“Tell us what you’re looking for and maybe we can help you find it,” said Larry, coming back from a short excursion to the western side of the pass where he had been giving the downward trail the once over.
“The book,” Purdick answered gaspingly; “the ‘Dana’ with the maps in it! Which one of you put it away?”
“I haven’t seen it since we left Nophi,” was Larry’s rejoinder; and Dick also pleaded an alibi.
Purdick sank back on his heels and his face was white.
“Didn’t—didn’t either one of you pick it up last night at the canyon camp and put it in one of the packs?” he demanded.
“Pick it up? From where?” Dick asked.
“Off the ground. I sat up, reading in it, after you fellows had turned in, and when I dropped asleep it fell out of my hands. It was lying there beside me while that cripple was going through the packs, and I was scared stiff for fear he’d see it and see the map envelope sticking out of it. After that, I never thought of it once until this minute. It’s gone, and it’s all my fault! I told you two you were loading yourselves up with a hoodoo in bringing me along, and this proves it. We can’t make a single test without the ‘Dana,’ or locate anything without the Government maps. Worse than all, those hold-ups will probably find the book on their way back through the canyon, and that’ll end it!”