With a sigh of intense satisfaction, Sandy reached out for the packages Pearly had handed over and began dividing their contents.
“I had a good look at this man, La Qua, and the three half-breeds,” the policeman informed them. “From what little of their conversation I was able to overhear, it is evident that they are about to leave Wandley’s. They’ll probably proceed at once to Settlement Mountain.”
“Will they follow the same trail as we will?” asked Dick.
Constable Pearly nodded. “Yes, there’s only one route which leads off in that direction. They will go directly past the bend in the river, where we are to await the coming of Richardson and Rand. Our best plan is to remain here until La Qua and his two men leave. Then we can follow them leisurely. As I said before, we have only a few miles to go. I think we’d better not take our horses with us. I’ll make arrangements with Wandley himself to have them looked after.”
Pearly excused himself, and a short time later the boys could hear his measured tread across the frozen ground outside.
“He’ll keep a sharp eye on La Qua,” decided Sandy. “I don’t imagine the outlaw will stay here very long if they are really planning to set out with the pack-train tonight.”
“Constable Pearly him pretty good policeman,” said Toma.
“Yes, he’s the new man from the Peace River detachment,” Dick explained. “Corporal Rand spoke highly of him.”
Sandy yawned and stretched out his legs. Since eating, it was quite apparent that he felt much better. Eyes twinkling, he looked across at Dick.
“I’m beginning to feel like a new man myself. I’ll be ready to start any time. I honestly believe, Dick, that I’m going to enjoy this adventure almost as much as I would the trip to the coast. Hope nothing happens to prevent a change in the outlaws’ plans to start for the pass tonight.”