The land agent let him have it right between the eyes. "At Gideon Holt's. I'm staying with him on his claim." Wally had struck a match to light a cigarette, but this simple statement petrified him. His jaw dropped and his eyes bulged. Not till the flame burned his fingers did he come to life. "Did you say you were staying--with Gid Holt?" he floundered weakly. Gordon noticed that his florid face had lost its color. The jaunty cock-sureness of the man had flickered out like the flame of the charred match. "Yes. He offered to board me," answered the young man blandly. "But--I didn't know he was here--seems to me I had heard--somewhere--that he was away." "He was away. But he has come back." Gordon gave the information without even a flash of mirth in his steady eyes. Selfridge could not quite let the subject alone. "Seems to me I heard he went prospecting." "He did. Up Wild-Goose Creek, with Big Bill Macy and two other men. But I asked him to come back with me--and he did." Feebly Wally groped for the clue without finding it. Had Big Bill sold him out? And how had Elliot got into touch with him? "Just so, Mr. Elliot. But really, you know, Howland can make you a great deal more comfortable than Holt. His wife is a famous cook. I'll have a man go get your traps." "It's very good of you, but I think I won't move." "Oh, but you must. Holt's nutty--nobody at home, you know. Everybody knows that." "Is he? The old man struck me as being remarkably clear-headed. By the way, I want to thank you for sending a relief party out to find me, Mr. Selfridge. Except for your help I would have died in the hills." This was another facer for Wally. What the devil did the fellow mean? The deuce of it was that he knew all the facts and Wally did not. He talked as if he meant it, but behind those cool eyes there might lie either mockery or irony. One thing alone stood out to Selfridge like a sore thumb. His plans had come tumbling down like a house of cards. Either Big Bill had blundered amazingly, or he had played traitor. In either case Wally could guess pretty shrewdly whose hide Macdonald would tan for the failure. The chief wanted results. He did not ask of his subordinates how they got them. And this was the second time in succession that Selfridge had come to grief. CHAPTER XI GORDON INVITES HIMSELF TO DINNER--AND DOES NOT ENJOY IT Big Bill and his companions reached Kamatlah early next day. They reported at once to Selfridge. It had been the intention of Wally to vent upon them the bad temper that had been gathering ever since his talk with Elliot. But his first sarcastic question drew such a snarl of anger that he reconsidered. The men were both sullen and furious. They let him know roundly that if Holt made them any trouble through the courts, they would tell all they knew.