“I think we’d better make a hunt among them rocks,” suggested Wade Ruggles.
The others studied them with as much interest as if it were the first time they had been seen. If the couple had taken refuge among the caverns and crevices of this immense pile of stone, they must have left their animals on the ground below where they could be readily discovered.
“We may as well have a look,” remarked the captain; “what do you think, Vose?”
“I don’t think anything; don’t ask me any questions.”
He never looked more angry. He had not forgotten the slur of the captain and had spirit enough to resent it. Dawson was too proud to apologize and he could 306 not do so, when his suspicion of the fellow’s loyalty was as strong as ever. On the contrary, having made his blunder, the officer drove the arrow home.
“I am sorry you didn’t take that resolution in the first place; it would have been better for all of us, though not so good for those we are looking for.”
The captain and Ruggles now turned to the right, while the other two took the opposite direction. They were thus enabled, after more hard work, practically to pass around the mass of rocks, returning to their starting point, without having discovered any traces of man, woman or their animals. On the journey, Adams and the parson exchanged few words, but it was different with the other couple.
“What do you think of his long absence yesterday?” asked the captain.
“It has a bad look,––worse than I thought when he come back.”
“Why so?”