Ted took Bud into consultation, and the three went over the matter
carefully.
If it were true that Barrows was after the gold, he had a double cause
to do injury to the broncho boys.
There could be no doubt that Barrows, by virtue of his position, was
capable of being a very dangerous foe, especially in this part of the
country where the boys were virtually alone, and where they had no
friends, and were compelled to rely absolutely upon themselves.
That their doings were probably known to Barrows by means of a system of
espionage conducted by Woofer, who, Ted now recalled, was in the habit
of leaving the camp for long, solitary rides at intervals. What could be
easier than when Woofer heard them talking about their plans to ride out
and meet a courier sent by Barrows to get the information?
Ted resolved not only to fight Barrows with his own weapons, and to a
finish, but to interfere with his plans to get the gold in the mine to
which Singing Bird only could guide them.
It was necessary, therefore, to guard the Indian girl closely, and this
he proposed to do, and when he had rid the camp of Woofer, and scoured
the country for Barrows' spies and sent them off, he would proceed to
the mine.
As it was, they were headed in the direction of the Missouri River, and
it would not be at all out of their way, or interfere with their
business.
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