"What's yer rush?" Samson asked.
"I want to get to Big Draw before night," was the curt reply.
"Where's daddy?" Glen questioned.
"Blamed if I know. He cleared out shortly after you did, and left me to die out there. I haven't seen him since."
Dan's arm was in a sling, and the haggard expression upon his face showed that he had suffered a great deal both mentally and bodily. The three watched him as he hurried on his way, until a bend in the trail hid him from view.
"An' to think of that critter bein' free!" Samson exclaimed. "Why, he should be linked up with Curly, an' git the same dose. Thar's something comin' to him, an' he'll git it in time, mark my word."
"What do you suppose has become of daddy?" Glen enquired, as they resumed their journey. "Did you hear what Dan said?"
"Oh, yer dad's all right, Miss," Samson assured her. "He knows how to take care of himself. Mebbe he's off to that mine. He's sartinly much interested in it."
"But where did you see Mr. Weston?" Reynolds unexpectedly asked.
"Whar did I see him?" and Samson ran the fingers of his right hand through his hair in an abstracted manner. "Wall, let me see. It was somewhar out in the hills. I've been in so many places that it's hard fer me to tell one from t'other. I do git terribly mixed up these days."