“Yes,” answered the lad carelessly. Anvik shrewdly deduced that Butler had made some sort of discovery, but he asked no further questions. Perhaps the guide also had discovered that they had near neighbors. If so he kept that fact to himself.
The boys sat down to breakfast. They discussed the day’s ride and talked of their further journeyings, though Tad had little to say that morning. He was thinking deeply on what had just occurred.
The breakfast was about half finished when the lad flashed a quick, keen glance in the direction from which he had entered the camp. The others did not observe his sharp glance of inquiry. Tad had seen something. A movement of the foliage had attracted his observant eyes. He glanced at Anvik, who was sitting with his back to the party, gazing off over the mountains to the rear of them and through which they had worked their way to the present camping place.
Tad casually reached over for his rifle that was standing against a rock.
184“What’s up?” demanded Ned sharply.
“I want to examine my gun,” replied the boy.
“Funny time to examine it when eating your breakfast,” spoke up Walter.
“I prefer to eat,” said Stacy.
“We know that,” chuckled Ned. “No need for you to tell us.”
The Professor was eyeing Tad inquiringly, observing that the boy’s face was slightly flushed.