The two searching parties had separated, one going one way and one another, and at times they were quite far apart. But as the night grew darker the two bands of men drew near together until at last Tod was able to call to Mr. Martin, asking:
“What do you say? Shall we keep on?”
Ted’s father considered. He knew that the men were tired, and yet he did not want to go back to the bungalow and have his wife meet him to ask:
“Didn’t you find him?”
It would be better to keep on searching even all night.
But one of the lumbermen had an idea which in the end turned out to be a very good one.
“Why not go back to the bungalow and see if there is any news?” he suggested.
“What do you mean—news?” asked the foreman.
“I mean maybe the boy has wandered back there himself, or maybe some one has telephoned in that they have him at their farm. There’s lots of telephones around this part of the country. Nearly every farmer has one, and I know two trappers who have telephones and wireless sets, too. So maybe some of them have picked up Ted, or he may have wandered to their shacks. And there’s a telephone in the store. I guess Ted could tell who he was and where he was from.”
“Yes, he could do that!” exclaimed Mr. Martin. “That’s a good plan, Jake. We’ll go back and see if there is any news. As you say, Ted may be back there now, or some one may have telephoned in.”