"I remember," nodded Colonel North. "But you have not yet told me the circumstances of your meeting with Branders."
Hal hurriedly recounted the details of that meeting, among the rocks past the ledge, out on the road leading westward from the post.
"At that time, Colonel," Private Hal Overton continued, "Branders told us he was headed for a ranch to the westward, where he expected to get a job. We had no reason for disbelieving him, at the time, and so it never even occurred to us, until to-night, that he might be one of the burglars who have been looting this post. Besides, sir, though Tip had always been known as a rather worthless fellow, we had never heard of his being the associate of downright criminals."
Now the searchers came in to report that they could find neither a trail nor any sight of dropped bundles of loot.
"At daylight, Major," suggested Colonel North to Major Silsbee, "you may be able to send out scouts who, with a better light, may succeed in finding a trail."
Hal turned to Lieutenant Hayes, saluting.
"I wonder, sir, if it won't be best for me to offer a suggestion to Colonel North?"
The regimental commander turned at once.
"You may speak, Private Overton."
"I was about to inquire, sir," replied Hal, saluting, "if it isn't likely that there may be a good hiding place for thieves among the rocks back of the ledge of which I spoke some time ago."