"You wonder?" he repeated. "I don't think you need go very far for the answer if you haven't quite forgotten our own schooldays. What would you and I have done if two of our chums had disappeared from camp as we did?"
"Gone to look for them," was the prompt reply, to which Arnold resumed—
"And I think there's not so very much difference between Arnold and Holden pères and fils. You take my word for it: at this very minute the youngsters have summed up the situation and are planning a rescue expedition, if, indeed, they have not already set out. Neither Bob nor Alf is the sort of chap to sit still and moan at such a time."
"Yes, I believe you are right. Neither of the youngsters would allow himself to be knocked over by the first difficulty. And they would know that some accident must have taken place, for we promised to be back at camp by dinner-time."
"All the same, we don't want them to be mixed up in this affair in the event of their coming on our track," said Arnold. "We must contrive to prevent that, but—— Hullo! Who's this?"
A dark outline had suddenly filled the space at the opening of the tent at this juncture, but the Englishmen were not left long in doubt of the nature of their late visitor, for a voice addressed them in Indian accents.
"Thunder-maker would speak words of counsel with his white brothers."
"Oh, he would, would he?" returned Arnold, and his companion added—
"There was very little friendship about Thunder-maker this afternoon."
The Indian gave a low laugh, as though he were thoroughly enjoying some secret joke.