“So’m I,” declared several others.
“We’ll start home now,” announced Mr. Porter. “Everybody here?”
“All here,” replied one of the boys, assuming that everybody had answered Mr. Porter’s whistle.
The walk back to Lakefarm was quiet. The boys were all tired and found little of interest to discuss in their fruitless search. On the campus they were met by Dr. Byrd and Mr. Frankland, who inquired as to their success.
“Nothing doing,” replied Roy Hendricks. “We searched pretty near the whole cañon and come back with empty hands.”
“Yes, and we searched the river, too,” repeated Bun. “Hal Kenyon started that. We waded through the shallow places.”
“Where is Hal?” inquired Pickles. “I ain’t seen him all the way back.”
There was no answer.
“What’s that?” inquired the doctor. “Kenyon missing? Hal, step forward.”
There was no answer and no stepping forward. All was excitement soon. Hal’s name was called, then shouted by a dozen throats, and still no reply.