"I say it's good of him to go to the trouble to warn us. He didn't know that we had any idea those fellows were up here, and he came in good faith, meaning to save us from being caught napping," said Jerry stoutly.
"Oh, that's all right, Jerry. I admit that Andy is trying to walk the straight path, and that all his success, so far, is due to you. But what do you think he is doing up here?" demanded Bluff.
"I don't know; and, more than that, I don't believe it's any of my business," returned Jerry promptly and significantly.
"Meaning that it isn't any of mine, either. Granted, for the sake of argument, but all the same I can't help wondering."
"Yes, that's the lawyer of it, always wanting to know. Perhaps he just felt like taking a walk," jeered Jerry.
"More than likely he's on his way across the Sunset Mountains to Chester, looking for a job. I understand from the map that there's a good road all the way over," said Frank, always ready to soothe the two belligerents.
"Well, in that case, I hope he gets a good one. You mark my words, fellows, that Andy Lasher is going to come out all right yet," declared Jerry.
"It seemed to me he didn't like to see us up here," remarked Will.
"Well, now, that was my idea, too, though I don't know why he should feel that way about it. These mountains are free to all. A few trappers spend their winters up here, Jesse Wilcox among them, sometimes, but I guess our camping for two weeks isn't going to interfere with anybody's enjoyment," laughed Frank.
"Except the ghost's," remarked Bluff soberly, at which all laughed.