"Which way did they go after coming out of the barn?" continued Frank, bent on getting at the full facts, for if those who were missing had returned to the ranch house, it was strange they had not appeared on the scene, with all that racket going on.
"Walk away—hab lit basket 'long—come from China—ginger like all Chinese eat."
"Show me the direction they were heading when last you saw them, Charlie. It's queer they haven't shown up by now, no matter where they went."
"That's straight goods, Frank," interrupted Lanky, his forehead wrinkled with anxiety.
"Think Missy Wally she go them woods—me tell her wild flowers grow there where cattle drink at spring! Look! What tell you? Here come runnin', you savvy, like in big hurry!"
Lanky gave a whoop.
"He's right, Frank—Paul! There they come, and running, too. Oh! I'm so glad I could yell my head off. All this while they've been there in that patch of trees they say Josh Kinney planted fifty years ago."
Frank was about as much relieved as his chum; but, just the same, he noticed something that apparently Lanky had missed.
"Your mother acts as though exhausted, Lanky," he said. "See how Minnie tries to buoy her up. Was it because of their fears the ranch house was burning up and some lives in danger, or did something else happen to frighten them?"