“Now what does that mean?” asked Farnum, thoughtfully. “It is probable that Lupo has been behind us all the way, if what I suspect is true, namely that they have been trailing us. But why should they be fleeing now?”
“They can’t have been close to us all the time, Mr. Farnum,” said Bob, “or why weren’t we attacked before?”
Farnum nodded.
“That’s true enough,” he said. “It may be that Lupo started late and has been all this time catching up with us.”
Breaking a thoughtful silence, Mr. Hampton said:
“As a matter of fact, that seems the most probable explanation. The other side, Farnum, probably has a spy at Nome, of whom you are unaware. But the spy knows your identity. Your story of taking us into the wilderness to hunt may have deceived this spy. But then, later, word would reach him from Seattle of my identity. Not that it is commonly known. But if some traitor close to Anderson is trading on Farrell’s secret, my connection with Anderson would be suspected, especially as several years ago I worked with the Anderson oil crowd in New Mexico. So words would reach Nome to watch me. Then someone would start out on our trail.”
“And that someone was Lupo,” said Farnum. “A fine cutthroat.”
An earnest discussion followed. What did this turning back of Lupo the Wolf mean? Did he intend to stick to their trail, but at a greater distance in the rear? Or did he plan to encircle them and lie in ambush ahead? That his retreat was other than momentary, and meant he intended giving up their pursuit, nobody believed.
“Look here, Dad,” said Jack, during the course of this discussion, “don’t you consider it quite likely that Lupo intends to take us by surprise and attack us, rather than to retreat?”
Mr. Hampton nodded.