“As a guard over anything, he seems to be a failure.”
“We can’t tell what has happened to him.”
“What has happened to him!” cried Bart. “Why, he has taken French leave, that’s what has happened! He has stolen our horses and piked out of the valley.”
Merry shook his head.
“I don’t believe that, Hodge,” he said. “I don’t think Wiley would do such a thing.”
“Then, why isn’t he here?”
“He may have been attacked by enemies.”
“If that had been the case, we would see some signs of the struggle. You can see for yourself that no struggle has taken place here.”
“It’s true,” confessed Merry, “that there seem to be no indications of a struggle.”
“Do you know, Frank, that I never have fully trusted that chap.”