“The fighting seems to be over,” observed Jeff Moore.
“Then the friends of the two engineers must have found them,” suggested Bodson.
“It doesn't sound like it over there. The newcomers seem to be doing a lot of hunting in the gully.”
“Let's move in closer,” proposed Rafe.
Crawling on their stomachs, the pair moved in closer. As they arrived, unseen, they were in time to see the late fighting men clamber into their automobiles. Hawkins could be heard giving directions for the further search for Reade and Hazelton.
Then the cars started away.
“What do you reckon?” demanded Jeff, looking at Bodson.
“I reckon some of Duff's crowd slipped out of the fight, got the two youngsters, and slipped away with them,” Bodson answered.
“Then it was Duff—he was one of 'em,” returned Jeff, with a strong conviction. “From what I've seen of Duff to-night he'd rather do a running trick than a fighting one.”
“It would take two to carry both youngsters away. Who was the other one?” Rafe wondered aloud.