“That is very odd!” exclaimed Frank. “Where the deuce can they be?”
“Can anything have befallen them?” asked Randall.
“That I am unable to answer. I certainly hope not.”
“With due respect, sir,” said Wendel, “perhaps they have gone off on a little cruise of their own and missed their course.”
“I believe you have the right of it,” agreed Frank. “We must look them up, or track them if we can.”
“Could we follow their trail in this hard soil?” asked Randall.
“We will try.”
With this the quest began. As good fortune had it, Randall found his way quite accurately to the staircase in the demolished prison.
In the dust on the steps were the mark of footprints.
“We have found them, Frank!” he cried. “Here are the footprints!”