“I know, Bart, you made a serious mistake on one occasion by mistrusting him. You must remember that yourself.”
“I do,” confessed Hodge, reproved by Merry’s words. “All the same, this disappearance is hard to explain. Our tent and outfit are gone. We’re left here without provisions and without anything. In this condition it is possible we may starve.”
“The condition is serious,” Frank acknowledged. “At the same time, I think it possible Wiley decided this location was dangerous and transferred the camp to some other place. That’s a reasonable explanation of his disappearance.”
“A reasonable one perhaps; but if that had happened! he should be here on the watch for our return.”
“Perhaps we have returned sooner than he expected.”
“Well, what’s to be done, Merry?”
“We will sit here a while and see if he doesn’t turn up. At least, we can make some sort of a meal off this mountain goat.”
“A mighty poor meal it will be!” muttered Hodge disgustedly.
A fire was built, however, and the mountain goat served to appease their hunger somewhat, although without salt it was far from palatable. There was plenty of feed and drink for the horses, therefore the animals did not suffer. In vain they waited for Wiley to return. Afternoon faded into nightfall and the sailor came not.
“Do you propose to remain here all night, Merry?” inquired Bart.