They ran all the way down to the river. They arrived there just as the two outlaws drove their raft up to the landing and made fast. Pushing his way through the crowd, Dick was one of the first to welcome them.
“Hello, Wolf. Hello, Toby. I see you’ve got back. I received your letter, Brennan.”
The outlaws were nonplused, taken aback by the unexpectedness of Dick’s greeting. Both were seething with fury. In the very act of reaching for his gun, Wolf paused and bethought himself of the mounted police. For all he knew, this might be a trap for them to fall into.
“Yes, we got back,” growled Wolf, his face red with humiliation. “We got back an’ we’re going to stay here fer awhile. We got a lot of business to attend to here at Half Way House,” he hinted darkly. “Just as soon as we’ve seen Factor Frazer, we got a little matter we want to talk over with yuh.”
Looking around and perceiving no mounted policemen in the crowd, Wolf raised his voice.
“A little matter we want to discuss with yuh an’ your friends.”
“Factor Frazer isn’t here any more,” Dick told them.
Both the men gave a quick start, staring at him incredulously.
“You’re lyin’,” croaked McCallum.
“Go and see for yourself,” Dick spoke calmly. “Mr. Scott is in charge here now.”