When the test really came, doubtless Dolph would not be found lacking in those essential qualities that had distinguished his forebears.
As soon as Teddy called out the one word “come,” he started after him, and managed from that moment to keep just so far in the rear that his presence could not be easily discovered by any observer.
In this way, then, was the pursuit taken up.
Teddy had little trouble about sticking to the plain trail. He could have covered the ground twice as fast, had he not been keeping an eye constantly ahead, fearing some sort of ambush.
So the better part of an hour passed. By this time an idea had come to the one who was doing the trailing. It happened that the old, long abandoned cabin once used by fur gatherers, was known to Teddy Overton. And now he began to feel confident that the trail was leading toward that spot.
Accordingly he signaled to Dolph to approach.
“I feel dead sure I know where they’re heading for,” he said as the other drew up. “And it might save considerable time if we struck out straight for the old cabin instead of following their trail. And besides,” he added, “perhaps we’ll escape a trap by springing this surprise on Gabe and Crawley.”
“Old cabin, you say?” repeated Dolph, “whoever lived there, Teddy?”
“Some trappers, many years ago. There’s a dark story told about a tragedy that happened there. One trapper went crazy, they said, from too much strong drink. He killed his companions, and froze to death himself. They were found there in the Spring by some timber cruisers, looking for new lands up here. Nobody has ever lived there since. Now and then some wanderer has put in a night in the cabin, but they say it’s haunted; and that those trappers’ spirits come back to fight over again their long ago battles. I was at the cabin once, in the day time, though. A lot of ugly bats flew out. We didn’t see any spirits, either. But then, I don’t think I’d care to stay a week in that ramshackle old hut.”