"I seem to see a faint, resemblance in this lad to a boy I used to
know as Thede Carson," Will laughed. "He looks now, though, as if
he had plenty to eat, and a good place to sleep!"

"I have been eating regularly," grinned Thede, "but there's no
knowing whether I'll ever connect with another bear steak."

"He came up here with Pierre," Sandy explained. "Perhaps he can
tell you what the half-breed is up to."

"I don't know any more about it than you do!" replied Thede. "He
didn't seem to like the idea of my associating with George," the
boy added with a wink at Will, "and so he bunched us together and
locked us up."

While Pierre gave vent to hoarse shouts of rage, and many entirely
unnecessary and insulting taunts, the boys explained the events of
the past night. The thing which startled Will most was the story
Thede told about having caught sight of the Little Brass God.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Certain sure!"

"It wasn't the firelight or anything like that?"

"No, it was the Little Brass God!"

"Was it Pierre who sat before the fire?"