When all the packages had been put back into the valise, he and his two companions had got upon their feet and shouldered their guns, supposing, of course, that Mr. Warren would bestir himself as if he meant to do something; but, instead of that, he settled back into his chair and put his hands into his pockets.
CHAPTER XXVI. MR. HALLET HEARS THE NEWS.
"What are you going to do about it?" repeated Tom, who was impatient to begin operations at once. "The robbers have by this time discovered that their ill-gotten gains have slipped through their fingers, and of course they are not going to stay there in the gulf till the sheriff comes and gobbles them up. While we are idling here, they may be taking themselves safe off."
"They may, and then again they may not," said Mr. Warren. "If they are at all acquainted with these hills—and if they are not, I don't see why they came here in the first place—they must know that there's not another spot in the whole country, of the same size, that affords so many excellent hiding-places. But we'll talk about them by-and-by. Joe is the fellow I am thinking about just now."
The young game-warden looked his surprise, but did not speak.
"Yes," continued Mr. Warren, "somehow I don't like to think about the visit they made to his cabin while you boys were in the gorge. Did they take any of your things, Tom?"
That was the first time it had ever occurred to Tom and his friend that the robbers might have given their own house an overhauling, and that possibly Joe Morgan was not the only one who had suffered at their hands. They looked blankly at each other, and at last Bob managed to say that they had not been near their cabin since they left it in Joe's company, early in the morning.
"Then perhaps it would be worth while for you to go up there and look into things," said Mr. Warren, "while I go down and talk to Hallet. It is possible that we shall decide to take this valise to Hammondsport before I come back. I am sure I don't want to keep it in the house over night, for if those robbers should by any means get on the track of it, they wouldn't be at all backward about coming here after it."