Part 18 (2/2)
CHAPTER XVI
ON THE TRAIL
The boys were du one, and must have been committed within the past few minutes
”Soefully
”I'uns”
”There was only one thief,” declared Jerry ”Look! you can see the dim marks of his snowshoes Here's where he turned the sleds around”
”And he's taking them back the way they came,” added Brick ”In the saether”
”We'll catch him,” said Haets dark”
The boys started eagerly along the trail, un behind
At the end of half a ht of the thief Jerry bent down and scanned the sledhere,” he said ”The trail is no longer double”
The boys tra behind every rock and into every clump of bushes and trees Gradually they became widely separated
Suddenly a loud shout from Hamp drew his companions to hie of bushes, at the very base of the left-hand ain appeared on the snow-crust
”Now for a stern chase,” said Jerry ”Have your guns ready, and don't make any noise This way”
The boys started briskly up the reeably surprised to find a broad and easy path that followed a zig-zag course toward the summit
The boys traveled faster They were alht ahead the trail wound narrowly between two steep walls of rock and ti the rocks The ball whistled close over the heads of the lads They instantly dropped down a another shot
”Let's all fire at once,” whispered Hamp
”No, hold on,” cautioned Jerry ”The rascal is safe behind the rocks”
The next instant a deep, growling voice floated down the ravine
”Keep back, you chaps The first one as coh him”
The boys wisely made no reply Under cover of the rocks and trees, they crawled a few yards down the path
”We're in a hole,” said Jerry ”The thief is up there with the sleds”