Brad took the creature by the head, and a moment later Frank struck a match, which he protected in the hollow of his hand until it was in full blaze. He then examined the saddle and the creature’s back. Several matches were used for this purpose, while both Buckhart and Wiley waited anxiously for the result.
“What behold you, mate?” inquired the sailor.
“Nothing,” answered Frank. And it seemed there was relief in his voice.
“Whatever did you expect to find?” questioned the Texan.
“I hoped to find nothing, just as I have,” was the answer. “Still, I thought it possible there might be blood stains on the horse. It is not likely there would be hostile savages in this vicinity. Indeed, such a thing is almost improbable; yet it was my fancy that Dick might have been silently shot from his saddle.”
“How silently?” asked Brad. “Shooting is pretty certain to be heard, I opine.”
“Not if done with an arrow.”
“But the Injun of this day and generation is generally provided with a different weapon.”
“That’s true; but still some of them use the bow and arrow even to-day.”
“I don’t reckon a whole lot on anything of that sort happening to my pard,” asserted the Texan.