“Guess it’s a fool thing to do,” he muttered as he hid the fish and his rod in a thick clump of bushes, “but I’ve just got to follow that fellow a little way anyhow.”
Just above where he had been fishing the trees grew close to the edge of the stream. Careful not to make the slightest noise the boy stole through the thick woods, his ears keen to catch any sound. Every few yards he stopped to listen. He had no real thought that the man would expect him to follow him but he was well acquainted with the character of men of his type and knew the value of caution.
He had followed the course of the brook for about a quarter of a mile and had about decided to turn back when suddenly the sound of voices reached his quick ears. He listened but although he could hear the voices plainly enough he was unable to catch the words.
“Guess they’re talking canuck,” he thought as he stole cautiously forward. As he advanced the voices grew more distinct and soon he was able to catch a word now and then. Although he was somewhat familiar with the language, the men were talking so rapidly that he was unable to get the drift of the conversation. That there were at least three men present he was certain and he judged that the man he had encountered was telling the others about the meeting. He crept a little nearer and finally, peering through the thick undergrowth, he caught sight of a small cabin built of unpeeled logs and evidently quite new. Just in front of the door he could see three men standing. One was the man he had met and, it was plain that the others were half-breeds.
For some moments he crouched trying to catch the drift of the talk. But, to his disappointment, he was unable to do so, although he was sure that the men were talking about him. This belief was strengthened by the fact that a number of times the man, to whom he had given the fish, pointed toward the Golden cabin.
But after a few minutes the men went into the cabin and, greatly disappointed. Jack started back.
“They’re sure tough customers and I’ll bet a fish hook they’re up to something,” he thought as he made his way quickly through the thick forest.
CHAPTER II
THE VANISHING CABIN.
“Seems to me you’ve been gone long enough to catch all the fish in the lake,” Bob greeted his brother on his return to the cabin.