Either Hoag had not stolen the traps or had hidden them elsewhere.

The only large traps they found were two of the largest size for taking bear.
Hoag's torrent of bad language had been quickly checked by the threat of turning Skookum loose on his legs, and he looked such a grovelling beast that presently the visitors decided to leave him with a warning.
The Indian took the trapper's gun, fired it off out of doors, not in the least perturbed by the possibility of its being heard by Hoag's partners.

He knew they were imaginary.

Then changing his plan, he said "Ugh! You find your gun in half a mile on our trail.

But don't come farther and don't let me see the snowshoe trail on the divide again.
Them ravens is awful hungry." Skookum, to his disappointment, was called off and, talking the trapper's gun for a time, they left it in a bush and made for their own country..