“We’d better get back a mile or so,” he said as he picked up his pack and slung it on his back. “I’ll tell you all about it as soon as we get to a safe place.”
About a mile back, over the way they had come, they found a good place for a camp, in a dense growth of pines, and decided to make it their headquarters. Quickly Bob told how he had found their friend and his plan of action.
“But we’ve got to act quickly, old man, because that chap is apt to find our tracks at any time and if he does—goodnight.”
“But do you think we can get away with it?” Jack asked anxiously.
“That remains to be seen, but we’ll do our best.”
They ate a cold lunch, not daring to build a fire lest the smoke betray them. Lunch finished they got into their sleeping bags, for the sky had clouded over and it was cold and damp. All through the long afternoon they discussed plans until, just as dusk was beginning to fall, they agreed upon a course of action.
“It may work and it may not, but it’s the best in the shop,” Bob declared as he looked up at the sky. “It’s going to rain or snow before the night’s over,” he predicted.
Bob had hardly left the cabin when the front door swung open and the giant half-breed entered.
“We have rabbit stew for dinner, oui,” he said as he came to the side of the bunk and held up, for Rex’s inspection, a large rabbit.
“That’ll be fine,” Rex declared. “I’m a bit fed up on trout. But untie the ropes, will you?”