“That is only a ruse so the suspicion of whoever brought any prisoner here would not be raised. As soon as he goes we will be free to do what we please. Now how did you come to be captured?” went on Garry.
“Oh, I made a fool blunder too. I wanted to see you chaps to tell you that a lot of lumber was being shipped from a place called Harrison. It’s about five miles away from Dutton Lake, so that seems to show that the lake figures in the stealing of the timber. I crawled into camp one night and went to your shack, and walked in expecting to find you sleeping there. Instead I ran right into the arms of a couple of huskies who had me overpowered before I knew what was going on. I found out in a few minutes that the pair were LeBlanc and that precious scoundrel that tried to do me up that night you chaps appeared so providentially on the scene.”
“Did Barrows say anything about what had been going on in the camp, or drop any word that would give us a hint as to his plans?” put in Phil.
“No, he was very closemouthed. There was a swarthy chap with him, who from your description I take to be Jean LeBlanc. All that was said was that I should be taken to a place called Misery Camp. From the looks of this place I judge that is where I am now. What have you run into, a squatter camp?”
“Yes, you’ve hit the nail on the head.”
Garry was about to speak further, when the door opened and the squatter chief came in.
“That fellow is gone, and you kin come out any time you want,” was the welcome news that he brought. The three followed him into the sunlight and then decided that a start should be made for the lumber camp at once.
“That is, unless you are too tired to start now, Art,” said Garry.
“Oh, I’m feeling fit as a fiddle. I don’t know that I’d care to walk all the way back, but we can save time by going part of the way,” remarked Art cheerfully.
The packs were brought out and soon all was ready for the return trip. They were surprised at the appearance of King with his rifle, and feared for a moment that he had thought better of allowing them to go and was going to make them prisoners again.