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.