"I want some men to go along. Is Jackson here?"
"I think so."
Maybe Dixon then told how the camp had been robbed of all the four partners possessed. To make it worth while, he said he would give Andrew West five ounces of gold dust if the stolen gold was recovered, and later on promised two ounces each to four other men who said they would go along to help round up the thieves.
"I don't want any reward," said Andrew West. "We must stand together when thieves are around. I'll do my best for you."
It was midnight when the posse left the gulch and two o'clock in the morning when they joined Mark, Si, and Bob. Everybody was fully armed. They went on foot, since to travel to Five Falls in any other manner was impossible.
CHAPTER XXXII
THE TRAIL OF THE GOLD THIEVES
As he was the only one who knew the route, Andrew West took the lead, the others following in Indian file. It was a fairly clear night, with numerous stars twinkling in the sky overhead. All was quiet, save for the distant rush of some mountain torrent over the rocks.
"I hope we are not too late," said Mark to Bob. "I don't want to lose all that gold."