The lad's face wore a troubled look. With the Professor and all his
companions save Stacy, gone; with no food left in camp, Walter Perkins
had reason to feel alarmed.
Chunky, however, whittled on undisturbed.
"Are you hungry, Chunky?" asked Walter, pausing in his walk, later on.
Stacy nodded.
The day had worn along well into the afternoon and neither of the boys
had had anything to eat since early morning. Their appetites were
beginning to assert themselves.
"I'm going to get some mineral water. It surely will help some. Come
on, it won't hurt you."
Stacy turned a pair of resentful eyes on his companion.
"No egg water for me. I'll starve first," he answered, with more
spirit than usual.
While Walter went to the spring to help himself to the sulphur water,
Stacy stood off to view his artistic work on the bark of the tree.
"Guess--guess they'll know I've been here, anyway," he mumbled.
"That's real good stuff," announced Walter, as he returned. "I do not
feel nearly so hungry as I did before. Better try some."
Stacy made no reply to the suggestion.
When twilight came on, Walter Perkins was more alarmed than ever.
There could be no doubt now that Ned Rector had missed his way. Stacy
remained unmoved. He bedded down the mules. When he returned from
this duty he carried something bright in one hand.
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