"Not likely, but it looks to me as if there was a-plenty. There were traces back there where we stopped, and there's no telling how many more--" "But I didn't see nothin'," interrupted Bud in surprise. "You weren't looking for it, that's why," shrugged Stratton. "I was. Thinking it all over this past week, I got to wondering if oil might not just possibly be what we ought to look for. I was so doubtful I didn't say anything about it. Like you said, nobody's ever struck it anywhere around these parts, but I reckon you never can tell." "Wough!" Bud suddenly exploded in a tremendous exhalation of breath. "I can't seem to get it through my nut. Why, it means a fortune for Miss Mary! No wonder that skunk tried his best to do her out of it." Buck stared at him oddly. A fortune for Mary Thorne! Somehow, until this moment he had not realized that this must seem to every one to be the object of his efforts--to rid Mary Thorne of all her cares and troubles and bring her measureless prosperity. Ignorant of Stratton's identity and of all the circumstances of her father's treachery and double-dealing, she must hold that view herself. The thought disturbed Buck, and he wondered uncomfortably what her feelings would be when she learned the truth. "What's the matter?" inquired Bud suddenly. "What yuh scowlin' that way for?" "Nothing special," evaded Buck. "I was just thinking." After all, there was no use crossing bridges until one came to them. "We'd better get started," he added briskly. "We've found out all we want here, and there's no sense in taking chances of running up against the gang." "What's the next move?" asked Bud, when they had mounted and started back over their trail. "Look up Hardenberg and put him wise to what we know," answered Stratton promptly. "We've done about all we can; the rest of it's up to him." "I reckon so," agreed Jessup. "I never met up with him, but they say he's a good skate. Perilla's some little jaunt from here, though. Yuh thinkin' of riding all the way?" "Why not? It'll be quicker in the end than going to Harpswell and taking the train. We'll likely need the cayuses, too, when we get there. I've done forty miles at a stretch plenty of times." "So've I, but not with a bad ankle and a bunged-up side," returned Bud dryly. "How yuh feelin'?" "Fine! I've hardly had a twinge all day. That bandage stuff is great dope for keeping a fellow strapped up comfortable." "Well, if you're up to it, I reckon that would be better than the train," Bud admitted. "For one thing, if we take the trail around south of the Rocking-R we ain't likely to meet up with anybody who'll put Lynch wise, an' I take it that's important."