"Well, as I don't want to go home, I vote we go after the thief," said
Shep, who was the first to speak.
Fortunately not all of their stores had been taken—they had been too plentiful to pile on one sled—so they had enough left with which to get a substantial supper. But all of the boys did not wait for the meal.
"If we are going to follow that thief up we ought to do it right away," said Snap. "The more time that is wasted the less will be our chance of catching him. Shep, if you say so, we can go after him and leave Giant and Whopper to look after what is left here."
"Why can't I go along?" asked Giant.
"Two ought to stay here," said Snap. "And I've got another plan," he went on. "How much money have we got on hand?"
The amount was counted and found to be nearly five dollars.
"That's enough," said the leader. "If we can't find the thief, we can slip over to Riverside and buy the things we actually need. I wouldn't go to Fairview, because that would cause too much talk."
Snap and Shep put some provisions in their game bags, readjusted their snowshoes, and soon set off.
"Have you any idea when you will be back?" called Whopper after them.
"No—maybe not till to-morrow," was the answer.