d Sandy.

"I don't see how they dare build fires out in that exposed place,"
Thede suggested. "There's no knowing who may be prowling around."

"Perhaps they know where the few enemies we have found in this
section are keeping themselves!"

"Perhaps they've got 'em shut up in some of their own caverns!"
Thede suggested. "Anyway," he went on, "there's something doing,
or they wouldn't be talking Boy Scout to us at this time of night."

As the boys drew still closer they heard the labored breathing of
some one running, apparently only a short distance away.

Oje darted away in the direction of the sounds, but soon returned
to where the boys waited and headed once more for the Boy Scout
signal.

"What did you see, Oje?" Thede asked.

The Indian turned and pointed back over the snowy trail they had
followed from the burning tree.

"Man from there!" he said.

"Antoine?" asked Sandy.

The Indian nodded and continued up the slope as if the matter were
unworthy of further attention.

"Now, what do you suppose Antoine came here for?" asked Thede.

"Attracted by the fire, probably,"

"I don't understand what he's roaming about so much for," Thede
continued. "What was he doing out at the burning tree?"

"From the appearance of things," Sandy answered, "I should say that
he hot-footed it out there in order to get away from some one who
was chasing him, though I can't understand why anyone should be
chasing him."

"Anyway, he seems to be back here now," Thede said. "It's dollars
to buttons, though, that he doesn't go up to the fire where the
boys are."

"Look here," Sandy said in a moment, '"I just believe that Antoine
has the Little Brass God in his possession, and that the two men
who came to the cabin that night are after it!"

"I hope they don't get it!"

"Of course they won't get it," Sandy answered. "Didn't we come
away up here into this desolate land to get it ourselves?"

When a few yards from the blazing fires, Sandy paused long enough
to give the Beaver call and hear the answer given. Then the lads
trooped up to the circle of light and warmth.

"What's the idea?" Sandy asked after greetings had been exchanged.
"Did you build these fires so we could cook supper?"

"You're not hungry, I hope!" grinned Tommy.

"Starved to death!" answered Sandy. "We've been treed by bears,
and dumped down on the back of a great beast about nine feet long,
and had our fish devoured, and there's been nothing