“A bear, perhaps,—or the mate of Hugh’s bobcat.”
“Nonsense! There are no bears around here, Joe says, and you ought to know that a bob——”
“Speak lower, Alec. It may be one of those Canuk lumberjacks from the camp in the back-woods. You remember, Pioneer Camp was robbed last summer, and there was a row over the affair.”
“You certainly have a lively imagination, Dick! Do you think a thing like that is going to happen again so soon?”
“Well, why not? You can’t trust any one of those toughs. I heard cook say so once, and then he shut up like a clam ’cause he thought Joe might hear him. Joe’s respected father was a Canuk, you know. Someone is up to some treachery.”
The last word grated upon Alec’s ears. “Treachery?” he repeated. “You mean——? You accuse—Joe?”
“You were foolish to show off that roll of bills your father sent you to buy camera supplies with, this afternoon,” was the whispered response.
Alec gave a low laugh.
“What’s eating you, Dick, anyway? You’re twice as foolish to talk that way. Joe might hear you. Besides, he’s as honest as the daylight. Do you think the Chief would employ him if——”
“Hark! There’s that noise again. I’ll bet someone is stealing into the cabin.”