“Who was that?” gasped Dick.
Toma was the first to speak.
“I see ’em,” he spoke dolefully. “It was Frischette.”
CHAPTER VIII
CORPORAL RAND TAKES CHARGE
Sandy rubbed his eyes.
“I don’t know what to make of this. Frischette has the poke now. In a way I’m glad that he has. It’s better for us, Dick. I’d hate to have another encounter with those two prospectors. Wonder what Frischette will say to us when we return to the road-house.”
“Don’t worry,” said Dick, “we’ve seen the last of him. He won’t come back.”
“You mean he’ll leave everything?”
“Yes, that’s my opinion. I don’t know what the poke contains but it must be something of immense value. Just stop a moment to reason it all out, Sandy. First of all, the poke belonged to Dewberry. MacGregor tried to get it, but was thwarted in his purpose either by Frischette or Creel. Creel had it in his possession until those two prospectors came along and took it away from him. Now it’s in Frischette’s hands again. If he returns to the road-house, he’ll be afraid that we’ll get it away from him. After what happened tonight, he’ll take no chances. He’ll not even consider his partner, Creel. He has a fortune in his hands and will attempt to keep it.”
“What’s to be done now?” asked Sandy. “Do you think we ought to set out in pursuit of Frischette?”