'Why, darling mother, are you crazy?' asked Bell. 'If you think a
moment, he was in the hammock and you were lying down in the tent
when we started.'

'Why, I certainly thought I heard him ask to go with you,' said Mrs.
Winship, in rather an alarmed tone.

'So he did; but I told him it was too far.'

'I didn't hear that; in fact, I was half asleep; I was not feeling
well. Ask Hop Yet; he has been in the kitchen all the afternoon.'

Hop Yet replied, with discouraging tranquillity, 'Oh, I no know. I
no sabe Dicky; he allee time lun loun camp; I no look; too muchee
work. I chop hash--Dicky come in kitch'--make heap work--no good. I
tell him go long--he go; bime-by you catchum; you see.' Whereupon he
gracefully skinned an onion, and burst into a Chinese song, with
complete indifference as to whether Dicky lived or died.

'Perhaps he is with Pancho; I'll run and see!' cried Polly, dashing
swiftly in the direction of the sky-parlour. But after a few minutes
she ran back, with a serious face. 'He's not there; Pancho has not
seen him since lunch.'

'Well, I've just happened to think,' said pale Aunt Truth, 'that papa
came into the tent for some cartridges, after you left, and of course
he took Dick with him. I don't suppose it is any use to worry. He
always does come out right; and I have told him so many times never
on any account to go away from the camp alone that he surely would
not do it. Papa and the boys will be home soon, now. It is nearly