“I will!” offered Arthur, who preferred staying with Ethel to going off on such a chase.
The young men lost no time in their preparations, and by two o’clock they were on their horses, following the trail which the party had taken in the morning. They kept their eyes intently fixed on the ground, watching for horses’ tracks. Luckily they both knew the mountains well; it was unlikely that they too might get lost.
Whenever they came to a precipice or a dangerous cliff, they forced themselves to look over, dreading lest they might see the lifeless forms of the girls—or the horses—below. Every fifteen minutes or so they fired off blanks, in the hope of getting some response. But none came, and at five o’clock they were still hopelessly riding on.
Both men had been so intent upon their search, that they had scarcely noticed the gradual darkening of the sky, warning them of an approaching storm. It was not until they actually felt the drops upon their faces that they were aware that it was raining.
“There isn’t a chance of any shelter, I’m afraid,” said Bob, gloomily. “And it will soon be too dark to see anything. Hadn’t we better turn back? The girls may be safe at camp now.”
“No, I don’t mean to give up till our food’s all gone,” replied Kirk, firmly. “Think if they should be out here alone all night—without a bite to eat! No, you can turn back if you want to, but I’m going on.”
Unwilling to desert his companion, Bob too pressed steadily onward, but with little hope of success in his heart. It was only when they suddenly spied a little cabin through the increasing grayness, that he began to feel more cheerful.
“Perhaps they have found shelter there!” he cried. “At any rate we can stay there till the worst of the storm is over.”
Upon examination, the small, wooden building proved to be as deserted as those near the mine shafts which they had passed on the first day of their trip. A rough fire-place, a wooden bench, and a shelf on one side were its only furnishings.
Both boys sat down wearily upon the bench, for they were worn out with worry and with the severity of the climb. Both were hungry, too; but it seemed awful to them to think of eating when Marjorie and Daisy were probably almost starving.