“Just this. The kid went on watch with me. As you told me, I kept him close alongside. He didn’t hev no shootin’ iron, so I rode back to camp to git one. When I got back to the Rio he was gone.”
“Gone?”
“That’s what.”
“Have you looked for him?”
“Beat the brush frum San Antone to breakfus’, but ther ain’t no sign uv hair nor hide uv him.”
“You saw the other men?”
“Sure!”
“Did they know nothing?”
“Not a thing. But the kid couldn’t hev passed in either direction without goin’ up in an air ship.”
“None of your jokes. This is serious. Answer my questions. You left him where?”