"This is Bill's party—they left Oak Creek last night," explained Mr. Brewster.
"Then where is Simms and your wife?" asked Barbara.
"You see it will take the others much longer to ride up from Lone Pine than it took us to climb the trappers' trail, so they can't possibly arrive for some time yet. We-all just got here, and we left Oak Creek at midnight," explained one of the men, encouraging the two girls.
"But we-all stopped on the way and cooked breakfast and fed our hosses. Simms and his party will ride right up and ought to be ha'r pritty soon, now," said Bill.
"How about leavin' some one here at Four Mile Blaze to direct the Simms' party, while we-all ride on with Sam to hunt those three claim-jumpers," suggested one of the possé.
"Barbara and I will wait here with Jeb if you leave us each with a gun," offered Eleanor, eagerly.
Barbara gasped at the very idea, but Eleanor added:
"We don't want to be mixed up in a fight with rascals, and we are safer here than up there."
"The gal's right, Sam. They'd onny be in the road if we-all have to chase them men," said Bill.
"But they can't shoot! Why give them any guns?" asked Mr. Brewster, anxiously.