"Right there. It begins with the dog's tracks, which, after a little way, are mixed up with that of the man he was after."
Dunkan eyed Tad keenly to see if the boy was joking. Tad Butler most certainly was not joking. He had never been more serious in his life.
"Show it to me," commanded Dunkan. The prospector's voice was calm, but there was a menace in it.
Without a word Tad led the way to the edge of the camp ground, where he pointed to the footprints of the dog, faintly discernible on the soft turf. Tad kept right on until he had gone some ten rods from the camp, whereupon he halted and pointed again.
"What do you make of that, Mr. Dunkan?" he asked.
"Man's tracks, as I'm alive," muttered the prospector, after a careful examination of the trail as indicated by Tad.
"Yes, and the man had been standing here for some time. If you will look a little farther you will find that he started to walk away, then broke into a run. The dog was pressing him rather too closely for comfort. At this point the dog began running faster than before. I know that because from this point the collie left only the faintest footprints, showing that he was barely touching the ground with his feet."
[CHAPTER XIX]
BUTLER MAKES A DISCOVERY
"Well, if that doesn't beat all!" marveled Royal.