Their hope revived, the four shouted the missing boy’s name repeatedly. To their intense relief, an answering shout came from the left of the trail.
“That’s Red!” cried Brad.
“He’s over by the ravine, just as I thought!” added Mr. Hatfield. “Keep shouting, so he can find us. We’ll wait here on the trail.”
Five minutes later, Red struggled through the bushes and brambles to confront his would-be rescuers with a sheepish grin.
He was breathing heavily, having hastened as fast as he could.
“Gosh, were you out looking for me?” he asked, sagging down on a log to rest.
“Were we looking for you!” Brad exclaimed furiously. “You and your crazy jokes!”
“I intended to come right back—honest I did. But gosh, I had the scare of my life! I’m still shakey from the shock of it.”
“You didn’t meet a live bear?” Dan asked.
Red shook his head and took a deep breath. “I—I saw a fire through the trees,” he informed his listeners.