"How long does a person live after a rattler bite?" asked Ernest, with stiff lips.
"A Mexican who worked for us three years ago lived twelve hours but he was unconscious most of the time," replied Charley.
"Now, you girls go cook a little breakfast," said Gustav, hastily, "and ve vill do the chores, eh?"
They ate a hasty meal in the kitchen a little later. No one talked. Charley patted Elsa's shoulder in a helpless way when Elsa now and again burst into tears. They had finished their preparation for the renewal of the search when Dick called from the bedroom. Charley went to him, closing the door after her. What she said the others did not know but there was silence in the bedroom for some moments after she came out. Then there was a confusion of sounds and Dick dragged himself on his hands and knees into the kitchen. He pulled himself up into the chair by the table. The others stood silently looking at him.
"O God!" he groaned. "O God in Heaven!"
Still no one spoke.
"Hurry!" he shouted. "What are you waiting for? She may be dead now! Hurry, you fools!"
"I'm going to stay here, Dick," said Elsa.
"You'll not! To hell with me!" Dick paused and lifted a shaking hand to his eyes for a moment. "Rog, you go along the foot of the range and search every canyon. Watch every spot of shade. I've warned her so often about desert sun."
Roger nodded and started off, Peter following him with a good supply of water and food on his back. Ernest and Gustav were to use the two horses.