The girls promptly turned back towards camp, Nora with reluctance, which she made no effort to conceal. Then followed two hours of anxiety. The guide returned shortly after midnight.
“There is no use of searching farther to-night,” he announced. “Mr. Wingate undoubtedly has strayed away, but I’ll find him in the morning. Please turn in and get some rest, for we shall undoubtedly have an active day to-morrow. In any event, don’t lose your nerve, Mrs. Wingate. The Lieutenant has had enough experience to know how to take care of himself.”
Nora went to her tent weeping, Emma Dean’s arm around her, but Grace held back at a gesture from Elfreda, who had observed that the guide studiously avoided looking directly at Nora Wingate.
“Mr. White, have you anything to say to us?” questioned Elfreda.
“Meaning what?”
“We wish to know what you really did discover. It was well not to say any more than you did to Mrs. Wingate.”
“You made a discovery of some sort—of that we are convinced,” spoke up Grace.
“Yes, I did,” admitted White. “I found the lieutenant’s revolver beside a tree where he had been sitting. His trail ended there!”
“Meaning?” persisted Miss Briggs.
“That he was attacked and carried away, in all probability. I found evidences of that.”