Thede dressed the wounded man’s throat and got him into an improvised bed. Then he sat down to await news from the boys. The night passed and the sun rose in a cloudless sky.
“I feel like taking up the search myself,” Clay exclaimed. “The boys are probably doing all that anyone could do, yet I think I could do better. I’ve a good notion to see what I could do!”
“And leave us alone? I guess not!”
It was Paul who spoke, but the very next moment something occurred which gave a new light to the situation.
Rube came back, weary and worn, but he came alone!
CHAPTER XXII
A SURPRISE FOR CLAY
Clay and Thede met the bedraggled man at the rail. There were questions in their eyes which they dreaded to put into words.
“Mornin’,” came the cheerful greeting.
Clay looked him over critically.