“I thought perhaps you had guessed that we were in trouble and had come to our rescue.”
Corporal Rand shook his head. “No, I am on patrol duty.”
“But why did you wish to meet us at Half Way House?” persisted Dick.
“That’s a different story. The police have another little job for you.”
“What is it?” the boys inquired in unison.
“Wanted you to go over to Caribou Lake to investigate a rumor.”
The three boys gathered more closely around the policeman.
“What rumor?” asked Dick.
Corporal Rand rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“It concerns a certain Conroy Miller, a prospector who has been working up in that section. Miller has not been heard from since last fall. He sent word down to Ford Laird by an Indian that he proposed to trap all winter in the vicinity of Caribou Lake, where he had staked out a few mining claims, and asked Factor Goodwin to send out a quantity of supplies. On the first of December last year the Indian, who had brought in the message, and several companions with dog teams, took the supplies out to Miller and afterward returned, reporting that Miller had received them and wished to thank the factor for his kindly co-operation.