“No wonder. I saw that.... But now you must get clear-headed. I've no time to lose.”
He led her to the door.
“John, it's Bo that's gone,” he called. “Since yesterday.... Send the boy to get me a bag of meat an' bread. You run to the corral an' get me a fresh horse. My old horse Ranger if you can find him quick. An' rustle.”
Without a word John leaped bareback on one of the horses he had just unsaddled and spurred him across the courtyard.
Then the big cougar, seeing Helen, got up from where he lay on the porch and came to her.
“Oh, it's Tom!” cried Helen, and as he rubbed against her knees she patted his head with trembling hand. “You big, beautiful pet! Oh, how I remember! Oh, how Bo would love to—”
“Where's Carmichael?” interrupted Dale. “Out huntin' Bo?”
“Yes. It was he who missed her first. He rode everywhere yesterday. Last night when he came back he was wild. I've not seen him to-day. He made all the other men but Hal and Joe stay home on the ranch.”
“Right. An' John must stay, too,” declared Dale. “But it's strange. Carmichael ought to have found the girl's tracks. She was ridin' a pony?”
“Bo rode Sam. He's a little bronc, very strong and fast.”