"We shall not even consider that as possible, nor do I believe it is,"
replied the Professor. Nevertheless, he was deeply concerned over the
mysterious disappearance of the lad.
"If the Indian ever gets here with a rope, I'll go down there and see
if I can find out anything," said Ned.
"Not until all other means have been exhausted," declared the
Professor. "We appear to have lost one boy, and I do not intend that
we shall lose another."
"I wouldn't worry," comforted Walter Perkins. "You all know Tad, and
you know he isn't a boy that you can lose so easily. I'll bet my
share in the next meal that he's back here before dark this
afternoon."
This confidence brightened the others visibly.
"That's right," agreed Ned. "You can't down Tad. I guess I'll go
water my pony and give him some fresh trees to eat up while some of
you are starting the fire. We had better eat, anyway."
"What is there to eat?" asked the Professor.
"Beans, that's all, and not much of that. Unless we get the stuff
down there, we won't have another meal to-day."
The other two boys began preparing for the camp-fire. Ned had been
gone only a few moments when he returned on a run.
"Boys! Boys!" he cried.
"What is it? What is it?" they exclaimed in sudden alarm.
"The ponies! The ponies!"
"What about them?" asked Walter, pausing as he was about to strike a
match to the wood.
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