“I don’t see a speck of light ahead,” said Brick, as he glanced down the valley. “The thief must be still traveling.”
“And that’s what we’ve got to do,” replied Jerry. “Come on.”
An hour slipped by, and then another. The boys could hardly drag their aching feet along. They yearned to drop down and sleep. But they knew that if they succumbed to the temptation, they would never wake again.
Now the strip of open suddenly faded into a gloomy pine forest that grew to the water’s edge. The boys stumbled from side to side among the trees, and presently came out of the forest into open ground. Some distance ahead a ray of yellow light was visible.
“At last!” muttered Hamp. “We have run the rascal down.”
“Yes; there’s his campfire,” said Brick. “I hope he’s sound asleep.”
“Not too fast, you fellows,” whispered Jerry. “That light is too steady for a fire. But we’ll investigate and make sure.”
He led the boys softly forward. They were moving off from the stream at an angle now. The roar of the water grew fainter with every step. A few yards ahead was a copse of tall bushes, which concealed the yellow gleam.
The boys made a detour around them, and the next instant they were fairly blinded by a dazzling glare of light.
Their eyes quickly became accustomed to it, and then they made an unexpected and joyful discovery.