Tom Fairfield did not answer for a moment. He was busy looking at some tracks in the snow. “Yes, they are just the same,” he murmured, slowly. “What is it? A bear?” asked George, eagerly. “No, but look,” and Tom pointed to some footprints. In the middle of the sole of each one was a star made in hob nails. “Why--why, that’s the same mark that was near our cabin,” cried Jack. “Exactly,” Tom agreed coolly. “I thought it would prove so.” “But what does it all mean?” asked Bert. “What are they doing up here, and around our cabin?” “Give it up,” spoke Tom. “Maybe they’re hunting, as we are.” “But they had no guns,” Jack said. “No. Well, we’ll just have to wait and see what turns up,” Tom went on. “I think we gave ’em rather a surprise, though.” “We sure did,” agreed George. “But that Whalen surprised me, too. I wonder how he got here?” “Didn’t you say you told him where we were coming?” Tom asked. “Yes, I did, after he pumped me with a lot of questions. I didn’t realize what I was doing. I say, Tom, I hope I haven’t done any harm!” “Oh, no. There wasn’t any secret about where we were going to spend the Christmas holidays,” Tom said. “But it is rather odd to find those three so close after us. But maybe it will be all right. They know they are on private preserves--our private grounds--for the time being, and I guess they won’t trouble us.” “Then it was those three, sneaking around the cabin?” asked Jack. “Professor Skeel, at least,” Tom went on, “though it may have been only ordinary curiosity that took him there. We’ll take a little trip over to Hounson’s some day, and see what we can pick up there.” It was getting late, so the young hunters made haste back to their cabin. They had supper, and then once more sat about the fire and talked through the long Winter evening. The next day they dressed their game and cooked it, finding it a welcome relief from the canned meats and bacon on which they had been living. The rest of that week they remained in the vicinity of Cabin No. 1, having fair luck, but getting no big game. They saw one deer, but missed him. In this time they saw no more of Skeel or his cronies. “What do you say we go over to Camp No. 2 for a change?” asked Tom, one night. “We’re with you,” his chums agreed, and they made an early start, through the woods, locking up the place they left behind, for they might not be back for several days. They managed to bag several rabbits and squirrels on their march, but saw no signs of deer. Sam had told them they might not have much luck in this direction. In due time, by following a copy of the blue print map they had made, they came to Camp No. 2. There had been a light fall of snow in the night, and as Tom approached the cabin, he cried out: “Boys, they’ve been here ahead of us!” He pointed to footprints in the white blanket--footprints, one of which had a star in the middle of the sole. CHAPTER XI MORE PLOTTING