“Asleep,” was the reply, “and you let him alone for to-night. He’s been having a lively time. But how in the name of all that’s wonderful did you ever find your way here?” the boy added.
“I don’t know,” was the reply. “I knew that Ned would be wherever the fire was, and so started east. Not so very long ago I heard a couple of shots, and that directed me toward the camp. Who was hurt?”
Frank explained, briefly, what had taken place, hunted up a liberal meal for the boy, and then saw him settled for the night.
Ned’s astonishment at seeing the boy in the morning may well be imagined.
“Huh!” Jimmie said. “You thought you would fool me out of all the fun!”
Ned laughed and asked about the others, finally informing Jimmie that he was leaving that morning for San Francisco by the aeroplane route.
“Then I’m goin’!” declared the boy. “I’m not goin’ to be chucked into the discard again.”
“You’ll have to sit in Frank’s lap,” grinned Ned, “and the machine may tip over with such a load, at that.”
“I guess it didn’t tip over when Frank and Jack an’ yours truly run it,” Jimmie replied. “Anyway, I’m goin’ with you.”
Before leaving for Missoula, where he was to surrender the aeroplane to Frank, Ned had another long talk with Mr. Green, whose wound was not so serious as it had been considered the night before. The forester told him what he knew of the men under the leadership of Greer, saying that he might have arrested Greer at any time during the month, and, what is more, convicted him of smuggling both Chinamen and opium over the border.