“Why didn’t Captain Joe go with him?” asked Jule.
“Because the dog needs rest,” replied Clay. “He has had a hard time of it, haven’t you, Joe?” caressing the dog as he spoke. “And your wound hasn’t healed yet, and you ought to be in the hospital! Tell him that you are in no shape to go chasing over the country looking for lost fish!”
The dog made the explanation as plainly as it could be made by one not having the gift of speech, and the boys all laughed and looked pleased.
“You are worth a dozen dead dogs yet!” declared Alex.
“I’d like to know which way Case went,” wondered Jule. “We saw nothing of him.”
“Perhaps Rube and Buck will bring him with them,” Clay said hopefully.
“Doesn’t it take a long time to bring those two captives in?” asked Thede, still busy over the injured man, who was now beginning to show signs of returning consciousness.
“That’s just what I was thinking,” Alex exclaimed.
The boys looked in every direction except at each other. There was in the eyes of every one of them a premonition of evil which he did not want the others to see!
“The moon is coming up now, let’s go and look for them!” suggested Jule. “I want to put on a dry suit, then I’ll be ready.”