“Certainly. Well, there were people camping over here, and I thought I’d like to see what kind of people they were. I said nothing to Clay about my motive in coming here, because he thinks I’ll be getting into trouble enough with peaks and canyons, without hunting up mysterious camping parties in the Rocky mountain district.”
“I’m glad you didn’t mention it to him,” Case mused. “He would have been anxious about us. Just as if we aren’t big enough to take care of ourselves. Have you seen the place where the fire was yet?”
“Yes,” replied the boy, “it is across this little valley, up against the face of that rock. See, the rock is smudged!”
“Yes,” Case exclaimed, swiftly moving under cover, “and there are smudgy looking men coming after us with guns in their hands! Duck, partner!”
CHAPTER XXII.—THE SURGEON TURNS DETECTIVE.
Case dodged deeper into a rocky depression as he spoke, and Alex was not slow in following him. Three men, all carrying guns, were approaching from the south, now in full view as they mounted an elevation, now lost to sight as they dipped into a canyon. The boys watched them furtively.
“I wonder if they saw us?” queried Alex shifting about so as to look over a stunted shrub growing on the edge of their hiding-place.
“I think not,” Case reasoned, “for they are headed farther to the east. Looks like they were going up the slope in search of game.”
“I just believe they are the train robbers!” Alex exclaimed, in a moment. “You know, we were talking, a short time ago, about what a cute little place this would be for a fugitive to hide in.”
“And they may be hunters, or officers in quest of the robbers,” Case amended. “Anyway, there’s their camp, to the left of that crag, and we’ll work over that way as they get farther off. If they did see us, and are hoping to capture us, the safest thing for us to do is to double back, like rabbits. Come along!”