Aldous had guessed correctly what the effect of associating Quade's name with the affair would be. Keller was one of Quade's deadliest enemies. He sat down close to Aldous again. His eyes burned deep back. It was not Keller's physique, but his brain, and the fearlessness of his spirit, that made him dangerous.
"I guess you're right, Aldous," he said. "Some day—I'll even up on Quade."
"And so shall I, Peter."
The engineer stared into the other's eyes.
"You——"
Aldous nodded.
"Quade left for Tête Jaune to-night, on a hand-car. I follow him to-morrow, on the train. I can't tell you what's up, Peter, but I don't think it will stop this side of death for Quade and Culver Rann—or me. I mean that quite literally. I don't see how more than one side can come out alive. I want to ask you a few questions before I go on to Tête Jaune. You know every mountain and trail about the place, don't you?"
"I've tramped them all, afoot and horseback."
"Then perhaps you can direct me to what I must find—a man's grave."
Peter Keller paused in the act of relighting his pipe. For a moment he stared in amazement.