Robert got up two hours earlier than usual and woke up Louis.

"What're we going to do so early?" his younger brother protested.

"We're going fishing."

"The fish are still asleep." He lay back down.  "Even Mr. McDonald didn't make me get up this early," he protested.

"You can sleep tomorrow."

"I may be in jail tomorrow."

"If you are, you can sleep all the time." With that Robert pulled off the blankets and threw them in the corner.  "Hurry up!  We haven't got any time to lose."

The younger boy got up and started to dress.  "What's this all about?"

"We're going to see if the fish are going to take our bait."

They finished dressing, grabbed something to eat in the kitchen and left a note for their dad, telling him they were going out on the lake.  The wind was roaring in from the west, piling wave after wave against the shore.

"Do you think whoever stole that diamond will hear what you said in the store and run out there to get it before the police search for it."

"That's the idea."

"Man, are you going to be in for a surprise!"

They went down to a small inlet where they had left their boat and bucked the waves out to deep water.  Then they followed the shore a mile or so beyond the lodge where they dropped anchor and started to cast.

"It's crazy trying to catch anything here," Louis protested.

"You know that and I know that," Robert said, "but the guys we're waiting for won't know who we are or how much we know about fishing.  They'll think we're a couple of dumb Americans who're trying to save money by not hiring a guide."

"You hope that's what they think,"

"It's worth a shot," Robert replied.

They had been on the lake an hour or a little more when a boat pulled away from shore and headed in the direction of the place where the ring had been stolen.

"Looks as though we've got a nibble," Robert said, starting to pull up the anchor.

"No such luck," his younger brother exclaimed.  "They're heading for Kramer's Bay."

Robert held the anchor against the side of the boat until he realized that what Louis said was true.  The boat had pulled out from shore and headed northwest into the waves.  Louis picked up the binoculars they had brought along and trained them on the occupants of the boat.

"They aren't the ones we're looking for," he said.  "They've got to be fishermen."

Robert watched them intently.  While his brother watched the speeding boat, it slowed and turned toward shore.  A moment later they could see them casting.

"What did I tell you?" Louis muttered.  "They're just fishermen!" he said, frowning.  "I think the guys we're after are too smart to fall for a scheme like this."

"Maybe," his brother retorted.  "And maybe not."

Half an hour later another boat crept out of the shallow water and fought the waves.  It, too, contained fishermen.

The boys were about ready to give up when still another boat made its way out to deep water.  It had not started from the resort, but from the mouth of a small creek some distance from the lodge.  As soon as they were past the shallows, they headed in the same direction Robert and Louis had taken.

"We've got a live one," the younger Yazzie boy said, his voice tense with excitement.  "Keep coming.  Keep coming!"

"They're headed straight for us," Robert exclaimed.  "Get that anchor up.  We've got to move or we'll give away everything."

"Aren't they going to think it's strange, if we do?"

"You know how fishermen are.  They're always moving."

Louis lifted the anchor while Robert started the motor and edged toward a spot on shore some distance from the path of the other boat.  They were casting as the sturdy craft roared by, several hundred yards out in the lake.

"Now," Robert whispered, "the fun begins."

The boys in the other boat laughed as they saw where Louis and Robert were fishing.

"Look at those dumb Americans!" the one driving the boat said to his companion.  "I suppose they're staying at the lodge."

"At least they won't be getting weeds out there."

As the boat swept by Louis picked up the mike to the marine radio.

"What're you going to do?" Robert demanded, pushing it down.

"I thought I'd tell Dad where we are."

"Those guys may have a radio, too."

"They wouldn't be on our channel."

"How do you know?  If they are, you'll blow everything."

They went to the bay just beyond the place where their quarry was stopping, cut the motor and glided silently ashore.  Louis tied the boat securely while Robert hefted the gas tank and realized it was almost empty.  He switched to the spare and pushed the other tank under a seat.

"What do you think those guys are doing.?" Louis whis pered as they saw the other two leave their boat and start up the hill into the bush.

"You said that rings here?" "I'd bet on it."

Robert nodded.  "You've got to be right.  They wouldn't risk bringing it back to the reserve with them." He frowned thoughtfully.

"They've got to be picking up that diamond.  It's the only reason they'd risk coming back here."

Louis's older brother said he agreed with him.

"Now what?"

Robert frowned momentarily.  "If that's what they're doing, they've got to be planning to split."

"That means we've got to do something to stop them.  We can't let them get away from here."

"If they both leave the boat, get on the horn to Dad," Robert ordered.  "Tell him where we are and what's going on. He'll know what to do."

Louis eyed his older brother.  "What're you going to do?" he demanded.

"Make sure they don't leave here!"

By this time the boys in the other boat were on shore.

"Want me to stay with the boat?" the one in the sweater asked his companion, his voice hoarse.

"Come along.  I might need help."

"We can't take too long.  You know that!"

"Shut up, will you?" he demanded.  "I'm as anxious to get away from here as you are."

"You're sure that truck'll stop for us on its way to Prince Albert?"

"If the driver wants the twenty I offered him for taking us that far, he'll stop."

"Think anybody's wise to us?" the other boy continued.

"How many times have I told you?  Nobody's wise to anything.  And they won't be unless you open your big mouth."

"Just checking." He said more, but by then he was too far away for Robert and Louis to hear what he said.

Robert picked up the gas tank he had just taken off their boat and, crouching low to keep from being seen, hurried through the grass and bush to the other boat.  He unfastened the gas tank they were using and hooked their tank in its place.  Then he hid their can in a clump of brush, making certain it couldn't be seen.

When he returned to where they had tied their boat, Louis had just finished talking to their dad.

"What'd he say?" Robert whispered.

"He's phoning the RCMP.  He thinks they'll have someone out here as quick as possible."

"But he doesn't know for sure.  Right?"

"He doesn't know!"

"That means we've got to do something."

Robert tugged at the lobe of his ear.  "Somebody's got to get up to where they are and see what they're doing." He turned to Louis.  "You stay here.  I'll go up and see what's going on."

"I've got a better idea.  I'll go up and see what they're doing.  You stay here and watch their boat."

"It doesn't need watching."

"Then we'll both go.  OK?"

For answer, Robert crept stealthily up the hill in the direction the other two boys had gone.  Robert was half a step behind him.  They were almost at the top of the little hill when they heard a magpie scolding loudly.  Robert grasped his brother's jacket and pulled him to a stop.

"Can you see it?" one of the boys at the base of the birch tree asked.

"I could if that pesky bird would leave me alone.  You'd think he owns the place."

His companion laughed.  "I guess he does own that nest.  He built it."

"Very funny!"

At that moment the boat radio shouted, "Base calling Yazzie boat!  Come in, Louis!"

"Did you hear that?  Those pesky Yazzie kids are here!  I'll kill 'em!"

Robert and Louis turned and dashed wildly into the deepest section of the bush!  They ran until they could run no more, and threw themselves to the ground, panting heavily!

"Come in, Louis!  Help is on the way!  Repeat.  Help is on the way!"

"You know what that means!" a hoarse voice exclaimed.  "We've got to get out of here!"

"Not until we get what we came after!"

"You do as you please!  I'm splitting!"

An instant later both of them crashed noisily through the bush to where their boat was tied.