w calling to Nels on the other side. He had heard what
Chip said and shouted to the big Swede its import. At this Nels solved
the difficulty in a few words, directing the boys--if they were sure of
this--to follow the new trail while Nels would go back to the head of
the slough and rejoin them somewhere near the foot of the rocky ridge
they had previously traversed.

Still the trail was puzzling. Both lads found not only a fresh trail
leading ridgeward, but signs of an earlier trail, now much rainwashed,
that led towards the slough, not away from it as the fresh trail did.

"Tell you what I believe, Paul," remarked Chip after studying the
situation over. "When Murky first struck out he was trying to get
clear off, probably east somewhere. He must 'a' come this way, tried
to cross the run here and couldn't. He might 'a' fell off that log
where you saw them stains.

"What would he do then? Why, strike for higher ground; git to some place
where he could make a fire. That took him back to where he run against
us. And if it hadn't 'a' been for Nels, I ain't sure but what he'd a got
the best in that mix-up. What do you think?"

What Chip thought was indicated by his pointing finger, for he was ahead,
following the trail, now growing more and more indistinct. Paul came up
and looked at the faint outline of tracks now turning abruptly up the
rocky ridge.

"Murky--if 'twas Murky--is goin' right back where he and us spent last
night. Now what would he be doin' that for? There hain't but one reason
that counts," affirmed Chip. "He's hid out that money somewhere--don't you
reckon?"

All at once the significance of this appealed to both the boys. As with
one accord they eagerly resumed their trail hunt, but it was with such
scant success that Paul finally shook his head in discouragement. Chip,
now on hands and knees, stooping, at times almost crawling, was inclined
to give up too.

"You remember how we lost that trail before on this ridge and only found
it when we separated, taking in the lowland on either side?"

"Yep! That's what we'll have to do now. Wish Nels was here. Wonder where
he is now?" And Paul peered in the direction of the slough.

With one accord both lads waited a few minutes, but seeing no sign of
the vanished Swede, it was agreed that Chip should take one side of the
ridge and Paul the other, and at each mile of progress or thereabouts,
should let each other know. If, meanwhile, one should strike the tra