"Someone set his house on fire, I think; perhaps it was Jim, and Mr. Ticehurst has gone after him!"
"Ah!" said Helen, as if relieved, "if that is all! How did you know he is gone—did you see him, speak to him?"
"No," said Elsie; "I did not!"
"Then how do you know?" cried Fanny and Helen, together.
"There was a man there——"
Helen cried out as if she were struck, and Elsie paused.
"Go on!" the other cried—"go on!"
"And when I came up he was sitting by the house. I asked him if Mr. Ticehurst was there——"
"Oh, you fool!" groaned Helen, but only Fanny heard it.
"And he got up," continued Elsie, "and said there was no one there, but just as he was coming from his camp to see what the fire was, he heard a shot, and when he got to the house he saw somebody just disappear up the trail toward the cañon."