absence.

"How long has Pierre lived in this cabin?" asked George, as the
boys started out. "It looks like an old building."

"I guess he found it standing here deserted and just moved in," was
the reply. "I don't think he knows much about this country."

"Do you think he has any idea that the Little Brass God is in such
great demand?" asked George. "No, I don't think he has."

"Then, why should he keep it hidden away, even from you, three
hundred miles away from civilization? I should think he'd want to
have the thing out once in a while, just to take a look at it,
anyway."

"I should think so," agreed Thede.

The boys made their way over the morass and entered the thick
undergrowth. Now and then George flashed his electric, but he did
not keep it burning steadily for the reason that he did not care to
have Pierre trailing them back to the camp.

"Are you sure you passed this way when you came to the cabin?"
asked Thede as they walked along. "I don't seem to find any trail
here."

"It seems to me I came along here," was the reply. "If it wasn't
so blasted dark, we could tell whether we were going in the right
direction or not, all right!"