"Hello, Chunky, any news?" called Tad on espying him.

Stacy shook his head.

"Have you any?" asked Chunky.

"No. We found where Ned had been, but we didn't see anything of him."

"That's too bad."

"Yes, you do seem to feel sad over it. I believe they are all right,
however. Mr. McCormick, who has charge of this party, thinks so too.
He believes they have succeeded in getting out of the mountains."

"So do I," cut in Tom Phipps. "Otherwise you could not have missed
them."

"Yes, sir. But what would you advise doing now?"

"Should we hear nothing from them by morning I'll start a party for
the open country to the west, and send another through the mountains
south of here. I do not believe there will be much use in doing so
to-night. Come over to my shack, you and your friend Brown, and we
will talk the matter over while we are having our supper."

"Thank you. I guess I am pretty hungry. Has Mr. Munson returned?"

"No. I cannot imagine what is keeping him."