As she said these words a horse's hoofs were heard clattering over the little bridge.
"Here's father!" cried Maggie; and she set off running to meet him. She told him that Elsie had not come home, and, in a few words, explained in what direction she had gone.
Although McLean was slow of speech, he was quick of action. What an active verb is in speech, he was among men.
"Maggie, send out every man at once. Tell them that's my order, and not to come home till she is found."
He turned his horse and galloped over the bridge and up the ranges as fast as he could make his steed go. In a few minutes his coo-ee was heard echoing among the hills.
Maggie called the men out of the hut and told them that her sister was lost, and that her father had ordered them to take their horses and scatter themselves over the north-western part of the run; "and be sure you don't come home till you find her," she said.
The horses were run into the yard in a few minutes. In the meantime four saddles were placed on the fence, and four men saddled-up and rode over the rail that Maggie had taken down.
She then went to the strangers' hut, and found two "sundowners," who had just come in as the sun was getting low.
"My sister is lost in the ranges," she said to them; "and I want you to take letters to Mr. Keryle of Glengo, and Mr. Bond of Drumore, to ask them to come and help in the search. I want you to go at once."
"What, Miss! this minute? What'll ye give us?"