The party was ready to descend into the gigantic cave once more, and wondered why Bob did not return.
"Where can he have gone?" asked Robert Menden.
"I reckon as how somethin' has happened to him," burst out old Jacob, putting away the short briar-root pipe he had been smoking. "Didn't he saunter off in thet direction?" and he pointed with his long finger.
"He did," answered Leander.
"Where is Dash? He will find him," cried Don.
They looked around for the dog, but he was nowhere in sight, having gone off on a trail of his own after some small ground-animal.
Soon the entire party was hunting in earnest for Bob, but without success.
When they reached the pool of water, old Jacob inspected the wet ground with interest.
"Here are lots o' footprints," he exclaimed. "Poor Bob's got into trouble, jest as I supposed."
"Some of the prints are of naked feet," put in Leander. "Those negroes with Farvel were barefooted."