Another period of silence. Then: “It was lucky they showed up when they did. We’ve got that to thank them for,” said Teddy. Roy nodded. “Check! Well, if we get the chance, we’ll wipe the slate clean. I don’t like to be in their debt. Something tells me we may have to put them on the other side of the books soon.” Teddy was about to question this enigmatical statement when Roy suddenly uttered an exclamation. “Hang the luck, my knife’s gone! I must have dropped it out of my pocket when we were sitting around the fire. Snakes! I hate to lose that. It was the one dad gave me for my birthday last year--silver mounted, you know. Say, I’m going back for it. You wait here. Soon as I get it I’ll shoot back. No use both going--and Flash has a sore leg. You stick right by this bush. I won’t be a minute.” “Wait! I might as well go along! Flash is all right. He’s--” But Roy had started. Teddy shook his head and prepared to wait as he had been told to do. “Funny brother I got,” he murmured. “He can’t tell me he didn’t drop that knife on purpose. He should have been a detective.” Then he chuckled. “Wonder what sort of story he’ll have when he gets back?” CHAPTER IV OVERHEARD When Roy Manley left Teddy alone by the bush and went through the night toward the camp he had just left, two thoughts were paramount in his mind. One was that he hated to trick his brother with the knife story. The other was that Mob Jamisson had not met the Lefton boys accidentally. As to the first, he had no need to give himself concern. Teddy had not been fooled. He knew, he was sure, that the tale of the lost knife had been only a ruse to allow Roy to return without being laughed at if his efforts at spying bore no fruit. And as to the second thought, it was based on sound reasoning. A man who has just become acquainted with another does not pitch camp with him on the prairie unless they agree to be partners in some sort of enterprise. Hence the three pup tents indicated one thing--that the two Lefton boys and Mob Jamisson had joined forces. For what purpose Roy could not even speculate, but he was satisfied that it had nothing to do with Sunday-school--not with Jamisson having a hand in it. By this time Roy could see the red haze of the campfire, and he dismounted and led Star forward. He felt uneasy at repaying the hospitality of his hosts with such a questionable procedure, but, telling himself that the end justified the means, he went on. Star, he knew, would be as silent as himself, and he had no fear of discovery until he chose to show himself. If, by chance, they did find him out, he could always claim that he had returned after the lost knife. As to the exact reason of this night sally, Roy was not even certain himself. It was on impulse that he decided that this was the one time to learn as much as possible about the Lefton brothers.