"That's so," agreed Ned.

"It certainly does look bad. If Eagle-eye had no hand in the theft,
why should he run away as he seems to have done?" asked Tad.

"This is what is known as circumstantial evidence," the Professor
informed them. "I do not say that the Indian is guiltless. I am
simply counseling caution. Wait. We shall soon be at the mines, and
from there, we can set the officers of the law on the track, which we
shall do as soon as we are able to communicate with Mr. Munson."

"Yes, but how are we going to get there?" asked Ned.

"Guess we'll have to ride the mules," grinned Stacy.

"You may be a mule driver if you wish--I'll walk," retorted Ned.

"That's what we all shall have to do," laughed Tad. "Glad the thieves
didn't take our guns."

"And the food," reminded Stacy.

"Yes. Probably they knew you had your appetite with you," laughed
Ned.

In the meantime Tad had begun a search about the place for clues. He
discovered where the animals had been taken from camp, but, as in the
case with the loss of the other animals, the trail suddenly
disappeared a short distance from camp.