“Overland!” called Grace. The call was promptly answered from the camp, and Grace was met at the upper end of the tote path by a group of worried girls. She explained that Hippy, who had gone out to intercept the work of the night prowlers, had continued on with Ike Fairweather in pursuit of them.
“What were those ruffians trying to do this time?” questioned Miss Briggs.
“They not only tried, but they did,” answered Grace. “Girls, those rascals ran our equipment wagon off the trail and into the canyon.”
A chorus of “ohs” greeted the announcement.
“Does this mean that we shall have to abandon our trip?” anxiously asked Elfreda.
“It does not, J. Elfreda. Did you ever know of an Overton girl to confess herself beaten?”
“No. That is the last thing I should look for you to do.”
“Your question is answered. We are going to get that band of ruffians before the end of the Apache Trail is reached, or they will get us,” declared Grace. “Please stir the fire and make coffee for our men. I am going down the tote trail to see that we are not surprised.”
Crouching beside the trail, Grace finally heard Hippy and Ike returning.
“They got away, but we exchanged shots with them,” called Hippy in reply to Grace’s hail. “They went down into the canyon, but Ike said there was no use wasting time following them, for they know the ground better than we do. Sorry, but we did the best we could.”