“How long since he left?” came the next question.
“Not more than fifteen or twenty minutes ago. He was hardly out of sight before you came in with Pearly.”
“Which trail did he take?”
“The one to Fort Good Faith.”
Dick stepped forward and pressed the huge hand of the free trader.
“Thank you very much. I’ll explain sometime, Mr. Wandley, but I’ll have to hurry now. We’ll stop in to see you on our return.”
Saying which, Dick hurried through the door, crossed the trading room and quickly rejoined his two friends outside.
CHAPTER IX
THE MEETING PLACE
Faint flecks of snow were falling as they took the first turn in the trail at top speed. The wind had increased in velocity. It had become a gale that bent the tops of the spruce and poplar, driving down a fine icy sleet through the trees. Toma raised anxious eyes to the lowering sky and presently shrieked out above the roar of the approaching storm:
“Big blizzard come pretty soon. How far we go before we get to bend in river?”