Page:November Joe.pdf/101

 and something to hold a pack of stones with him. He waded out to that flat rock and washed out the kettle, then he filled up his pack with stones and put on the boss's big boots. After that, he had no more to do but to walk up to the hut and back again, laying the false trail. After that he waded out to the rock again, so as to leave no tracks, and changed back into his own moccasins, went to the hut, and to sleep."

"But the scratches on the rock? What made them?"

"The nails in the boots. Chris drew up his feet to fasten up the boots, and the nails slipped a bit on the rock."

"But the time, November. You said the robbery was done between two and three in the morning. How did you know that?"

"By the birches. He'd turn to the light to put on his boots, and the moon only rose above them trees about two. Till then that side of the rock was in black shadow."

"And the stones in the pack?"

"The heel-tracks was good and marked. You yourself noticed how the chap walked on his heels?"