He found his father with a candle in his hand, waiting to lead the disappointed boy to his bed.
Ian cried himself to sleep that night. Roy, the dog, sat beside him and mourned for the lost member of the little household.
The next day and the next were spent in searching the hills, the fields, and the forest. Fortunately for Ian, they were Saturday and Sunday, and he did not have to go to school.
He arose before the dawn and did not return until evening. But it was always the same. Betty was nowhere to be found. Though Ian and Roy hunted in every conceivable place, the lamb had disappeared.
On Monday, Ian was forced to relinquish his hunt and go to school. Immediately after school he called to Roy and was off again.
"The lad hardly eats his meals, he's so troubled!" said Mrs. Craig to her husband, as she shook her head.
Alan bit his pipe in silence, while his heart bled for Ian.
Alan had been training a new dog for the sheep. He was using this dog instead of Roy, who was allowed to stay with Ian and help him in his search.
But this meant added work for Alan, who had to be on the watch. He could not leave his charges completely in the care of this new helper, as he had done with Roy. Many times the new dog frightened the sheep. They soon became panicky and ran in all directions.
Then the dog forgot all of Alan's training and ran after them wildly. Alan always had to come himself to restore order.