“They would take me along while they could use me,” answered Jimmie, “and that would be the last of yours truly. Those fellows are cold-blooded murderers! I wish the other boys would come!”
“I’m afraid something has happened to them,” Kit replied soberly.
Twilight fell as the outlaws planned murder and the boys planned capture. As the latest finger of light touched a summit to the southwest an aeroplane was seen slowly moving toward the valley. It was plain even to the outlaws that she was seriously crippled. As for the boys, they watched her interestedly until a mass of clouds from the ocean settled down over the mountain top and shut her from view.
“That’s the fellow that give us the run to-day!” laughed Jimmie.
“You mean the man who told you about the chief ranger?” asked Phillips.
“The same,” answered the boy noticing at the same time with deep satisfaction the alarm in the other’s face.
“He couldn’t give any one a chase now,” Kit exclaimed. “Because he’s limping along like an old woman with a crutch!”
“He’s probably got a poor spark plug,” Jimmie commented.
There were a good many furtive glances passed by both parties as the outlaws began to prepare for the night. They were given a shelter-tent by Jimmie, and saw fit to place it within a short distance of the Louise. The tent to be occupied by the boys was put up not far away. More wood was put on the fire as the darkness grew. The outlaws understood that they would need light in order to execute the wicked purpose in hand.
Jimmie and Kit promised each other that they would not close their eyes in slumber even for a minute, but the day had been a hard one and presently Jimmie dozed off. Kit was still awake, but was inclined to let his chum sleep as long as he could keep his own eyes open.