“And he has done his work well. In addition to that he has been a wonderful guide and a delightful companion to you folks.”
“Even if he did deceive us,” said Elfreda.
“Not all of us,” spoke up Grace, who then told of the wigwagging incident when she learned that he was the chief of the foresters through doing some signaling on her own account.
Ham White laughed heartily.
“I suspected something of the sort,” he added with a chuckle.
“To continue my story,” resumed Captain Gray, “another man came to us sailing under false colors, if you wish to call it that. This man proposed that the Overlanders be used as a decoy to lure the bandits on, knowing that the ruffians believed one of our party possessed the key to Sam Petersen’s gold find. Ham White objected to subjecting us to peril, but when the newcomer showed him orders from the Washington authorities directing White to coöperate fully with him and carry out his orders, White was obliged to obey.”
The eyes of the Overland Riders turned toward Jim Haley, who actually grew rosy under their accusing gaze.
“Don’t look at me that way. I confess, but you shall have your peanuts just the same,” he promised laughingly.
“Folks, know Jim Haley, chief of the special agents,” introduced Tom. “Between White and Haley the entire band of guerrillas, with one exception, has been rounded up. Some are on their way to stand trial, others are being conveyed to a hospital to be treated for their wounds, and two are dead. They have spied on this party, watched their every move ever since they came into the Washington forests, and especially so since Sam Petersen died from a gunshot wound inflicted by one of the Murrays.”
“How perfectly thrilling!” breathed Emma Dean.