"He was to quit at five this evening, and his
intention then was to come down here next day and make this place his
base of operations."

"Then the thing to do," said Joe, "is for me to ride up there this
morning--I started to go yesterday, you know, Peter--and catch Tom up at
the mine at noon. When he hears of our discovery, I've not a doubt but
that he will pack up and come back with me this evening, so as to get a
start first thing to-morrow."

"I expect he will," said I. "And while you are up there, Joe, you can
see Yetmore and give him your information about those cart-tracks."

"What do you mean?" asked Peter. "Information about what cart-tracks?"

"Oh, you haven't heard of it, of course," said I; and forthwith I
explained to him all about the ore-theft, and how we suspected that the
thief was in hiding somewhere in the foot-hills. Peter listened
attentively, and then asked:

"Are you sure there was only one of them?"

"Well, that's the general supposition," I replied. "Why?"

"I thought there might be a pair of them, that's all. I'll tell you an
odd thing that happened only the day before yesterday, which may or may
not have a bearing on the case. When I got home about dusk that evening,
I found that some one had broken into my house and had stolen a
hind-quarter of elk, a box of matches, a frying-pan, and--of all queer
things to select--a bear-trap. What on earth any one can want with a
bear-trap at this season of the year, I can't think, when there is
hardly a bear out of his winter-quarters yet; and if he was he'd be as
thin as a rail. I found the fellow's tracks easily enough--tall man--big
feet--long stride--and trailed them down the gulch to a point where
another man had been sitting on a rock waiting for him. This other man's
track was peculiar: he was lame--stepped short with his right foot, and
the foot itself was out of shape. Their trail went on down the hill
towards the mesa, but it was then too dark to follow it, and I was going
off to take it up again next morning when that slide came down and
changed my programme."

"Well," said Joe, who had sat with his elbows on the table and his chin
on his hands, listening closely, "where the lame man springs from I
don't know, but if they should be the ore-thieves their stealing the
meat and the frying-pan was a natural thing to do; for if they are going
into hiding they will need provisions."

"Yes," replied Peter; "and whether they knew of my place