"Nor I. But I don't think they'll hurry—unless they suspect that we have discovered the truth."
"Oh, they won't let the grass grow under their feet," put in Si. "They know what it means out here to be caught stealing."
The route lay down the opposite side of the mountain and then along a watercourse lined on one side with rocks and on the other with a patch of spare timber. Not a camp of any kind was in sight, for nothing in the way of gold had been discovered in that vicinity.
As the party moved forward, Maybe Dixon told a good part of his story, to which Mr. West and the other men listened with interest. He did not tell what the stolen gold was worth, but said it was "considerable," and the others understood.
"It is funny the greasers didn't try to get the gold alone," said one man.
"They didn't have spunk enough," answered another. "Behind it all, they are very cowardly. They went after Mark because he was a boy and thought they could get the nugget away from him with ease."
The journey to Five Falls took the best part of three hours and at its end Mark, who had not yet fully recovered from his sickness, was ready to drop from weariness. But he did not complain, for he realized how much was at stake.
"Can you go on?" asked Bob, who saw him falter a little.
"Yes, Bob, I am going on."
"It's rather tough on you. Why don't you let us go ahead alone?"