"We'll have to let the poor brute in," remarked Rex Heydon. "If we don't, the meeting will be disturbed too much."
"Seems to me," put in Piper, reflectively, "that I wouldn't own a dog like that."
"Don't say nothin' agin Bowser," protested Tim Sladder, warmly. He opened the door to admit the animal, which bounded in with a great demonstration of joy.
"Now spin your yarn," said Piper.
Nat Wingate, quite anxious to see if the trio displayed any evidence of guilt, quickly spoke up. "Yardsley had all his furs and skins stolen," he exclaimed, abruptly, and pausing to note the effect of his words, he glanced sharply at the three young men.
They seemed profoundly astonished.
"Had his furs stolen?" gasped Piper. "How—when?"
Nat proceeded to tell them, and when he had finished Hackett began his tale.
"Well, you fellows certainly had a strenuous day, all right," commented Robson with a long breath as he concluded. "Let's see—say, it happened just about the time I sent up the smoke signals, eh?"
Piper contracted his brow on hearing this, and stared reflectively at the floor. "It seems to me," he began.