It took them some time and they had trouble in helping Graham through the brush, but scarcely a word was spoken until they gathered about their fire. Then Carnally broke into a harsh laugh as he laid three morsels of pork in the frying-pan and took out a very small bannock baked the previous night. "This isn't the kind of supper I looked forward to but we'll get less to-morrow," he said. "The blasted hog has played another trick on us!" CHAPTER XVII THE GAP IN THE RIDGE The scanty supper was finished before the three men held a council. "We'll have another search in the morning, but you can take it for granted that there's no cache here," Carnally said grimly. "Could Mappin have made a mistake about the place?" Graham suggested. "No, sir! That's a sure thing. But wait a minute. I think I see!" Carnally lighted his pipe before he resumed: "Now, you want to remember that we're up against a clever man. He didn't mean us to find the food but he'd see that there was a chance of our getting through without it and try to fix things so Allinson wouldn't have much ground for making trouble. So he sent the supplies up." "Then where are they?" Andrew broke in. "Let me finish. I guess there was nobody else about when you told him where to make the cache?" Andrew nodded, and Carnally went on: "You said the east Whitefish, and he sent the truck to the west fork. It's a point where one might go wrong, and he'll claim that he misunderstood you and you didn't make your instructions clear." "I believe you're right!" Andrew had a savage glitter in his eyes. "But the brute's cold-blooded cunning is devilish! He meant to starve us to death because I threatened his contract!" "That's not all. Mappin's dirt mean, but I guess he has a stronger count against you." "Ah!" said Andrew sharply, as a light dawned on him. "I wonder whether you have hit the mark?" In spite of the peril to which he was exposed he felt a thrill of satisfaction. It looked as if Mappin, whom he suspected of seeking Geraldine's favor, had some ground for believing him a successful rival. Perhaps the girl had inadvertently betrayed a preference for him. Mappin would not be driven into a risky course by impulse; he must have believed his jealousy well-founded. This was comforting; but Andrew had now to consider how he and his comrades were to escape from their difficulties. "Couldn't we get across to the west fork?" he suggested. "We'll try," said Carnally. "It's a rough bit of country." "Very rough," Graham agreed. "A low range with steep rock on this side runs through it. I've no doubt Mappin knew that when he decided to make the cache on the other fork." "Then suppose we can't get over?" Carnally looked thoughtful. "If that's so, we'll push on for the second cache."