“There!” cried Saxe excitedly. “I knew it. I felt sure that we were being watched.”
“Whoever it is cannot have gone far,” said Dale sternly. “It is the same party that stole the crystal before. Now, Melchior, which way are they likely to have gone?—of course back toward the valley!”
Melchior shook his head.
“But they must. There is no other road, you say.”
“Oh yes, herr: there are ways for good climbers.”
“But a good climber cannot get up and down dangerous places with half a hundredweight of stones on his back, man.”
“No, herr. They would not carry the stones very far: they would hide them.”
“And go back without them!”
“No, herr. If the object of watching us is to get the crystals, they will still be hiding to see if we find more.”
“Yes, you may be right,” said Dale, after a few moments’ thought. “Here, let’s have a good look round in different directions.”