Darwood bent a keen gaze on his companion.
“What do you mean?”
“Hunt up their camp and see what is going on?”
“I’ll do it,” answered the gold digger with emphasis. “What’s more, I’ll do it now.”
“That’s the talk! If you hurry, you may be able to find the boy and follow him in. Shall I go along?”
182“No. You stay here and look after things. I may be away for some time. I don’t know where they are, but I’ll find them if it takes all day. If our two comrades come in, you hold them here. Needn’t tell them where I am.”
Darwood shouldered his rifle and strode from his camp without another word. Bruce replenished the fire in order to make a smudge that could be smelled for some distance away, which was for the purpose of directing their companions to them, and also had served to call Tad Butler into their camp in advance of the other two gold diggers.
Tad was out of sight by the time Curtis Darwood got out, but Darwood was able to follow the boy’s trail, though it was not an easy one. Tad had made no effort to mask his trail, but his natural instincts taught him to leave as few indications of his progress as possible. Darwood saw this. Instead of lessening his suspicions this fact served to increase them. The gold digger was using his nose more than his eyes, sniffing the air for the smoke from the camp of the Pony Rider Boys’ outfit. He caught the scent after half an hour or so of trudging over the hard trail. From this time on it was easy so far as finding his way was concerned. Butler, knowing the way, had made much better time back to his own camp.
183Breakfast was ready by the time he reached there. Tad did not mention his experience, not having decided what he would do in this matter.
“You find big smoke?” questioned the Indian as Tad stood over him by the fire.