"I hope not," murmured Dick, while Nort echoed the wish.
However, as the hours of the night passed, and searching as best they could by the glimmer of flashlights, stopping to shout Bud's name now and then, they did not find the missing young rancher.
"It's getting daylight," remarked Yellin' Kid in lower tones than he was wont to use. Perhaps the strange hush which always precedes the dawn, or perhaps the sorrow that pervaded all hearts on account of Bud's absence had an influence on Kid and he was more solemn.
"Yes, soon be time to eat," agreed Old Billee. "We'll have to go back, though. Didn't bring no grub with us."
This was true enough. When the search started no one thought it would last very long. There was no idea that the searchers would be out all night. Yet such was the case.
"Yes, we'll have to go back and then start out again after we eat," assented Nort.
They rode along for a time in silence. Slowly the light in the east grew. More and more rosy it appeared, now with golden streaks. Morning was about to break forth in all its glory.
"I wonder if he could have had anything to do with it?" spoke Nort suddenly, and apparently asking himself the question.
"Who?" inquired Dick a bit sharply. "What do you mean?"
"I mean the old Elixer peddler."