"Yes," nodded the officer.
"May some of us remain behind them, sir, to search all this ground over?"
"For what, Overton?"
"It doesn't seem likely, sir, that these scoundrels have been living in the open air. And they must have some place for concealing their booty."
"Quite right, Overton. Corporal Cotter, take Overton, Terry and two other men and make a thorough search of the rocks and ground hereabouts."
Hal turned swiftly to the man in whose eyes he had seen that gleam of satisfaction the moment before. Now the fellow was scowling.
"That was a hit," Hal murmured to himself. "The rascals have some hiding place around here."
"Now we'll divide the ground up in small squares," announced Corporal Cotter as he led his picked men away. "We'll search each square minutely, so that no little patch may be overlooked."
"Won't it be best, Corporal," hinted Hal, "to start where the thieves were when the fighting began?"
"Just the ticket, Overton," nodded the corporal.