trail."

George nodded. Flett had arrived before he was expected, because
Grant's messenger had been saved a long ride to his station.

"Well?" he said.

"When we couldn't find the buck, Flett sent his partner off to pick up
his trail, and then said we'd better take the team along and look for
you. I left where the trail forks; he was to wait a bit. Now, do you
think you can get up?"

George did so, and managed with some assistance to climb the slope,
where his companion left him and went off for the constable. Flett
arrived presently, and made George tell his story.

"The thing's quite plain," he said. "The fellow you saw jumped off
with the liquor, though one wouldn't expect him to carry it far. You
say he was tall; did he walk a little lame?"

"It was too dark to tell. I'm inclined to think I would know him
again."

"Well," explained Flett, "this is the kind of thing Little Ax is likely
to have a hand in, and he's the tallest buck in the crowd. I'll stick
to the team until we come across somebody who knows its owner. The
first thing we have to do is to find that case of liquor."

Half an hour later the teamster came back carrying it, and set it down
before the constable with a grin.