“Why, no!” exclaimed Phœnix. “We should certainly have seen it either last night or this morning.”
“No,” said Adam. “This boat hasn’t been here very long, and whoever came in it has gone off in our boat. It’s my belief they didn’t intend to come back to this little tub, for they’ve taken everything out of her. They’ve either coaxed your pardner to go with them, or they’ve carried him off.”
Adam, who knew what desperate characters are occasionally found in this part of the State, where officers of the law seldom make their appearance, and where the few settlers and travellers are obliged to depend in a great measure upon themselves for the preservation of their lives and property, thought for a moment that if Chap had offered opposition to the persons who had taken the boat, there was a probability that he now lay at the bottom of the river. But he said nothing of this to the boys, and he tried to dismiss from his own mind the idea that anything so dreadful had happened.
The people who lived and travelled on the Indian River were generally of a peaceful disposition, although lawless characters were sometimes to be met with, and he tried to believe that this was nothing but some wild freak, perhaps encouraged by the conduct of Chap.
“I tell you what it is!” cried Adam. “Our boat’s gone up that small river we passed a mile or two below here. I don’t believe she’s had time to get out of sight on the main stream. I haven’t been away more’n an hour altogether, and there wasn’t any boat in sight when I left. What we’ve got to do is to take this boat and go after her.”
“All right,” said the boys; and with a will the dirty little craft was pushed off, and the three scrambled in.
CHAPTER XII.
CHAP LEADS THE INDIANS.
It was not long before the Indian who had gone after his two hunting companions returned with them to the place where Chap and the Indian, whom we will call “The Talker,” were eating their mid-day meal.
The new-comers were duly introduced to Chap, and expressed their willingness to take part in the expedition. Each of these men carried a rifle, and the smaller and more quiet of the two Indians whom Chap had first met was the only member of the party besides our friend who was not armed.