"No, he got away from us, but not before one of the men blackened one of his eyes and broke his nose for him. You see, I fancy he smelt a mouse, and one night he tried to leave our place on the sly. He took with him a suit of clothing belonging to one man, and some gold belonging to another. The clothes owner went after him and collared him near the river, and they had a free fight. Ducrot had to give up the stuff, and was nearly pounded to death before he escaped to a boat that was leaving. We tried to trace him up, but it did no good." "Well, I am glad the man gave him a sound beating," answered Owen. "Perhaps it will do him good." Philip Rice wanted to know what had become of Foxy Hildan, and was told that he had gone away with Ulmer Balasco the night before. "Balasco said he would be back to-night," said Dale. "But perhaps he won't come." "He gave me the combination of the safe," said Owen. "I didn't want it, but he insisted that if I was going to run things, I should know about everything." "Humph! You just keep your eyes open." "What do you mean?" "Do you know what is in the safe?" "No." "Then don't become responsible for it. If you do he may claim that you took something out when he wasn't around." This view of the matter worried Owen a good deal, but, as Balasco was now away, he could do nothing. Bruce Howard had been sent down the Columbia to bring some machinery needed at one of the yards. He came back late that night, and at once aroused Owen, who had just dropped asleep. "What do you want?" demanded the young lumberman. "I just came in," answered Bruce. "Mr. Balasco and that Hildan were ahead of me, and they have gone into the private office. I thought maybe you'd like to know about it." "I do want to know about it!" cried Owen, and aroused Dale. In a few minutes they were dressed, and then they walked toward the private office, telling Bruce to come along. A dim light was burning in the office, and they sneaked up noiselessly and in a roundabout way, so as not to be seen should anybody be on the watch. They saw Hildan appear at a window and look out for a few seconds, then the curtain was drawn down. "They are going to go through that safe, and I know it," muttered Owen, and he was right. Peering under the curtain they saw Balasco and Hildan on the floor in front of the safe, going through half a dozen documents. Some of the documents Hildan placed in his pocket. Then he brought other documents from another pocket and placed these in a corner of the strong box. "The rascals!" muttered Dale. "Owen, they are trying to pile up trouble for you!" "Well, both of you are witnesses to what they are doing," was the grim answer. "That's true enough," came from Bruce. "I'm mighty glad I spotted them." At that moment they heard a noise some distance away. Looking forth into the darkness, they saw the form of a man approaching on horseback. Dale ran to meet him. "Mr. Wilbur!"