y go?" demanded Tommy.

"I guess that's what no fellow can find out," replied Will.

The boys continued their search in the hope of finding the passage
by which the two men had escaped. At last they came to a small
opening in the floor of the cavern which apparently led to a cavity
farther down.

"They didn't wait for the elevator!" laughed Tommy. "Shall we go
down after them?" asked Sandy.

"I think we'd better get back to the cabin." Will argued. "It must
be after ten o'clock now, and George may be in trouble for all we
know."

"Three times and out!" exclaimed Sandy. "The next time we catch
sight of the Little Brass God, we'll sure get out fingers on it!"

"I'd be happy just now if I could get my fingers on something to
eat!" Thede declared. "I'm about starved!"

"We've got a few sandwiches, if they'll do any good," suggested
Will.

"If they'll do any good!" repeated Sandy. "You bring 'em out here
and we'll see whether they will or not."

"Thede ran to the door of the cavern and looked out, calling softly
to the Indian as he did so. Oje was nowhere to be seen!

"I wonder where that Indian went?" the boy asked.

"He probably got busy after some one!" Will replied.

The boys devoured the sandwiches which remained from the supply
provided by Will and then started back to the cabin.

The moon was now high up in the heavens, and the boys could trace
foot tracks in the snow quite distinctly. For a time they saw the
prints of Oje's moccasins. They seemed to be following another
track which was obliterated by his passage.

"Perhaps he's chasing the two fellows who had the Little Brass
God!" suggested Sandy. "If he is, I hope he gets 'em."

After a time the tracks swung away to the left and the boys saw
them no more. When they came in view of the cabin a bright light
was reflected through the broken window pane, but there seemed to
be no evidences of motion on the inside.

"I presume George has gone to sleep," Will said. "I should think
he'd be tired of waiting. It must be somewhere about one o'clock!"

When the boys came up to the cottage they saw a figure detach
itself from the shadows which lay against the west wall and dash
precipitously into the thicket. Will hastened to throw the door
open.

The boy started back in alarm, as he noted the condition of the
interior. The bunks lay broken on the floor, and it was plain that
the whole apartment had been most thoroughly pillaged.