"No. We found where Ned had been, but we didn't see anything of him."
"That's too bad."
"Yes, you do seem to feel sad over it. I believe they are all right, however. Mr. McCormick, who has charge of this party, thinks so too. He believes they have succeeded in getting out of the mountains."
"So do I," cut in Tom Phipps. "Otherwise you could not have missed them."
"Yes, sir. But what would you advise doing now?"
"Should we hear nothing from them by morning I'll start a party for the open country to the west, and send another through the mountains south of here. I do not believe there will be much use in doing so to-night. Come over to my shack, you and your friend Brown, and we will talk the matter over while we are having our supper."
"Thank you. I guess I am pretty hungry. Has Mr. Munson returned?"
"No. I cannot imagine what is keeping him."
Turning his pony over to Mr. McCormick, Tad and Chunky followed the young mining engineer to his one-roomed cabin where the host had prepared an appetizing meal.
It was Tad's second meal in the place. This time, however, he found himself too much disturbed to eat heartily. His appetite seemed to leave him all at once.