Not a trace of the missing boy did the girls find, though there was plenty of tragic evidence of the deadly work of the forest fire everywhere they went. The girls returned, giving up the task.
“We must wait, and go on with our work. It will help to keep our minds from our worries. My husband would be a great comfort if he were here, for Tom is ever ready and resourceful,” murmured Grace.
“He is no better than Hamilton,” protested Emma indignantly. “What Hamilton doesn’t know about everything up here isn’t worth knowing.”
The girls laughed at Emma, who turned away, face flushed and eyes moist. They busied themselves all the rest of the day, but when night came on, the searchers had not returned. Shortly after nine o’clock, however, a shout told the anxious Overlanders that someone was approaching. It proved to be Hippy Wingate and his party. Hippy reported that they had not found a trace of Elfreda Briggs. He was shocked when he learned that Stacy also was missing.
It was an hour later when Hamilton White and his party of searchers came in. They were leading a bunch of horses.
“We got them all but one, folks,” he cried as the villagers and the Overlanders crowded about him and his party.
“But Miss Briggs!” wailed Nora Wingate. “Don’t tell me that—”
“She was not found on the left-hand side of the river. We followed Roaring River down to a point about fifteen miles below here. As you see, we got all the mounts but one, and that one evidently was swept away, else he would have been with his mates.”
White was speaking more rapidly than was his wont, and Grace was regarding him keenly.
“Did you know that Stacy Brown is missing also?” she asked.