The boys listened to the captain's story with the greatest interest, punctuating his remarks at frequent intervals by exclamations. He told them he had ridden back to Lovell's camp, to give warning of the lumbermen's departure, and that the former had provided him with all the information he could—even a rough sketch showing the location. Lastly, Captain Slater said something which caused the biggest surprise of all:
"I hit yer trail once or twicet. 'Member that big cliff 'way back yonder?" He waved his hand.
"Bet your life," answered Jack, with a peculiar grin.
"Wal, I think I seen a couple o' ye from the top."
"Great Cæsar! Was that you?" cried Tim. "Why, the boys had a camp only about three-quarters of a mile from there. How in the world did you miss running into it?"
"I hearn shots a-comin' from the timber; thinks I, mebbe that's Reynolds' gang, so I gallops over."
"Guess it was Dave and I after game," volunteered Bob.
"Wal, I didn't see nothing but the biggest an' blackest bear in all creation." The captain grinned reminiscently. "The old nag can't stand nothing wusser ter look at 'n Tom Smull's face; so he up an' runs; an' splash me in that crick, if I didn't begin ter think he was a-goin' ter take me back ter the lumber camp."
The boys laughed heartily.
"I done the best I could fur ye."