“If that had been from last night the dew would have freshened it so that the blades would have straightened again,” added Betty, her scout-lore expressing itself.
“Then we’d better ride on and overtake the zealous assistants!” was the Captain’s advice.
“You mean if they allow us to,” Mr. Gilroy amended. Tally had jumped into his saddle and now he started ahead of the others, but he kept his eyes fixed upon the faint tracks in the trail as he went. Halfway between Panchuelo and Winsor was a trail which ran along the northly boundary of Lake Park and so on down to Santa Fé. This they followed, the guide leading. Just before they reached the foot of Santa Fé Baldy they came to a rushing torrent with a rough-hewn bridge of logs across it.
Tally halted, and said: “Burros and riders no go up-trail f’om here. Mebbe men lead um up brook to fores’,” and the guide pointed to a small tributary which emptied into the larger stream which was spanned by the bridge upon which his horse stood.
“Well, Tally, what shall we do?” asked Mr. Gilroy.
“Me scout here for signs if he’em come out. Tally got full gun,” the Guide patted a Colt’s revolver upon his hip. “Boss take some scouts up-trail an’ keep look-out for Ranger San’son, en some scout go wid Mr. Vernon down-trail f’om Winsor en ask eve’y touris’ if dey see men who got packburros what look familiar, see?”
“Yes, I see, Tally. But they may be down at one of the towns by now, and the animals with our packs sold. Or they may be hiding in the woods, waiting for a chance to come out again. Whichever it is we will be without camping equipment and nowhere to get new things,” worried Mrs. Vernon.
“You-all got hosses. Always scouts kin ride to hotel and get bed and board,” was Tally’s practical reply.
“You’re right, Tally; some of us go Lake Park trail, and some ride the Aspen Mountain trail and wait at Bishop’s Lodge. You stay and hunt man, but be sure and meet us before dark at the Lodge,” said Mr. Gilroy.
It was sundown that evening, when the girls, accompanied by Mr. Vernon and the Captain, rode up to Bishop’s Lodge to secure accommodations for the night. Tally and Mr. Gilroy were out on the trails still hunting for the men who had stolen the burros. While Mr. Vernon registered, the girls stood near by talking.