“What are you looking for?” asked Jerry.
“Seeing how much grub we have left. You can’t tell how long we may have to stay if we don’t find the professor.”
For once Bob’s chums did not rebuke him for mentioning something to eat.
“You’re right,” said Jerry. “We didn’t bring enough for a long stay.”
“I packed a pretty good lot,” said Bob, “and I’m glad I did. We could stay a couple of days, I think, with what we could shoot. Then if we don’t find him we’ll have to go back to the ranch for more.”
“Oh, we’ll find him before then,” declared Ned.
Jerry said nothing.
Morning came. They were astir with the first faint glow in the east and made a quick breakfast. They decided to keep together, for they were in a strange country, and to hunt in a circle with the camp as a center. Having hidden their main supply of food after putting up some for a noon-time “snack,” they mounted their horses and fared forth.
They were not experienced enough in wood lore to pick up the professor’s trail. All they knew was that he had started out in some direction from the tent. They argued that he would keep on going west, as the ranch lay to the east of the camp, and he would, most likely, want to explore new country for his moths.
For a while they discovered nothing, and there came no answer to their shouts. Then, as Ned was riding a little in advance, he gave a surprised cry and called eagerly: