"I don't care if he's the President's cousin! We make short work of thieves in this country. You stay and watch the camp until I come back."
Eben put the saddle and bridle on his horse in a remarkably short space of time, and, springing upon his back, galloped away, paying no heed to Leon's repeated request that he would not harm Frank if he succeeded in overtaking him.
"I am really afraid that boy has got himself into a box," thought Leon, as he settled back on his hard bed. "I never saw a man in such a rage as Eben is. He takes a good deal of interest in my affairs, but I hope he'll not let his zeal carry him too far. Frank has got me into a box, too, for if I should grow tired of life in the mountains, and conclude to go back to the States, how am I to get there?"
The indignation Leon felt when he first discovered that his money had been stolen, had given away to a feeling of uneasiness.
He was certain that Eben would overtake his cousin. A boy on foot could not possibly escape from a man on horseback, especially on the plains, and if he would simply bring him back and hand over the three hundred dollars, all would be well; but he was afraid that the angry hunter might take it into his head to punish Frank in some way.
He felt the loss keenly, but he was not troubled concerning the future.
Eben had told him that the traders, who were located at the various posts during the winter, were in the habit of furnishing supplies on credit to responsible hunters and trappers, who would bind themselves to sell their furs to no one but the man of whom the supplies were obtained.
So the loss of his money would not prevent him and Eben from spending a few months in the mountains, as they had intended to do.
But still he wanted funds to use, in case of emergency, and he hoped that Eben would succeed in overtaking Frank.