The constable made an impatient gesture.
“This is all conjecture and will get us nowhere. We have no way of determining whether the outlaws know you are here or not. The thing to do is to assume that they haven’t seen you, and lay our plans accordingly. Toma and I have staked out the ponies about a hundred yards from here in a shallow coulee that slopes down to the shore of Settlement House River. Your next move will be to get over there without Murky seeing you.”
“But what will we do with the ponies now?” Sandy interposed.
“I’m coming to that. As I previously informed you, I had intended to ask Wandley to look after them. That is out of the question now with Nichols here. They must remain hidden from his inquisitive eyes—kept out of sight entirely. The only thing I can think of just now is to take them with us to the meeting place near the bend of the river.”
The constable paused for a brief moment before he resumed:
“Please listen to me closely. I’m going back to the trading room and strike up an acquaintance with our friend, Mr. Nichols. I’ll engage him in conversation for ten or fifteen minutes. That will give you plenty of time to make your way to the coulee undetected. Wait for five or six minutes after I go before you leave the loft.”
“When we get to the coulee,” inquired Dick, “we’re to wait for you. Is that the understanding?”
“Yes,” nodded Pearly, turning to go, “I’ll rejoin you there in half an hour. I’ll ride my own horse over.”
Without further word, the policeman disappeared through the opening again, much to the amusement of Sandy.
“He must be tired climbing up and down that ladder,” he grinned. “Is this the fourth or the fifth time he’s been up here?”