“Have you seen ’em fellow Creel?” he asked anxiously.
“Why, no, Toma,” Dick answered. “What makes you ask that?”
“Little while ago,” the young Indian enlightened them, “I think mebbe I change bandage on that fellow’s head. I look everywhere. I no find.”
“Come to think about it,” Sandy made the assertion, “I haven’t seen him myself since lunch.”
Toma’s face darkened.
“I ’fraid mebbe he run away.”
CHAPTER XI
FINDING A MOTIVE
The disappearance of Creel caused the boys a lot of worry. He had left the road-house without a word to anyone and had slipped away without being seen. It occurred to Dick to question Fontaine and Le Sueur, in the hope that they might be able to throw some light on the matter. But neither of the two young half-breeds could supply any information.
“He must have gone back to his cabin,” guessed Sandy. “He’s a queer old duffer in some ways, and probably prefers to be alone. No doubt, we’ll find him there.”
But such did not prove to be the case. Creel’s cabin was empty. When the boys entered, the place was strangely silent and eerie. It was so dark within, that at first they could see nothing. It was damp and musty, and their footsteps echoed cheerlessly through the gloom.