They pondered in silence for a moment.
Hedden suddenly entered the room. He seemed flurried, and his employer knew that something of moment had occurred.
“What is the matter, Hedden?” the latter asked.
“I have to report, sir, that somebody has been at the goods in the pantry—the canned food and other provisions that we brought up.”
“What do you mean?” asked Mr. Howbridge curiously.
“The chef, sir, says that quite a good deal of food has been stolen. He put the stuff away. There is a lot of it gone, sir—and that since last night at dinner time.”
“Humph! Isn’t that strange?” murmured the lawyer.
M’Graw grunted and started for the front door.
“Where are you going, M’Graw?” asked Mr. Howbridge.
“I’m going to find out who shot that fox,” was the woodsman’s enigmatical answer.