“No, my lad; they’re not here. Might have known it by there being no fire. Hi, Mr Brazier, sir!”
The latter came panting up, for it required no little exertion to get through the dense bushes and thick grass.
“What is it? Where are they?”
“That’s what I want to know, sir. But look here, I’m so fagged out that my head won’t go properly. I mean I can’t think straight.”
“What do you mean, man?”
“This, sir: look round, both of you, ’fore it gets darker. I’m all doubty, and I’ve got thinking that we’ve come to the wrong place.”
“What?” cried Rob excitedly.
“I say I’ve got a fancy that this ain’t the right place, for there’s no one here, and no boat, and there ain’t been no fire.”
“How do you know, Shaddy?”
“’Cause, if the boys had made a fire, they would nat’rally have put it there under that patch of bushes near the trees.”