"If you are ready we will move on; I'm afraid that trail will get cold," said Jim.
"I'm with you," declared the engineer, "but I rather hope that we will soon be out of these woods."
"Here's a little stream," remarked Jim, after they had gone a few yards, "guess I had better remove the signs of the late murder."
"You can see where those fellows crossed," remarked Berwick; "here is the mark of the big fellow's shoes."
"You have the making of a detective in you, John," said Jim with a perfectly sober face.
"Oh! I can detect all right, if it is thrust directly under my nose," agreed the engineer, with a smile.
"I don't see for the life of me how you keep so neat, Chief," remarked Jim, as he wrung out his stained handkerchief; "you look ready to enter into the best society, at a moment's notice." The engineer had taken off his brown hat and was smoothing his hair with a gentle stroke that Jim recognized was characteristic of him and this had provoked his remark about his friend's neatness.
"Hardly as bad as that, James," returned Berwick with a smile, "but I must admit that for some reason I never get very badly mussed in appearance no matter what the occasion may be."
Jim regarded his friend thoughtfully, carefully drying his hands meanwhile.
"I should like to wager a reasonable amount, Berwick, that you always don a dress suit for dinner," said Jim finally.