Cheered and invigorated, they made their way up the slope, and not long afterward came to the place where they had picketed the ponies. Saddling and bridling their rugged little mounts, they rode slowly along the ridge to a point above the outlaws’ camp. Again they tethered out their horses and sat down to wait. It was more than an hour later before the outlaws attempted to cross. The sound of splashing came up from below, punctuated now and again by sharp voices of the two men.
The boys bounded to their feet and scrambled down the steep embankment. Arriving at the abandoned camp, they observed that Burnnel’s party were already more than a quarter of the distance across the stream. The ponies were swimming bravely, while the two prospectors and “Rat” MacGregor’s wife could be seen in the water beside them, clinging to the pommels of the saddles. It was an exciting ordeal and the boys watched the progress of the party breathlessly. Soon they had reached the center of the river, fighting valiantly. Now they were being carried along by the swift central current. Gradually, however, they neared the opposite shore. They made their landing safely, a few minutes later, nearly a mile downstream. They clambered up the slippery bank, shook then like rats, and soon afterward disappeared from view.
The boys waited for nearly an hour, before they made any effort to follow. Then, leading their horses down, they, too, plunged into the icy stream. Exultant and happy, ten minutes later they waded ashore and paused to dry their dripping garments in the hot sun, near the edge of the river.
“Now,” grinned Dick, “we’ll look for that policeman.”
They mounted their horses and proceeded on their way. But, although they kept the river within view, they could find no trace of the red-coated figure they had seen only two hours before. He had vanished mysteriously. Fearing that they had proceeded too far down along the course of the stream, they turned back, mounting the slope. Twilight had fallen. The boys were baffled and discouraged. When they made camp for the night, neither had much to say. After supper they sat gloomily, looking out across the valley.
“I’m afraid we’ve lost out all around,” complained Dick. “We may have some difficulty in finding Burnnel’s party now. I wish we had left the policeman to his own devices and had gone on after them.”
Sandy struck irritably at the mosquitos swarming about him.
“Think I’ll start a smudge,” he growled.
Dick rose to his feet.
“While you kindle the fire, I’ll go along the slope and get an arm-load of moss.”