“Since he—met with that accident?” said Rob hesitatingly.
“Ah, that’s what I can’t say, Mr Rob, sir. Let’s get to it, and try and follow up his trail. No; we can’t do it to-day. We must get back to the hut to-night, and all we can do is to take the spot I came to on the way. We shall only get there before dark as it is.”
“Oh, but we can’t leave him alone in the forest—perhaps wounded and unable to find his way out.”
“But we must, my lad,” said the guide firmly. “We can do him no more good by sleeping here than by sleeping there under cover.”
“Who can think of sleeping, Shaddy, at a time like this?”
“Natur’ says we must sleep, Mr Rob, and eat too, or we shall soon break down. Come along, my lad; there’s always the hope that we may find him back at camp after all.”
“But he must be wanting our help, Shaddy,” said Rob sadly.
“Yes, my lad, and if he can, camp’s the place where he’ll go to look for it, isn’t it?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Then we ought to be there to-night in case he comes to it. So now then let’s start at once. Sun goes down pretty soon, and I’ve got to take you by a round to where he broke down those flowers. Ready?”