Part 22 (1/2)

”You mean because he's quit trying to hide his trail?” asked Steve.

”Well, partly that, but there's another thing,” Trapper Jim went on to say.

”I think I'm on to it,” observed Max.

”Well, I saw you look some surprised at the time, son,” declared the trapper. ”But Steve, here, saw nothing. Did you notice, Steve, which way we headed at the time we first picked up the trail at the sprung trap?”

”Why, yes, it was almost due south, wasn't it?” asked Steve.

”Right, son, and look at the sun now,” the trapper remarked.

”Gee, that's queer!” muttered the surprised Steve.

”What is?” asked Max, smiling.

”The sun--why, it's swung around on the right. Say, don't tell me time's pa.s.sed like that, and it's afternoon now. Why, we haven't felt hungry enough to tackle that bully lunch Max fetched along when he came back with the dog.”

Both of the others laughed at this.

”That's one on you, Steve,” said Max. ”See, my watch says just ten-thirty. The sun didn't swing around at all, but the trail did.”

”It's heading north now, is it?” demanded Steve.

”Straight as can be,” replied Trapper Jim.

”But the cabin lies that way!” objected the puzzled boy.

”Just what it does,” admitted Jim. ”When the thief sat down to rest back there he must have been thinking it over. And he made up his mind to do something on the spot, for when he started again he cut out a new course direct.”

”Whew, the nerve of him!” exclaimed Steve.

”What makes you say that, Steve?”

”Why, don't you see, he's got the fever bad. Thinks p'r'aps Uncle Jim here might have another silver fox pelt laid away, and while he's about it he reckons he'd better double up.”

But Trapper Jim shook his head. He knew no pelt thief would ever display such boldness as Steve suggested. There must be another reason for the sudden change of plans on the part of the fugitive.

”Have we gained on him?” asked Max, presently.

”Considerable,” replied the trapper.

”How d'ye know that?” demanded Steve,

”There are plenty of signs to tell me,” came the answer. ”Anyone used to following a trail would have seen them. And I reckon, now, Max hasn't been blind all this while.”

”No,” replied the one spoken of. ”I saw water still oozing into a deep track when we pa.s.sed that boggy ground, and right then and there I concluded we must be less than half an hour behind the thief.”

”Good!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the trapper; ”anything else. Max?”

”Why, yes,” returned the boy, calmly. ”There was a little twig that righted itself even as I looked at it. His foot had bent it down. Now, I shouldn't think it could have stayed that way more'n half an hour at best.”