The Boy Scouts in Northern Wilds | Page 8

thing! It occurred to the wondering boy that Pierre might have been
sent into the Hudson Bay country in quest of the individual who had
purchased the Little Brass God at the pawnbroker's shop.
This, he argued, would be just about what Finklebaum would be likely
to do. On the discovery of his loss, he would naturally seek some one
familiar with the northern country and dispatch them in quest of the lost
prize. In case this should prove to be the fact, the boy Thede might not
have been taken into the confidence of the two men.
He might be telling what he believed to be the truth concerning the
matter. The advantages to the pawnbroker of this secret arrangement
would be many. In the first place, anyone following Pierre would
naturally suppose him to be the person having possession of the Little
Brass God. This would naturally cause investigators to entirely lose
sight of the real possessor in shadowing the man sent out to recover the
article.
Another point which the boy considered was the possibility of the Little
Brass God having been robbed of his treasure before being placed in
the pawnshop. This idea, however, he soon rejected for the reason that
no one would know better than the man who inspired the larceny
whether the will was still retained in the cavity of the toy. Had he
secured the document, he would be the last one to offer a high reward
for the return of the odd casket in which it had been contained.
While the boy puzzled over the case, Pierre and Thede sat down to their
evening meal. George was invited to join them in the repast, but
declined on the ground that he had eaten supper not long before. After
the meal was over, Pierre took up his rifle and left the cabin, scowling
at George over his shoulder as he took his departure.
"He's pretty sore about your being here," grinned Thede.

"I don't know why he should be."
"Perhaps he thinks you've come up here to steal this little Brass God."
The boy was very anxious to get back to his chums in order that the
situation might be thoroughly discussed. They were in the Hudson Bay
country in quest of the Little Brass God, and here was Thede on the
same mission. It seemed to him that if Pierre had really had the toy in
his possession, Thede would have caught sight of it, at least,
The more he thought of this phase of the case, the more he was inclined
to believe that Pierre was also in search of the Little Brass God.
"Pierre will be apt to raise a howl if I leave the cabin alone," the boy
finally said. "He's fierce when he gets mad!"
"You don't seem to be afraid of him," replied, George.
"I'm afraid of him all right," the other replied, "but I don't intend to let
him know it. I've got one of these billies inside my coat, all the time,
and if he tries any funny business with me I'll knock his block off!"
"He could cut you into shoestrings while you are asleep!"
"Yes, I suppose so, but be won't do anything of the kind!"
"Well, come on over to camp," urged George. "It isn't so very much of
a walk. I guess we can make it in half an hour."
Thede hesitated, but finally dressed himself for a cold journey, and
fixed the fire so that no damage might be done by it during his absence.
"How long has Pierre lived in this cabin?" asked George, as the boys
started out. "It looks like an old building."
"I guess he found it standing here deserted and just moved in," was the
reply. "I don't think he knows much about this country."
"Do you think he has any idea that the Little Brass God is in such great

demand?" asked George. "No, I don't think he has."
"Then, why should he keep it hidden away, even from you, three
hundred miles away from civilization? I should think he'd want to have
the thing out once in a while, just to take a look at it, anyway."
"I should think so," agreed Thede.
The boys made their way over the morass and entered the thick
undergrowth. Now and then George flashed his electric, but he did not
keep it burning steadily for the reason that he did not care to have
Pierre trailing them back to the camp.
"Are you sure you passed this way when you came to the cabin?" asked
Thede as they walked along. "I don't seem to find any trail here."
"It seems to me I came along here," was the reply. "If it wasn't so
blasted dark, we could