Sometimes, with loud yells, the boys chased bright-colored butterflies—that is, all but Dave and Fred. Their interest was centered on the plants and flowers which grew so abundantly about them.
Joe Preston, who had stopped several times at the brink of the gully, finally went on ahead.
“Hello!” cried Bob, presently. “What in the dickens has become of Joe?”
“Gee Whitaker, where in the world did he get to?” chimed in Aleck.
“I saw him standing by that rock,” said Redfern. “It was only a moment ago.”
Around them was an open stretch, with nothing to hide the view, but Joe Preston was nowhere in sight.
CHAPTER VI
JOE IN TROUBLE
“That’s the strangest thing I ever heard of,” cried Jack, excitedly. “Don’t believe Joe would have given us the slip.”
They walked to the edge of the gully and looked up and down.