After a long walk along the slope of the mountain toward the north, the boy suddenly turned straight west and made his way up toward the snow line. Here the walking was very difficult, as the boys were obliged to wind around jutting crags and climb into and out of narrow canyons at the bottoms of which trickles of water made their way eastward.
Up to this time very little conversation had been indulged in, but now during the frequent necessary halts, Ned began questioning his strange companion. The boy answered in a manner which at first seemed entirely frank.
“How did you like the bread and beans?” Ned asked at one resting place with a smile. “Why didn’t you wake us up?”
“What are you talking about bread and beans?” asked the boy, though the sly look in his face told Ned that he understood.
“The next time you come to our camp in the night,” Ned went on, “Just wake us up and we’ll give you a night lunch worth while.”
“Last night,” Ned answered, “you would have had broiled bear steak and hot coffee. Steak beats cold beans, doesn’t it?”
“Say, you are a good fellow!” exclaimed the guide.
Ned laughingly extended his right hand, giving the full Boy Scout salute. The guide returned the sign and asked:
“The button under the lapel of your coat shows when you are climbing,” Ned replied. “Why do you try to hide it?”
“I put it there so it wouldn’t get lost,” was the hesitating answer.
“What time did you reach our camp last night?” was Ned’s next question.
“A little after twelve,” was the reply. “It’s a wonder you fellows wouldn’t keep some one on watch. The bears’ll eat you up some night!”
“Well, I was wandering over the mountains when you boys came in late yesterday afternoon, and I thought I would go over and have a visit with you. After I got to your camp I thought perhaps you wouldn’t like to be routed out of bed, so I just helped myself to a lunch and came away. Say, but I was good and hungry!”
“What are you doing in the mountains?” asked Ned.
“I came in with hunters from New York,” was the answer.
“And belong to the Wolf Patrol, your button says!”
“Where are you taking me now?” asked Ned, at another stop.
“Why, to the place where the boys are,” was the reply.
At that moment Ned understood that the guide was not telling the truth. There was a look in the fellow’s eyes which betrayed the fact. However, he decided to continue the journey and discover if possible why the fraudulent message had been sent.