HKB
"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 before or came upon it by accident, they would probably think it safer to steal from me than to raid one of the ranches and thus risk bringing all the ranchmen about their ears like a swarm of hornets."
"That's true," said Joe. "Yes, I must certainly tell Tom and Yetmore about them: it may be important. And I'll start at once," he added, rising from the table as he spoke. "I'll take the buckboard, Phil, and then I can bring back Tom's camp-kit and tools for him; otherwise he would have to pack them on his pony and walk himself. I expect you will see us back somewhere about seven this evening."
With that he went out, and soon afterwards we heard the rattle of wheels as he drove away.