“I know now,” Sandy’s voice was excited. “I’ve solved the mystery.”
“What mystery?”
“The reason why they went this way. It’s a shortcut, Dick. The main trail, if you happen to remember, turns straight east about fifty miles south of here. Burnnel and Emery figure that they can head Creel off by coming this way.”
“You must be right, Sandy. But I wonder if they’ve stopped to consider that they have a river to cross. It’s a wide one, too, nearly a quarter of a mile, I should say. Do you suppose they can swim the horses?”
“Dangerous, but they must intend to try it. It will be interesting to watch them. If they can make it, so can we.”
“We ought to arrive at the river some time this afternoon. Hope they don’t see us coming. We must be fairly close to them right now.”
Crossing the meadow, they entered a grove of poplar, through which they made their way more slowly, emerging, at length, to another meadow, somewhat smaller than the one they had previously crossed. Here they paused. On the far side, several miles away, they saw three tiny specks, which they knew was Burnnel’s party. Not wishing to approach any closer, they rode back to the poplars again, dismounted, staked out their horses and prepared their midday meal. At the end of an hour, when they resumed their journey, they knew there would be little danger of drawing within sight of the outlaws.
So they pushed on steadily. They left the meadow behind and entered a woodland, which grew thicker as they advanced. The dim trail ahead became more difficult to follow. Finally, they lost it altogether, but a few hours later the trees thinned out and straight ahead of them, a shining, glistening ribbon in the sun, they saw the broad expanse of the Hay River.
They staked out their ponies, and set out on foot to reconnoitre. For several hundred yards they followed the course of the valley, but could find no trace of the outlaws. However, continuing eastward, they were rewarded by the sight of a thin column of smoke, drifting lazily up through the trees. The outlaws had made camp a few hundred yards below on the bank of the river. Just now they were engaged, so the boys surmised, in the preparation of a meal.
Dick and Sandy crept closer. Nerves taut, they wormed their way ahead. Then Dick touched Sandy’s arm.