It had been no easy matter for Andy and Chet to become chums. At first when they met, at a lumber camp where both were employed, Chet was silent and morose. But little by little, warmed by Andy's naturally sunny disposition, he "thawed out," and told his story in all its details. He knew a few things that the general public did not know, and these he confided to Andy. "My father went off on a whaler named the _Betsey Andrews_," he once said. "He said he would come back some day and clear himself. The mate wrote to my mother that my father's mind was affected a little, but he hoped he would be all right by the end of the trip." "Well, hasn't the _Betsey Andrews_ got back yet?" had been Andy's question. "No." "Where is she?" "That's the worst part of it--nobody knows." "Do you think she was lost?" "I hope not--but I don't know," had been Chet's somewhat sad answer. He lived in daily hope of hearing from his parent again. Chet knew Andy's story, of Josiah Graham's meanness and laziness, and of the papers left by Andy's father, and he now listened with deep interest to what his chum had to tell about the visit of Mr. A. Q. Hopton, and of the escape through the bedroom window. "Now what do you make of the whole thing, Chet?" asked Andy, after he had finished his recital. "It looks to me as if this real estate dealer was mighty anxious to get the papers," was the answer. "And that means that the papers are valuable." "Just what I think." "Your uncle has no right to sell 'em for three hundred dollars, or any other amount," pursued Chet. "I understand enough about law to know that he's got to get a court order to sell property. To my way of thinking, he'd like to do this on the sly, and pocket the three hundred. He's no good, even if he is your uncle." "He's only my father's half-brother, and he always was a poor stick. I wish I knew of some lawyer to go to." "Why not try Mr. Jennings, over at Lodgeport? I've heard he's a good man, and smart, too." "I might try him. But it's a twelve-mile tramp." "Never mind, I'll go along, and we may be able to pick up some game on the way," answered Chet. The boys talked the matter over for two hours, during which time Chet prepared supper, and the two ate it. Then Andy fixed the fire for the night, and the boys turned in, tired out from their long tramps through the snow. It took some time for Andy to get to sleep, for the events of the day had disturbed him greatly. But at last he dozed off, and neither he nor Chet awoke until it was daylight. "Phew! but it's cold!" cried Chet, as he put his head out of doors. "And it snowed a little last night, too." "Is it snowing now?" questioned Andy, anxiously. His mind was on the trip to Lodgeport. A heavy fall of snow might mean much delay. "No, the storm is clearing away." "Then let us get breakfast and start."