into this: If the really, truly burglar stole the toy and sold it
to the pawn-broker, the will is in the ugly little chap's belly.
If Sigsbee hired the burglar he took the will out before the
trinket was sold at the pawn-shop. In that case, he would be the
last one to send an expedition up here to retrieve the toy. And so
you see," Will continued, "that we don't know anything about it."

"Well it's funny that gink should come prowling around our tents on
the first night of our arrival!" Tommy exclaimed. "According to
all accounts, he should have come sneaking into camp looking for a
drink of brandy. The fact that he ran away when discovered shows
that he wasn't here for any honest purpose."

"Well, what are we going to do?" demanded Sandy. "Let's give the
Little Brass God a rest long enough to make up our minds about
George."

"We can't do anything until morning," Will interposed.

"How do you know we can't?" demanded Tommy.

"Because it's dark, and because we know nothing about the country,"
replied Will.

The boys sat before the fire until midnight listening for the
return of their chum. When it began to snow they reluctantly
decided that George had crawled into some temporary shelter for the
night and would not think of trying to make his way home through
the storm.