the door's closed?" asked Tommy.

"Closed and latched!" was the answer.

The boys had some difficulty in removing the single sash which
protected the opening, but the task was finally accomplished, and
then Thede crawled through into the cottage.

The boys heard him drop lightly to the floor and then followed a
long silence. Presently Sandy clambered up the log wall and peered
inside.

He saw Thede standing close against the wall, gazing down at a
great haunch of venison which lay on the floor.

"If you want to keep that in good condition for eating, hang it out
in the frost," laughed Sandy. "We can't afford to lose that!"

Thede beckoned to him to enter, and the boy dropped down on the
floor.

"Who brought it here?" he asked.

"Search me!" Thede answered.

"It might have been Antoine."

"Aw, he couldn't kill a deer and bring in that big haunch with that
lame wrist of his!" Thede exclaimed.

Sandy looked out of the window and beckoned to his chums to enter.

They gathered around the haunch of venison with amazement depicted
on their faces. The fire still burned brightly, and it was evident
that it had not been long since new fuel had been laid.

"Some one made us a present, I take it!" Tommy grinned.

"But who?" demanded Will.

"It's one of the mysteries of the British Northwest Territories!"
replied Sandy. "Suppose," the boy continued, "we open the door and
bring George in. He must be getting cold by this time!"

"Be careful when you open the door, then," Thede warned.

But there was no one at the door or, at first, within view of it.
There were plenty of tracks, however, which appeared to have been
recently made. George was carried into the cabin, and then Sandy
and Tommy set out to trace some of the foot-prints to their
destination.

"I'm going to know where that fellow went," the forme