A noise below, followed by the creaking of a door, indicated to the boys that Constable Pearly and Toma were taking out the ponies. Soon after another sound came from the front of the building. Almost immediately, Dick heard someone walking across the stable floor and the gruff voices of La Qua and Nichols.
Although they listened intently, neither Dick nor Sandy could hear any of the conversation. The rumbling tones died away presently. A tense moment had passed. Sandy rose and tip-toed across the loft, endeavoring to peep out through a narrow slit between the logs. He was about to turn to come back, when he became visibly excited, motioning frantically to his chum.
“La Qua has taken out his horse!” he whispered breathlessly to Dick, as soon as the other had joined him.
“Is Murky going with him?” asked Dick.
Sandy stepped back to permit the other to look through the tiny aperture.
“No,” he answered. “From the look of it, Murky intends to remain here. La Qua is probably going on to Settlement Mountain.”
Dick caught sight of a fleeting roan, upon which was astride the slouching, unkempt figure of La Qua. Then abruptly he was startled by the sound of the door of the stable creaking open again, and a few moments later, heavy steps upon the ladder, leading to the loft.
For one brief moment, Dick’s heart leaped to his throat. Had Murky Nichols learned of their presence there? Or was it Constable Pearly and Toma? He and Sandy stood shaking with suppressed excitement, their eyes riveted on the trap-door. Both breathed a sigh of relief as the flushed face of the mounted policeman appeared through the opening. Behind him, came Toma. Dick and Sandy rushed forward excitedly to meet them.
“Do you think La Qua is going on to Settlement Mountain?” Dick asked.
The constable paused to brush the dust from his tunic. A thoughtful expression shadowed his face.