and only for the prompt assistance of his chums he might have had a
serious time of it. Of course Steve laughed as if he would have a fit,
even while the others were taking the unfortunate trapper down.

"Works all right, don't it, Bandy-legs?" he demanded. "When they got a
new play that they want to try out in some small city away from New
York, they say they're trying it on the dog first. And looks like you--"

"Shut up!" roared Bandy-legs, turning on his tormentor. "I wanted to see
if it would go off, that's all."

"Well, it did!" remarked Steve, dryly.

"And now I'm goin' to set it for fair," returned the other, who seemed
to be so well pleased with the result of his labors that he could even
take Steve's chaffing with some degree of good humor.

They left him there, all but Max, who stayed to render any assistance
the ardent trapper might need. For Max had an idea that perhaps the trap
might play a part in the discovery of the unknown thief, should he take
a notion to pay the camp another visit that night.

Then they all sat around the blaze and chatted once more.

"Does anybody know the history of this island, and who ever lived here?"
asked Max. "That cabin must have been built a good many years ago, I'd
think, judging from the looks of it."

"Say, I was thinkin' about that same thing this afternoon, when sittin'
on that log fishing," spoke up Steve.