"That's a pretty straight tale, Bradford," he said, when the youth had finished. "But can you prove positively that this Ducrot took the horse?"
"No, I can't say that I can," answered Dale bluntly. "But I'm reasonably certain that he did."
"If you have him hauled up you'll have to prove your charge. If you can't he may be able to make trouble for you for having him arrested."
"Well, what do you advise me to do, Mr. Paxton? I know I can depend on what you say."
This frankness pleased the owner of the camp, and he nodded slowly.
"My advice is that you say nothing at present. Go on working as usual and keep your eyes and ears open. Sooner or later every criminal exposes himself, if not in one way, then in another. I don't look on Ducrot as a smart customer, and if he is really guilty you'll corner him some day when he least expects it."
"Are you keeping his money for him?"
"All but two dollars a week—and I'm paying him seven and board, for men are scarce just now, and he can work well when he is put to it and kept from drink. Yes, you watch him, and I won't give him his money until I notify you first."
And so it was arranged that Dale should watch Baptiste Ducrot and do what he could to expose the fellow and bring him to book for his misdeeds.